The affectionately nicknamed “Big Red” parka is issued by the US Antarctic Program to all scientists and staff serving at the two largest American research stations in Antarctica, McMurdo Base and South Pole Station. The parkas available on this website have been sold as surplus by the Antarctic Program. They were sourced from their New Zealand clothing warehouse and an Emergency Cold Weather Gear cache at the South Pole.
These Canada Goose down parkas are a variation of the popular Canada Goose 4660M “Expedition Parka”, which is the closest civilian-available equivalent to this jacket and sells new for $1,950.00 USD. The exclusive USAP version was made solely for the official United States Antarctic Program and has been worn by generations of Antarctic researchers. Prior to Antarctic Surplus, there was no way for civilians to obtain the original Antarctic model.
The “Big Red” Parkas’ Story
In the 1980s, the brand ‘Canada Goose’ (at the time named ‘Snow Goose’) developed the Expedition Parka to meet the unique needs of the scientists Antarctica’s McMurdo Station. The parkas quickly became standard issue gear, earning the nickname “Big Red” for their size and bright coloring.
Propelled by their success, Canada Goose has become a major luxury winterwear brand known for producing the highest-quality parkas in the world. In fact, their success is so tied to these parkas that their signature “Canada Goose Arctic Program” patch is copied from the official “United States Antarctic Program” patches featured on Big Red.
Every year over 1,000 members of the Antarctic Program wear Big Red throughout Antarctica, from the coastline to the frozen plateau of the South Pole. The parkas available here have all seen years of service on-continent before being sold as surplus by the Antarctic Program. Each one is a unique piece of Antarctic history with its own story to tell.
Parka Conditions:
These parkas have experienced some of the harshest conditions in the world and will have varying signs of wear depending on how many seasons they were worn, what Antarctic bases they served at, and who wore them. We’ve had them professionally refurbished, fixing all major defects and ensuring that each parka is 100% wearable and functional.
We have graded the parkas as Fair, Good, and Very Good depending on the overall wear and fading of the parka, and have priced them accordingly. The grades are described as follows:
- Fair – The parka may show color fading and obvious wear from service in Antarctica. Scuffs, stains, or small rips may be present, and there may be evidence of field repairs done by the Antarctic Program as well as one or more visible patches from our tailor. All major flaws have been fixed.
- Good – The parka is in good condition, without major tears or damage, but may have general signs of wear, fading, visible (but not excessive) patches, repairs or minor stains/imperfections.
- Very Good – The parka is in excellent condition, with minimal fading, minor signs of wear, and no major patches or signs of repair.
INDIVIDUAL PARKAS WILL VARY!
Each parka will be priced individually, based not only on its condition but the details of the individual parka. Some of the parkas available for sale will have one or more ‘+’ or ‘-‘ added to the condition, which indicates the price and overall value of the parka. We use these plus and minus signs to refer to features or details that deviate from the standard parka or the standard grading, but which do not change the parka’s overall classification. For example:
One parka graded as ‘Fair(++)’ has a general condition matching our classification of ‘Fair’. However, this particular parka is also a vintage Snow Goose with a rare coyote fur hood, raising its overall value.
OR
One parka graded ‘Very Good(-)’ has several small patches which detract from its otherwise excellent condition. The condition is better than a ‘Good’, but not as excellent as we would like our standard ‘Very Good’ to be. Therefore it becomes a ‘Very Good(-)’.
“Big Red” Parka Features
Please note that while the Big Red is very similar to the Canada Goose 4660M “Expedition Parka”, they are not identical and some features will vary.
Each Big Red will also have a serial number assigned to it by the USAP program. This serial number will be written inside the pocket flap of the lower left-hand pocket on the front of the parka.
- Windproof outer shell
- Multi-layered down insulation
- Adjustable hood with fur ruff (synthetic or coyote) & shaping wire
- Fleece-lined chin guard
- Interior waist drawcord
- Recessed cuffs
- Velcro flap to cover zipper
- Silver reflector patch
- Snow skirt for added protection
- Velcro for name patch
- Official USAP chest patch
- 4 exterior pockets with velcro flap & zippered side entry
- 2 interior pockets (1 drop-in, 1 zippered)
- 2 utility pockets on sleeves
Parka Sizing & Shipping
The parkas are sized 2XS – 4XL, and tend to run large due to the multiple layers worn underneath by Antarctic researchers in temperatures down to -100F. You can determine your parka size with Canada Goose’s sizing tool, which can be found on their website here: http://www.canadagoose.com/us/en/sizing-charts/sizing-charts.html. You can generally wear a size down (which will be more form-fitting) or a size up (which will be looser with more room for layering, as done at the South Pole.
Shipping to the USA ($65), Canada ($65), Europe ($100), and Oceania ($130) is available. We will ship to other countries on request, but you are responsible for any import taxes and fees.
Limited Quantity!
Our stock is very limited and is available first-come, first-served. The parkas are listed individually, allowing you to pick the perfect parka for you. We have done our best to create descriptions and include pictures that describe each individual parka accurately. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
Sales are AS-IS and final. We cannot accept returns or exchanges.
