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OROS vs. Patagonia: Find Out What I’ll Be Wearing All Winter Long

Jenny Scheck
ByJenny ScheckDec 5, 2022Sponsored

Hi, my name is Jenny and I’m a freeze-aholic. What is that, you ask? A term I invented for the special population of people who are always freezing. To put it in perspective, anything below 30ºF is “two pants weather” aka it’s a thermals-underneath-my-jeans kind of day. Living in NYC, my favorite thing to do is just walk around and explore, so you can imagine my dread once winter rears its ugly head.

I love the city, but I can’t stand the cold. My solution? The ultimate parka. I decided to put OROS and Patagonia to the test - keep reading below for my winner.

If overall toastiness is your top priority… OROS

When I think of winter, I think of seasonal depression. Aided by 4:30pm sunsets and bone-chilling cold, I find myself wishing that I could curl up in my bed and hibernate until spring. While there’s nothing I can do about the darkness, having a parka that emulates the warmth and coziness of my bed is the clothing equivalent of taking a Prozac. When I learned that OROS jackets have a proprietary insulation lining, SOLARCORE, that keeps you warm for temperatures up to 0ºF, I knew I was on the right track. Even better, this SOLARCORE insulation is strategically placed in areas that are most prone to getting cold. After testing out both the OROS parka and the Patagonia parka, I can validate that the SOLARCORE is the way to go.

If you want warmth without extra layers… OROS

One of my biggest pet peeves is the inverse correlation between outdoor temperature and office temperature. I get it - people are cold outside and want a warm blast when they walk into the building. But it’s impossible to dress for! My options are either 1) dress in multiple layers and look extra bulky, or 2) dress for the frigid outdoors and be sweating at the office. Luckily, my OROS jacket has presented a third option: a parka that keeps warm without all of the layers. When testing out the Patagonia parka, I discovered I needed ample more layers to get the warmth that the OROS one provided me. As Randy Jackson used to say, it’s a no for me, dawg.

If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly option … Patagonia

I’m always on the hunt for a sustainable option, which is what brought me to OROS and Patagonia in the first place. OROS’s SOLARCORE technology is completely vegan and cruelty-free and uses recycled poly to reduce CO2 emissions and PFC-free DWRs to repel water. Likewise, Patagonia has a self-imposed Earth tax, 1% for the Planet, which provides support to environmental nonprofits working to defend our air, land, and water around the globe. They also have a used clothing trade-in program where they’ll pay you for old clothes so they can recycle them. Both of these companies are clearly doing well for the environment, but if I had to pick a winner here, I'm picking Patagonia.

If you’re still not convinced and want a test run … OROS

If you’re indecisive like me or are prone to buyer’s remorse, it’s imperative that something I’m buying has a good return policy, especially if I’m ordering it online. Well, OROS does one better - they actually let you test-run the clothes for free before having to make a decision. While I’ve got to give Patagonia props for a lifetime warranty and no expiration on returns (as long as the tags are still on), I would rather test out the clothing for 10 days before having to decide whether I want to purchase it or not.

The winner… OROS

Because of my OROS parka, I’m actually (dare I say it?) excited for winter this year. Who needs to hibernate when you can have the warmth of your bed rolled into a coat without the bulky appearance. Walking around NYC can finally be a year-round hobby. Jenny - 1, Seasonal Depression - 0.