Recent news from The North Face is that they’re developing circular systems to recycle previously owned gear and reuse the raw materials, keeping them out of waste streams. They have in fact just launched their first products intentionally designed for circularity. Sadly, this doesn’t apply to this jacket (it might do to future iterations), however, the brand says that there has been a focus on making it repairable – whether that’s at home by the owner or by the North Face repair team.

Materials and Features

This is the first instance of The North Face’s 50/50 technology being using with a synthetic fill. All previous designs used down – the L3 Hooded Down jacket for instance. The ultimate aim is the same: to create a garment that saves you from having to wear loads of layers that require stripping and replacing as you go depending on your tempo.

The baffle design and fabrics, from what we can tell, are largely unchanged too. The baffles all hang off the inside of the jacket with large spaces between them and the materials are all light, slightly stretchy and they’re air permeable while still being densely woven enough to lock all the fill fibres in securely.

“It’s perfect for those summer wild camps and autumn and spring hikes.”

The gaps between the baffles is where hot, moist air is able to escape from the jacket – the crucial component of the 50/50 technology. So, when you’re, say, pushing hard on your skis uphill, you’ve got insulation but you’re also able to stay regulated too.

Details on this jacket include stretchy cuffs that can be pulled over mountaineering gloves, a simple, non-adjustable hood that can be worn comfortably underneath a helmet, a zipped internal pocket on the chest, and there are two handwarmer pockets that contain toggles for the hem adjustment. The jacket can also be packed up into its left pocket.

Verdict

I’m five foot 10, I have an average build and I normally wear a size Medium jacket. I tried this in a Medium and it fitted me perfectly. It was comfortable over the top of a light fleece and I also found I could wear a shell layer over it comfortably.

The breathability is impressive. I’d say the airflow really is noticeable when you’re working hard in this. That said, when stood still that airflow isn’t necessarily welcome, and that’s when I’ve felt I’ve needed to pair this with another layer – so it’s not going to suit anyone looking for a belay type jacket or something to keep them warm when sat on a ski lift. It’s perfect for those summer wild camps and autumn and spring hikes though.