The North Face V10 Soft-Shell Hoodie Jacket - Men's - 2012 Closeout

Comments about The North Face V10 Soft-Shell Hoodie Jacket - Men's - 2012 Closeout:

Well made, good quality, washes well

Comments about The North Face V10 Soft-Shell Hoodie Jacket - Men's - 2012 Closeout:

Layering is a dark art. You hear the advice to layer from all the reviews, tips & tricks articles, and almost every backpacking magazine out there. However you get the barest advice ever on how to do it: "Base layer, mid layer, shell! Okay have a nice day."

What the pundits aren't saying is that if you choose just one of the 3 layers incorrectly you will be uncomfortable (cold/hot/sweaty/burnt) and most likely be carrying additional weight as further punishment.

"But come on!" you say, "Everyone is doing it, so it must be possible to nail it down right?" Well, yes, but for whatever reason the key piece of advice when planning the gear load out for your layering strategy is often missing from the gear selling articles that we all love: Versatility & Value.

Specialized gear is for climbers and chumps. If you're a ground pounder you need to pay special attention to making every ounce count. If you can make a one piece of gear serve at least 2 purposes in 2 seasons then you have a win on your hands. This is V1 - Versatility.

V2 is Value. It speaks not only to the cost of the gear-crack you bought, but to what the value is in its role. Value is a tricky measurement because the factors are different to everyone. You must balance the cost, with the amount of use you are going to get out of it, and how important that use is. This is a very personal measure, and intertwined with the before mentioned Versatility.

These truths are at the heart of my review, and opinion of the NorthFace V10 Hoodie. ounce for ounce, dollar for dollar, you're going to be hard pressed to find another piece of gear with such a high level of Versatility & Value.

Made with a soft wind blocking fabric that can serve as an outer shell in temperatures down to the lower 40's, it is still breathable enough to serve you while backpacking or moderately hiking in more temperate weather. It is one of the few items of clothing that you will be carrying all four seasons. That's a big test of both V's right there.

In cold temperatures (<40), the Hoodie excels at being a lightweight mid-layer sitting above a mid-weight base layer like a Smart Wool 1/4 zip shirt. This combo makes for excellent breathabilty while retaining enough heat to be comfortable while under way. It's also not so bulky that you feel like a walking burrito while schlepping your pack. If you need a little extra warmth or protection from the elements then you can very easily wear this combo under a shell - soft or hard.

In warmer conditions, its the perfect camp coat or lunch layer. If your just wearing a short sleeve shirt you will get to enjoy the soft teddy bear texture which is an added bit of comfort while knocking about in the woods. If the wind kicks up it will let you feel the breeze without chilling you. On foggy mornings it fights off the chills equally well. the deep helmet compatible hood will bump up the warmth a few degrees and gives you another option to hide your bed-head when you're fresh out of the bag. Speaking of sleeping bags, this hoodie, a pair of fleece pants and a 15 degree bag liner have served me well on a 40 degree night - and I'm a cold sleeper.

Off the trail, you can wear this weaved wonder in any casual setting: Shopping, the bar, on the way to the gym, around the house, etc. North Face products have become the choice in outdoor posers - however the benefit to the real outdoor enthusiast is that you get good gear that doesn't make you look like a Power Ranger when you're out an about in the wilds of Suburbia. The rest of the world might not know you from the preppie down the bar, but the ones that get close enough to smell the campfire in your threads are the only ones that really count anyway.

Comments about The North Face V10 Soft-Shell Hoodie Jacket - Men's - 2012 Closeout:

I think this is a great light-weight jacket for those in between days when a heavy jacket is too much but the sun is still hiding it's face. It stops the wind like a traffic cop and feels as smooth as a kitten. My girlfriend said she is just gonna keep petting me when I wear it... (I should add that to the "Pros" section).

The sleeves are a little long, but you get used to it. It packs away pretty small too, i carry it to work for those sunny-turned-sour days, just in case.