The Legendary Cockpit USA N2B Parka (2025)

I’ll admit it, I’ve overlooked a lot of cool jackets in favor of denim and leather. But on a recent trip to NYC and the Cockpit USA showroom, that all changed.

The N2B Parka Origin Story

Every single piece of cool clothing can trace its origin back to either the military or workwear. The peacoat, A2 Flight jacket, combat boots, and bomber jacket all have deep roots in military history but have been reinterpreted for casual use.

It makes a lot of sense, garments are designed around a specific need, tested and often modified in the field, and the best ones filter down into civilian life. The N1 deck jacket, the successor to the pea coat, was an important part of 1950s motorcycle and hot rod culture for example.

When I went to the Cockpit USA showroom, among the wall-to-wall jackets one of the ones which stood out was their interpretation of the N2B. I came to learn that Cockpit USA isn’t just some fashion brand, they were a supplier of the iconic A2 to the United Stated Air Force, their jackets have been in tons of movies, and their catalog is broader than I expected.

The N2B has an interesting history. It’s the little sibling to the N3B snorkel parka and replaced the N2A. While the snorkel parka was more of a traditional length, the N2B was unique because it was shorter with knit waistband and cuffs. This makes it much easier to wear whether you’re in the pilot’s seat or behind the wheel of a Toyota Corolla.

The Cockpit USA N2B – Construction

This American made Cockpit USA version differs from the original in several ways, most noticeably in overall refinement. Like the contrasting leather trim. There are leather elbow patches, leather toggles, and various leather appointments all around. The knit waistband and cuffs match the leather trim in color which ties the whole look together.

Just a note about those cuffs- I don’t know if this was on the original or not, but they interestingly cut back up onto the sleeve. I have never seen this done before, but it’s a really cool detail.

The shell material is made from mil-spec nylon flight satin. This is the first jacket of this type I’ve ever owned, so I have no basis of comparison but its thicker than I expected and has an almost iridescent sheen.

Before we move to the interior, I want to point out some features of the pockets. The original N2B pockets were of a “pass-through” design, allowing pilots to reach their pants pockets without exposing their hands to the bitter cold. Both the upper handwarmer pockets and lower flapped pockets are designed for civilian use, and no longer pass through. They also feature a snap closure with the Cockpit USA crest. And take a close look at those lower pocket flaps, I don’t know is this was original, but I love how they’re pointed with vertical edges. It’s a small detail, but one which I noticed right away.

There is a small shoulder pocket with four pen slots, two of which include pencil point protectors. Should you choose to store pens, pencils, a small flashlight, or French fries in these pockets is entirely up to you.

Interior Components and Details

Cockpit USA has lined the parka in their signature parachute lining and insulated it with Primaloft. I’ve read that original N2B’s used various insulation, from duck down to wool batting. Still, this Primaloft is lightweight and effective.

Inside you get two vertical pockets with snap closures. They’re not the deepest pockets, but they can just barely contain my iPhone Pro Max with case, which is all I usually stick in there anyway.

The hood is a split zipper design like the original which will lay flat when unzipped, making you look like an arctic explorer or something. It’s lined in an acrylic faux fur and trimmed with raccoon fur. A lot of people ask me what the purpose of the fur trim is. Well, it’s there to prevent heat transfer, or basically so the wind doesn’t steal your warmth! Disparate hair lengths counteract wind the same way a “dead cat” on a boom mic does.

There is a drawstring which is color matched to the other trim, but unfortunately no way to size the hood. So, you get that snorkel parka effect whether you like it or not. Of course, adding a sizing feature would take away a lot from the historical reference N2B.

There are a couple of movies I’ve noticed the N2B in. Most recently the phone company guy in the classic movie Home Alone wears one. But the place most people know this jacket from is David Fincher’s Alien 3. Just slap a “Serenity Through Confinement” patch on your N2b and you’re good to go!

Of course, the Cockpit USA N2B parka isn’t for everyone. You may find it’s a bit much for you. A little too flashy. And that’s okay, because there are similar types of jackets which lose the fur trimmed hood and favor a more subtle look like the MA-1 for example.

Cockpit USA also offers this in a leather version if that’s more your style!

Brands Mentioned: Cockpit USA