About The “Big Red” Canada Goose Parka

The affectionately nicknamed “Big Red” is a Canada Goose parka made exclusively for the official United States Antarctic Program (USAP), to be issued to all scientists and staff serving at the two largest American research stations in Antarctica, McMurdo Base and South Pole Station. These parkas have been worn by generations of Antarctic researchers. Prior to Antarctic Surplus, there was no way for civilians to obtain the original Antarctic model.

The closest civilian equivalent to these parkas is the popular Canada Goose 4660M “Expedition Parka”, which currently sells new for $1,950.00 USD.

Where Did The Parkas On Antarctic Surplus Come From?

The parkas available on this website have been sourced directly from the Antarctic Program’s New Zealand clothing warehouse and an Emergency Cold Weather Gear cache at the South Pole. Every year over 1,000 members of the Antarctic Program wear their Big Red throughout Antarctica, from the coastline to the frozen plateau of the South Pole.

These parkas have seen years of service on-continent before being sold as surplus by the Antarctic Program. That’s where Antarctic Surplus comes in. After purchasing the Big Reds directly from the USAP, we refurbish them, condition them, and make them available for sale. Each one is a unique piece of Antarctic history with its own story to tell.

The History of Canada Goose in the US Antarctic Program

In the 1980s, Metro Sportswear (later Canada Goose) developed a custom parka to meet the unique needs of the scientists braving the extreme conditions at Antarctica’s McMurdo Station and South Pole Station. The new ‘Expedition Parka’ quickly became standard issue for the USAP, earning itself the nickname ‘Big Red’ for its 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.

What Can I Expect From Antarctic Surplus Big Reds?

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.

You will receive a randomly-selected parka of the size and condition you choose.

Condition Grading

We assign each parka a condition grade of Fair, Good, Very Good, or Excellent based on overall wear, UV fading, and the visibility and quality of repairs, with pricing adjusted accordingly. Parkas with unique characteristics or those that do not fit neatly into a standard grade may be listed separately.

The grades are described as follows:

• Fair: These parkas may show heavy wear from service in Antarctica, including scuffs, staining, and/or UV fading. Patches and repairs, if present, may be larger, more numerous, or more noticeable than those found on parkas in higher condition grades. Very small rips that do not affect the parkas’ functionality may also be present.
• Good: These parkas may show moderate to heavy wear from service in Antarctica, including scuffs, staining, and/or UV fading. Patches and repairs, if present, are generally straight, neat, and as presentable as possible. Very small rips that do not affect the parkas’ functionality may also be present.
• Very Good: These parkas may show minor to moderate wear from service in Antarctica. Patches and repairs, if present, are generally few in number and/or small or subtle. Any more noticeable repairs will be straight, neat, and as presentable as possible. All rips, however minor, have been repaired to the best of our ability. While staining and/or UV fading is typically very light, a small number of parkas may have more moderate staining or UV fading if that is the primary cosmetic flaw and the parkas are otherwise in excellent condition.
• Excellent: These parkas are in excellent condition, with minimal UV fading and only very minor signs of wear. Patches and repairs, if present, will not be readily visible when the parkas are worn. Any staining, if present, will be very light or limited to small areas.

Individual Parkas Will Vary

Each one of these parkas is a unique piece of Antarctic history. You will receive a randomly-selected parka of the size and condition you choose. Because each parka is unique, some details may vary.

Can I Choose My Parka?

We’re happy to help pair you with an individual parka! Just reach out to us through the contact form prior to making your purchase. Please make sure to include the size and condition you’re looking for as part of your message, in addition to any other specifications you may have. We’ll work with you to select a parka that you’re excited to purchase.

Parka Features

The iconic “Big Red” parka is built for extreme cold and trusted by those working in the harshest environments on Earth. It features a windproof outer shell and multi-layered down insulation for superior warmth. The adjustable hood includes a shaping wire and a fur ruff—either synthetic or genuine coyote—for added protection against wind and blowing snow.

Designed with practicality in mind, the parka includes a fleece-lined chin guard, interior waist drawcord, recessed cuffs, and a Velcro flap that covers the front zipper. A snow skirt provides extra defense against the elements, while a silver reflector patch in the middle of the back adds visibility in low light.

An official USAP patch is displayed on the left-breast pocket, along with Velcro for a name patch. Each Big Red will have it’s USAP assigned serial number written in black marker on the inside of the lower left-hand pocket flap.

• 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

Please note that while the Big Red is very similar to the Canada Goose 4660M “Expedition Parka”, they are not identical.

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 here. 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 is available to the USA, Canada, Europe, and Oceania. We will ship to other countries on request. Buyers are responsible for any import taxes and fees.

Availability & Returns

Our stock is very limited, and is available first-come, first-served. Size availability may vary by condition, and once a size is sold out, it’s gone. You will receive a randomly selected parka of the size and condition class you choose.

Due to the nature of our inventory, we do not accept returns or exchanges by default. However, if there’s an issue with your order, please don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re happy to review concerns on a case-by-case basis and will do our best to make things right.

Are You a Current or Former USAP Participant?

Current or former USAP program members will be provided with a coupon for $100 off the purchase of a Big Red parka! If this applies to you, please reach out to us via our contact form with proof.

Examples of proof:

• Communication via your USAP email address
• Image of your certificate
• Image of you in a Big Red parka with your name on the name tag