Loved the jacket from day one... til about day 3. The material snags on the most unassuming things. It does not hold up to "normal everyday use". I began finding pinhole-sized tears and small holes in random places and once the material snags on something, it runs like nylon stockings/pantyhose! I did & still do receive unsolicited compliments on the jacket (bought it in Molten Red) wherever I go, which is a shame since I decided to return it. It is adequately warm & lightweight, but does not block wind, so I'd recommend it for use in weather no colder than maybe 40'F or right at freezing. If it hadnt been for the frail material, I would have kept it. Note: this is only the first of maybe a few dozen The North Face products I have purchased that have left me disappoined. However, since Backcountry maintains 100% customer satisfaction and has allowed me to return the "faulty" jacket for a full refund/exchange, I'm left with a not-so-bitter taste in my mouth from this purchase. A+ for Backcountry, D+/C- for The North Face on this product.

I love the style of this jacket. The black and red are really sharp together and the front pocket gives the jacket a sporty, modern look. The "knit" material gives the jacket a rich look. I was really excited to wear this jacket but was disappointed after I tried it on and it was too short. I own other North Face jackets that are the same size and fit perfectly. This jacket cut me off above the waist and my shirts stuck out about 2 inches from the bottom. If the jacket fits, it is a great looking jacket.

Good quality but didn't care for the fit. I loved the pocket on the chest. I swapped it for a little different style with the pocket also.

I own 4 Mountain Hardwear jackets and love the performance, fit, and style of all of them. When I began searching for a lightweight mid layer fleece to complement the others, found no MH to fit this criteria. Not a hardcore fan of TNF for many reasons, decided to give the Release a try.
Fit is typical TNF...with long arms. Great construction and materials. Style far above average. Perfect weight and so comfy with minimal bulk. If you are tired of bulky fleece and want a great value, go for it. Cause Hardwear fans won't find anything like it. And BC.com does it better than anybody on the net.