The North Face B McMurdo Parka Review: warm kid’s tank of a coat with a very confusing size label

I’ve been using the The North Face B McMurdo parka on a kid in the family for a couple of weeks in cold, wet weather, and I’ll go straight to the point: it’s a solid winter coat for kids, but the way it’s listed online is confusing as hell. The big issue is the word “unisex” and the way some listings make it sound like it’s for adults, when in reality it’s a kids’/youth parka. That lines up with the Amazon reviews saying things like “it’s a child size” and “even XL doesn’t fit an adult”. So if you’re an adult looking for a bargain McMurdo, this is not it.

Once you put the sizing confusion aside and actually put it on a kid, the core of the product is pretty good. It’s long, it covers down to around the knees on a smaller child and mid-thigh on a taller teen, and it’s clearly built for proper cold weather. Between the down insulation, the waterproof shell and the big hood, it definitely feels like a winter sports / school commute kind of coat, not just a fashion piece.

In daily use—walking to school in drizzle, playing in light snow, hanging around at the park in single-digit temperatures—it held up well. The kid stayed dry and didn’t complain about being cold, which is honestly the only real “performance test” that matters for this type of jacket. No leaks through the seams, no obvious cold spots, and the zipper flap does its job against wind.

So my first impression in short: good winter parka for kids, bad product page communication. If you buy it knowing it’s a kids’ McMurdo, you’re likely to be happy. If you think you’re getting an adult parka because of the “unisex” label, you’re almost certainly going to be annoyed and sending it back.

On value, it really depends on what you think you’re buying. If you go in thinking this is the adult McMurdo at a crazy low price, you’ll feel ripped off when you realise it’s kids’ sizing. That’s exactly what happened to a few Amazon buyers who left 1-star reviews because even XL didn’t fit them. From that point of view, the product page is misleading and I get their frustration.

If you accept that this is a kids/teens parka, the value looks a lot better. For the price of a branded The North Face coat, you’re getting real down insulation, a waterproof outer, a long cut, a serious hood, and a bunch of functional pockets. In my experience, a lot of cheaper kids’ parkas either aren’t actually waterproof, or they lose warmth quickly once the insulation packs down. Here, after repeated use in wet and cold, it still feels warm and protective.

Is it cheap? No. You’re paying for the brand and the build. But compared to other big-brand kids’ winter coats (Columbia, Patagonia, etc.), it’s in the same ballpark and you do notice the difference versus random no-name jackets. The kid actually stays warm and dry, and you’re not shopping for another coat halfway through the season because the zipper died or the fabric ripped at the first fall.

So for me, value is pretty solid for a serious winter coat for kids, as long as: 1) you size it correctly, and 2) you actually need this level of warmth and waterproofing. If your winters are mild or your kid is mostly in the car, this is probably overkill. But for cold climates, walking to school, and trips to the mountains, the money makes sense.

In terms of design, the B McMurdo leans more towards practical than stylish. It’s a long parka (about 90 cm from shoulder to hem, according to the specs), so it covers the bum and upper legs, which makes a big difference when kids sit on cold benches, snow, or wet playground gear. The cut is straight, not slim, so it looks a bit boxy, but that’s kind of the point: room for layers and easy movement. On the kid I tested it on (around 150 cm tall), the coat fell mid-thigh, which is a good compromise between coverage and being able to run around.

The hood is big, insulated, and comes with a removable faux fur trim. The fur is synthetic, nothing fancy, but it does help block wind and snow from blowing right into the face. You can zip or snap it off if you don’t like the look, which I appreciate because some kids hate fur trims. The hood itself adjusts decently and stays put when it’s windy, which is more than I can say for a lot of cheaper kids’ jackets I’ve tried.

The pockets are pretty generous: you get double-compartment patch pockets (handwarmer plus top-loading) and extra zippered chest/mountain pockets. For a kid, that’s actually useful: gloves, small toys, snacks, phone if they’re older, all find a place. The main zipper has a big storm flap with snaps, so wind doesn’t go straight through the zipper. Velcro at the cuffs lets you tighten around gloves, which helps a lot in snow play or on the ski slopes.

Visually, it’s very simple: solid black, minimal branding. If you want flashy colours or reflective strips all over, this isn’t it. But for school, city, or casual winter sports, I actually like the low-key look. It doesn’t scream “ski suit”, it just looks like a normal winter coat that happens to be pretty technical. Overall, design is more about function than style, and for a kids’ winter parka, that’s fine by me.

On comfort, the B McMurdo does pretty well. The inside collar is brushed and soft, so it doesn’t rub the neck when it’s zipped all the way up. The fleece-lined cuffs are also a nice touch: when kids forget their gloves or pull them off, at least their wrists don’t feel icy right away. The straight cut means there’s room for a hoodie or thick sweater underneath without turning them into a sausage, and movement in the shoulders is decent for a parka this long.

In actual use, the kid I tested it with wore it for school runs, playground time, and a weekend in the mountains with light snow. Temps were around 0–5°C, sometimes with wind and drizzle. Feedback from the kid was simple: “I’m warm” and “it’s a bit heavy but okay”. No complaints about cold arms or cold back, and no drafts coming in from the bottom thanks to the length and the drawcord at the hem. Once they’re moving, the weight isn’t a big issue, but yes, this is thicker and heavier than a cheap puffer.

Now, the fit issue that keeps popping up in reviews: sizes are small if you expect adult sizing. A couple of Amazon buyers say even the XL doesn’t work for an adult, and one said “not even my arm fits”. That matches my impression: this is designed for kids/teens, not adults. For kids, I’d say it runs reasonably true to size but on the slightly snug side if you want to layer a lot. If your kid is between sizes or you expect them to grow soon, I’d go one size up to be safe.

So comfort-wise: it’s warm, cozy around the neck and wrists, and long enough to really protect in bad weather. Just don’t try to squeeze an adult into it and then complain it’s small. For the target audience—kids and smaller teens—it’s pretty comfortable, as long as you choose the size with a bit of margin.

Material-wise, The North Face sticks to their usual recipe: synthetic shell with waterproof treatment and down insulation. The listing mixes 100% polyester and 100% recycled nylon with PFC-free DWR, which is a bit confusing, but in practice the outer fabric feels like a typical TNF parka shell—smooth, slightly stiff, and clearly built to handle wet snow and light rain. It’s not a soft shell; it’s more like a mini version of their adult expedition coats.

The insulation is down, which is why the jacket feels warm without being massively heavy. The listed item weight of 0.6 pounds on Amazon is obviously off for a big parka; that’s probably a data error. In hand, it’s not ultra-heavy, but it’s not light either. On the kid, it felt like a proper winter coat: you know you’re wearing something, but it’s not dragging them down. The lining is a polyester blend with brushed collar and fleece-lined cuffs, which makes contact points softer and less scratchy than a pure nylon lining.

Hardware (zips, Velcros, snaps) feels decent. The main zipper runs smoothly and didn’t snag during the time we used it. Velcros at the cuffs are wide enough to actually cinch down over gloves, and the hood attachments for the faux fur and the hood itself felt secure. Seams are taped/heat-sealed in key areas, which is what helps with waterproofing. I didn’t see any loose threads or sloppy stitching out of the box.

One thing to keep in mind: this is still a kids’ jacket made in China, not a bombproof mountaineering shell. It’s solid for school, casual winter sports, and everyday life, but if your kid is the type who drags their sleeves on concrete and climbs trees with barbed wire, you’ll eventually see wear. For normal use, the materials give a good impression and match the price level for a branded kids’ parka, but they’re not magical. It’s solid, not indestructible.

Durability is always a bit of a guessing game with kids, but after some rough playground use, the B McMurdo is holding up well. The outer fabric is tough enough to handle sliding on snow, leaning against brick walls, and the usual backpack rubbing on the shoulders. No obvious scuffs or pilling so far. The stitching looks clean, and the heat-sealed seams haven’t shown any peeling or lifting at the edges.

The zippers and Velcro patches are another key point for longevity. The main zipper feels robust and doesn’t feel like it’ll die after one winter, unlike some budget coats I’ve tried. The Velcro at the cuffs is wide, so it doesn’t start peeling off or losing grip immediately. That said, Velcro always gets fluff and lint in it over time, so you’ll want to clean it occasionally if your kid is constantly in sand or grass.

One thing I like is that the faux fur trim is removable. That means when it starts looking tired or gets dirty, you can take it off for washing the rest of the coat and reduce wear. The fact that it’s machine washable is also practical. I’d still zip it up and maybe use a gentle cycle, but at least you don’t need dry cleaning, which is a pain for kids’ gear that gets dirty fast.

Long term, I don’t expect this to be a hand-me-down for five kids in a row, but for one or two siblings and a couple of winters, it looks up to the task. The brand reputation and the feel in hand line up: it’s not bulletproof, but it’s clearly built better than supermarket jackets. Just remember it’s still fabric and down—if your kid drags it on asphalt every day, you’ll see wear eventually.

Performance is where this coat just does its job. With the down padding and waterproof outer, it’s clearly built for cold and wet conditions. In light snow and steady drizzle, water beaded off the shell nicely. The PFC-free DWR seems to work fine so far. We didn’t test it in a full day of heavy rain, but for typical winter weather—wet snow, short showers, slush—it kept the kid dry with no damp spots on shoulders or seams.

In terms of warmth, it’s more than enough for typical European city winters and weekend mountain trips. With just a long-sleeve shirt and a thin hoodie underneath, the kid was comfortable in around 0–5°C, even standing around at the bus stop. The long length and the drawcord at the waist and hem help keep heat in and block wind from sneaking up from below. The storm flap over the main zipper also does a decent job stopping cold air from cutting through the middle.

The hood is actually one of the strong points. It’s insulated, adjustable, and the faux fur trim really helps in wind and falling snow. When fully up and zipped, only part of the face is exposed. For ski days or sledding, that’s exactly what you want. The only downside is that when the hood is up and zipped tight, turning the head doesn’t fully turn the hood, so vision to the sides is a bit limited—pretty standard for big parkas though.

After a couple of weeks, there were no leaks, no obvious loss of loft, and no issues with zippers or Velcro. So in practice, the performance is pretty solid for a kids’ winter parka. It’s not a technical mountaineering jacket, but for school, city life, and basic winter sports, it definitely gets the job done.

On paper, this thing is sold as “THE NORTH FACE Unisex B McMurdo Parka Jacket, 164, TNF Black”. The key here is the “B” and the “Kid” in the specs: this is a boys’/youth McMurdo, not the adult version. The size 164 is basically a height reference (around 164 cm), which is more like a tall kid or smaller teen, not a full-grown adult. The Amazon listing saying “unisex” and sometimes “adult” is what’s throwing people off. Looking at the Amazon reviews in Spanish, you see it clearly: people thought they were buying an adult coat and got a kids’ size.

The style is the classic McMurdo look: long parka, big hood with removable faux fur, straight cut, and that very typical TNF winter vibe. Colour is TNF Black, so just a simple solid black, no weird patterns or logos all over the place. It’s listed as “unisex”, and that makes sense for kids: it’s neutral enough that it works on boys and girls, and also small women who are fine with a more boxy kid’s fit (one reviewer said a Large fit an XS woman pretty well).

It’s described as a 3/4 length parka with waterproof HyVent (or equivalent TNF membrane) and down insulation. Specs say 100% polyester outer, recycled nylon with PFC-free DWR in another part of the listing, and polyester blend lining. So basically: synthetic shell and lining, down insulation, and a synthetic fur trim on the hood. It’s meant for cold and wet climates—winter, autumn, and winter sports according to the listing.

So if I sum it up: this is a long, waterproof, insulated parka for kids/teens, with a straight cut and a classic TNF look. If you go in expecting that, what you get in the box matches pretty well. If you’re hoping for the adult McMurdo for cheap, you’re going to be disappointed, because the sizing is nowhere near adult, as several angry reviews already point out.