The Haukland Parka Pro Photography Jacket Ups the Ante on Protection
Haukland’s original 7-in-1 photography jacket is already water resistant and warm enough for most environments, but to support photographers who venture into even more extreme conditions, Haukland’s Parka Pro goes even further beyond.
PetaPixel positively reviewed the original 7-in-1 photography jacket last year. It was so impressive that it was also awarded accessory of the year in the PetaPixel Awards.
In testing, the original photography jacket was found to be very warm, but Haukland has gone a step further to support those who might venture into even more extreme conditions. The company characterizes the Park Pro as its “best jacket ever” and it is considered its most premium offering.
Haukland’s jackets all use the same 7-in-1 configuration, which refers to the three different layers that each jacket comes with that can then be worn in multiple different ways. So while it is presented as a singular “jacket,” each actually includes an inner fleece, a middle padded jacket, and a weatherproof outer jacket.
The fleece is positioned as both insulated and breathable, the padded jacket adds another warm insulated layer, and the final outer layer is described as windproof, waterproof, and breathable. Altogether, the whole system is meant to keep the wearer warm and protected from the elements.
The difference between the original 7-in-1 jacket and the Parka Pro mainly lies in that final outer layer, which is made of better materials and is treated with a waterproof membrane that the company says is typically found in sport sailing seams. While the original jacket is water-resistant, the Parka Pro is actually fully waterproof (>10.000mm water column), windproof, and scratch resistant. It also better protects against the cold.
What makes Haukland jackets “photography jackets” is the inclusion of specialized pockets throughout. That doesn’t change with the Parka Pro, as the outer layer alone features two chest pockets for lens caps, two large bottom pockets for filters up to 100x150mm, one inside pocket on the top left, a pocket in the left sleeve designed to hold a cleaning cloth, and five pockets in the “mini photo bag” that can hold larger items like batteries and lenses as well as specifically labeled memory card pouches. The Parka Pro further separates itself from the original jacket with the addition of two new large pockets behind the bottom pockets with side access for hands. The standard jacket does not have side-access hand pockets, which is one of the few downsides to the design.
Each layer has an abundance of pockets which lets them be worn individually or together without losing access to the most important photography-focused storage locations.
Haukland also notes that the Parka Pro version of the middle padded jacket is designed to be warmer than the standard version. A full side-by-side breakdown of what makes the Parka Pro jacket different from the original jacket can be seen below:
As noted in the chart above, the Parka Pro’s enhanced protection against more extreme environments means it’s notably more expensive than the original. While the 7-in-1 Photography Jacket is $350, the Parka Pro will set photographers back $499. Additionally, while the original jacket is available in a few different colors, at the time of publication, Haukland only has a black version of the Parka Pro available. It is, however, offered in seven different sizes.
Image credits: Haukland