I tried the internet-famous 'Amazon Coat' to see if it lives up to the hype — after wearing it during a Maine cold snap, I can officially say that it does
At the risk of sounding like an aging hipster, I'm not necessarily someone who participates in trends when they happen. So even though I read all of the tweets and think pieces about the Orolay Thickened Down Jacket — or as the internet has dubbed it the "Amazon Coat" — I never added it to my cart.
But after realizing that I was without a true, heavy-duty winter coat, and hearing my colleagues sing the praises of the Orolay coat, I decided it was finally time to give it a try. After taking this parka on a chilly weekend trip up to Maine, I know I'll be wearing it for as many winters as it holds out.
Sizing
The coat is available in sizes XXS -5X. After reading customer reviews on Amazon, I opted for a large, since that is my usual size. I was happy to find that the fit was true. The sleeves were the perfect length, with the ribbed cuff hitting right at my wrist, and the torso was snug enough to keep the cold out but not so tight that I couldn't layer sweaters under it.
Maria Del Russo/INSIDER
Does the Orolay Thickened Down Jacket hold up to the cold?
In Maine, we had plans to visit Acadia National Park — and even the 32-degree morning we woke up to wouldn't deter us. I wore a sweater and a wool long-sleeve under my coat for our first trip to the park. It was super windy and cold when we got out of the car, but I was surprised by how toasty warm I was inside of my coat.
One thing I especially appreciated was the ribbed knit cuffs on the sleeves. They were made from a tight elastic, so they kept the wind from whipping up my arms. The multiple pockets meant I was able to carry almost everything I needed, except for a water bottle. (That's what backpacks are for!)
There are six pockets all together — two with vertical zips at chest-height, two with horizontal zips at the midline, and two that are hip-height that don't have zips. There are also zippers on the side that allows the coat to expand, which makes it easier for you to walk comfortably or layer bigger sweaters underneath.
The ribbed cuffs are a great touch because they keep the cold out without being too tight.
Maria Del Russo/INSIDER
Drawbacks to the Orolay coat
While I loved the number of pockets this coat had, I will admit that they aren't all placed well for ease of use. I like to keep my hands in my pockets when I walk, and the hip-height pockets were a little too far to the side for me to use comfortably. The chest-height pockets were also slightly too deep. There were more than a few times I had to actually take the coat off to retrieve our keys that had slid down into those upper pockets.
Plus, the hood is massive — to the point where it felt like I was wearing horse blinders when I put it up. But when it's especially cold, I can see that being a bonus instead of a negative.
And while this coat kept me warm in temperatures that were hovering around freezing, I don't know how well it would do in below-freezing temps. I've heard from work colleagues that it's not the best for frigid temperatures — but I look forward to wearing the Orolay jacket this winter to really test this theory.
The inner lining is made of polyester, which makes it easy to clean, and the shearling hood is super cozy.
Maria Del Russo/INSIDER
The bottom line
I was pleasantly surprised by the Orolay Thickened Down Jacket, and I look forward to the temperatures dipping into chillier territory so that I can start wearing it again. The number of pockets makes this a great coat for outdoor activities since you don't have to carry a bag. I can also see this being useful for running errands in the winter.
And while the jury is still out on whether this coat will stand up to extreme cold for me, there is one thing for sure — I'll be a little less wary to consider an internet-favorite piece of clothing from now on.
Maria Del Russo is the former senior style and beauty editor for Insider Reviews. A product-obsessive, Maria is constantly testing and reviewing new launches and hero products, to deliver of-the-moment information for Insider's readers. She managed the style and beauty team, which includes a team of freelancers who are constantly testing new innovations, so readers know they're always shopping for the best buys in the style and beauty spaces. Before joining Insider Inc., she was a full-time freelancer, focusing on beauty, sex, and wellness. Maria has been writing about style and beauty for nearly a decade. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Elle Magazine, Bustle, InStyle, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, The Washington Post, Refinery29, and Playboy, where she served as the brand's advice columnist for its Spring 2019 issue. She also served as a beauty editor at Refinery29, where she produced beauty editorials featuring makeup artists and hairstylists such as Pat McGrath, Dick Page, Orlando Pita, Sir John, Mario Dedivanovic, and more.Maria's first book, "Simple Acts of Love," was published by Simon & Schuster under the imprint of Adams Media in 2019. She is currently working on a memoir about layoffs and love. In the meantime, Maria writes a newsletter, can't relate, about relationships — romantic, friendly, familial, and everything in-between.You can follow along with Maria's adventures on Instagram at @mariadelrusso, or on Twitter at @maria_delrusso. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.Learn more about how we test style and beauty products.
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