The REI Stormhenge Down Hybrid Parka comes very close to top-notch performance while costing around half of what you can expect from some of its more venerated competitors. The REI Stormhenge Down Hybrid Parka isn’t the lightest backpacking or expedition-style puffy.

It doesn’t have a breathable GORE-TEX membrane, and it doesn’t come down past your knees like a more stylish, city-slicker parka might. But it does provide excellent warmth, weather protection, and durability at $300.

I’ve tested similar offerings from Patagonia and Arc’teryx, like the Patagonia Stormshadow Parka and the  Arc’teryx Therme SV Parka. Both jackets are warm, stylish, and well-loved by GearJunkie editors. Both are over $900. I’m pleasantly surprised that the performance disparity between the $300 Stormhenge and its pricier competitors is pretty dang marginal. 

While I wouldn’t grab this jacket for a ski tour or long hike in the backcountry, I will be wearing it all winter long, around town, and in between climbs at the sport crag. It’s not quite the perfect fit for a ski jacket, but if you only get to the ski hill a few times a year, the Stormhenge will do the trick on colder, stormier days.

In short: REI keeps the price in check with its proprietary waterproof breathable membrane and strategic placement of synthetic insulation, but the Stormhenge is well-designed and well-constructed where it counts. This versatile parka is a great option for anyone who wants to stay warm and dry without shelling out the big bucks. It’s been the top budget pick in GearJunkie’s guide to the best winter jackets for the last three winters.

REI Stormhenge Down Hybrid Parka Review 

I tested the Stormhenge in the context it was meant for — around town on cold winter days, slushy spring mornings, plus some laps at Mammoth Mountain, my local ski resort. What stood out to me immediately was this jacket’s loft and durability.

Warmth

The Stormhenge uses high-quality 850-fill power goose down in the chest, back, and sleeves; 850-fill is not the quality I’m used to seeing at this price. Usually, that’s reserved for a more expensive parka. All that down is held in place with baffles contained by baffles welded to the shell, so there aren’t any cold spots. Though the shell makes this jacket look less lofty because it hides the puffy baffles, there is a solid 2 inches of down between the wearer and the outside world. 

Standing in line for the ice skating rink with a cold beer in hand, I felt warm and protected from the wind. I’ve worn some parkas that go below the knee, and the feeling is pretty cozy, almost like wearing a sleeping bag.

The Stormhenge park stops around mid-thigh, so it’s not as warm as a full-length parka, but the shorter length does make ice skating and hiking, easier while wearing it. A two-way zipper allowed me to open up the bottom for increased mobility while running errands around town on my bike. 

The “Hybrid” part of the name refers to the polyester insulation used around the hem and side panels. Not only does this save some cost by requiring less down, but the polyester insulates better than down when it gets wet.

You’re most likely to get wet around the hem while sitting in melting snow, or through sweat under your arms where the side panels are. Here’s the thing, though —  in the time I’ve been using this jacket, sitting on slushy ski lifts, getting pelted by heavy wet snow, I’ve yet to see any moisture soak in through the shell.

Wind and Water Resistance

The shell isn’t as effective as a raincoat, but it’s pretty close and does great in wet snow. I run every jacket through a standardized shower test, where I stand under the water, slowly rotating, looking out for leaks, noting how water runs off the hood, and checking to see how the DWR treatment performs.

While I didn’t get to wear the jacket in a proper deluge, the shower test results have me pretty confident that the Stormhenge can handle any form of precip, frozen or not. After 10 minutes of standing around the shower, turning in circles like a weirdo, I remained dry underneath the Stormhenge, and I couldn’t find any signs of water soaking through the shell fabric.

There’s no expensive GORE-TEX waterproof breathable membrane here, but REI does use a proprietary membrane called Hydrowall. I can’t speak to its performance in terms of breathability when compared to GORE-TEX.

But here’s the thing — you’re probably not going to be doing a lot of high-output activities like running or fast hiking while wearing this parka. The breathability factor isn’t all that crucial if you’re standing around in the cold.

Features

The Stormhenge has many of the same features as more expensive big-brand jackets, like a two-way adjustable hood and elastic inner cuffs (rather than Velcro cinches). I could easily secure the hood while bike commuting, keeping my ears warm without obstructing my view when turning my head, while the cuffs kept the wind out without needing to fiddle with a Velcro closure.

There’s also a two-way zipper, so the hem didn’t interfere when I pedaled my bike. I even used it while belaying on a cold day in the Owen’s River Gorge, though the Stormhenge is a little bit heavier than the lightweight down jacket I usually carry in my climbing pack.

The Verdict

GearJunkie editor Nick Bruckbauer and I have had the Stormhenge in testing for about a year now. There are plenty of fancier options out there, and this is the one we’d recommend to our buddies if they were looking for something solid that would leave them with some money left over for the heating bill.

It may not have that coveted logo across the chest, but it does its job about as well as the best of them. In both available colors (black and forest green), it looks sleek and low-key — dare I say, timeless. The Stormhenge is the top budget pick in our Best Men’s winter jacket guide and has been for 3 years running. I’m betting it will be tough to unseat.