The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's

Comments about The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's:

I'm not against this jacket, in fact I'm wearing it right now! Why? Because it's chilly in my house at the moment and this jacket is a perfect house fleece that keeps me warm, is durable, handles repeated washings, and is very comfortable.

However, it is not a technical fleece. I do not recommend this jacket for hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing or any similar activity.

In cold temperatures, the jacket is too breathable in even a slight bit of wind and this very quickly will chill you to the bone. I recommend a wind blocking fleece for these kinds of conditions as it's easy to vent a wind blocker if you need to.

For 3 season backpacking you will be better off with a lightweight down jacket or primaloft jacket for staying warm at basecamp.

As a mid-layer for insulation, it's way too bulky. Basically, this jacket is sized as an outer jacket, but it's only useful purpose is as a mid layer in cold temperatures. If you want a real mid-layer get a more form-fitting fleece or multiple base layers or something along those lines.

If, however, you just want to look like everyone else does in downtown Seattle in December, then buy this fleece. You'll be sure to fit in. :)

Comments about The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's:

I had a Denali for years, to wear around town in San Francisco and on camping trips in California. When I moved to Michigan I bought a Mountain shell to zip it into, and the combo was all the parka I ever needed even when it got to 60 below with the wind chill. But eventually my Denali wore out - it had a long life - and I went to buy a new one.

Bad surprise: TNF changed the sizing on the Denali zippers and they no longer fit inside the old Mountain shell - I'd have to get a new one of those as well. This was such a bonehead, profit ahead of sense move that I have since refused to buy any TNF product. If I was going to have to buy a whole new rig, there was no reason to stick with TNF anyway, so I went with Marmot.

TNF has not been the same since it went corporate and commercial - they are clearly all about the weekend warrior, SUV-driving fashionista crowd now. Shame to see such a once-proud leader and innovator in outdoor gear go bad.

Comments about The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's:

The Denali is great, but the slightest cool breeze will go right through it. It doesn't repel water well either, so if it's drizzling and windy, you'll be freezing. If you're very active in cold conditions and want breathability though, it's great. This jacket is perfect for things like snowshoeing, cross country skiing, cold winter/fall hikes, or even just wearing on a cool night around a campfire. The pit-zips are a must have too, I wish more jackets had them.

The main thing I don't like about the Denali is the fit. It fits larger than other North Face products, in particular in the chest area - it is HUGE. If you try to size down to get the appropriate chest size, your sleeve length is very short. I am 6'3 and in good physical shape, and I usually wear a TNF large, but I am swimming in a large Denali with its very large and boxy chest. I'm starting to think TNF is sizing clothes for the typical larger inactive American rather than the active people these clothes were intended for? The fleece does pill rather quickly too, so be aware of that.

The other thing that is annoying about Denali's is that everyone has one. If you go to a coffee shop on a cold day, you'll have the same jacket as everyone else. This is amplified times 10 if you are near a college campus. They're good jackets so I can't blame people for wanting them, but I think the popularity with the general public is changing the fit and quality, thus, the obese-friendly sizing and room.

Comments about The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's:

I purchased my Denali f[...] about 5 years ago and honestly it has done a great job everytime I have worn it. One thing to note before buying this moderately expensive fleece is that it is definitely NOT windproof in the slightest bit. Any cold breeze will slice right throught the jacket. The Denali is not a technical fleece in definition. Most tend to know this before the purchase, but some also don't research anything beforehand. As mentioned before you most certainly will not be a standout in this product. On my campus (Baylor University) literally 8 out of 10 will have this on in one of dozens of colors. All in all this is a good warm jacket that will last if treated well.

Comments about The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's:

First let me say this jacket is picked up by too many folks that actually never use it for what it's intended for. Too many casual college people wear this jacket to look like they are outdoorsy.

I've owned 2 in my 15 years of avid hiking, hunting, snowboarding and camping.

Now onto the reasons why it's still one of my go to mid-weight layers. This jacket hasn't changed much in over 15 years because it's design is perfect for it's intended use as a mid-weight layer over a base layer—not as a coat over a sweater or sweatshirt.

Pros:
• pit zips — required for the kind of activities you should be wearing this jacket for.
• the wear resistant elbows and forearms—excellent for scrambling and helps block wind on chest areas.
• chest/map pocket—perfect for the stuff you need to get to fast.

Cons:
• It does not compress—300 pile fleece never will. So it will steal a lot of room in your pack. A down or Primaloft® beats the Denali for compression and warmth
• Fleece areas do not block wind, unlined fleece never will—it's not meant to...part of it's warmth is gained by the loft (trapped air in the fabric).

So for the real avid adventures this jacket is a must have...TNF tends to have a more generous cut for layering, sleeves are long for a reason so when you stretch your arm out for a hold your wrists don't get exposed. Good engineering.

For the casual streetwalker that thinks walking through town is hiking, well you'll end up buying it cause your friends have one. Shame really...but then again if only the people that actually use TNF gear were buying it, TNF would be out of business.

Comments about The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's:

I love this fleece. I own probably 5 or 6 different fleeces and this is definitely the best. It keeps you warm in most temperatures, although if it's really windy or rainy I would recommend some sort of outer waterproof shell- it'll protect you from the wind, and keep you extra dry. Looks good and feels great. Having the extra pockets is also definitely handy to stow your cell phone, GPS, or any other thing you want easy access to. I don't have any complaints really, just pay attention when you wash it because the little string things on the zippers come off and you have to tie them back on.

Comments about The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's:

This is a great all around jacket. I bought it as a liner for my ski jacket and ended up wearing it all the time. Large enough to layer under it and small enough to fit my precip over it to gain wind protection. If you looking for windstopage I recomend Mountain Hardwears windblock gear (too small to really layer under)

Comments about The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's:

This is a classic North Face item. I do not feel however that it holds up to the jackets that are currently being made by North Face and Mountain Hardware. It's a bulky fit not ideal for modern mountaineering. Also for the same price you can get a jacket that is just as warm, water and windproof. Don't get me wrong, this jacket has served me dutifully for many years but it has been retired for more technical jackets. It's a great in town or causal hiking jacket, but serious hikers or mountaineers should look into other products.

Comments about The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's:

I have a lot of jackets. One of my obsessions. I got this a couple of years ago on sale. I don't recommend paying full price $[$]for this jacket. It is heavy duty fleece using polartec 300 but that is what makes is less than useful. It runs large and bulky so it is hard to wear a technical shell over it. And you need a shell to keep the wind out because it is not windproof. TNF needs to make this out of windpro fleece. That would really improve its usefulness. I love the looks of the Denali and am glad to have one. I have just been disappointed in its practical uses. I have a Columbia Titanium polartec 100 jacket with the same fabric on the shoulders and chest so it looks as cool as the Denali and works just as well with a pack on, but because it is lighter and trimmer, I can layer it much better and so it gets worn a lot more. Overall I would give it 5 stars for style and 3 for functionality.

Comments about The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's:

Last year I was frustrated in an attempt to purchase a cheap knockoff because there wasn't one in my size, so I went to REI and got the original goods. The newer sport jackets I couldn't fit over my arms with a long sleeved shirt on, and I'm not a gorilla. The North Face Denali fit and was comfortable.

I took the Denali Jacket with me on a business/journalism trip to Iraq by way of Austria early in the spring. I was comfortable in the dawn chill in Vienna, the late spring snow the mountains over Dohuk, Iraqi Kurdistan, the cavernous maw of O'Hare on the way back, and all the long plane rides in between.

This jacket is great for real world extreme travel, if not extreme sports. The extra room in the shoulders and sleeves allow you to rest in lasting comfort, knowing your gear will hold up.