I purchased the Met5 jacket and immediately had problems with it--the jacket would turn itself off seconds after turning on. The batteries and charger seemed to work properly.
I called North Face customer support to try to have the problem resolved, and their representative indicated that this jacket hasn't been produced in the last two years due to the fact that it "doesn't work". She instructed me to send in my receipt for a full refund at the purchase price.

So basically if you buy this jacket and tell North Face it doesn't work, you can get a free soft shell jacket. Just don't expect it to actually provide you with any heat ;)

Although I did not buy this jacket through this website, I managed to get it on sale for $350(almost half the price). I find it to be incredibly useful for layering during snowboarding, especially backcountry where I can where it as a base layer. If I wear this jacket and a stretch shell I have no problems while hiking with overheating. When I get to the top and turn this on, that is when you know that it is worth it. However, since I didn't pay the full price, someone who paid the full amount might be disappointed.

I bought this jacket 2 months ago. For the first 2 weeks it worked (I just wore it back and forth to work in single digit weather.) The first day I go skiing it stops working as I'm on the lift. The North Face sent me a brand new one (I'm without it for 2 weeks). The new one had a bad battery pack. They Fed Exed me another battery...The new battery is again bad. So...Even though it's a great concept and when it worked, it worked well…but I don't like spending $500 to be a test pilot.
Quality of Materials: Excellent;
Concept: Excellent;
Execution: Poor;
Quality Control: Poor

I bought the Met5 jacket over a year ago and there was a process you had to follow to "synchronize" the batteries. The bottomline was it just did not work, so I returned it. This winter, I decided to order another Met 5 because I had read that Northface had redesigned the battery system. I have had the jacket for several months now and have been very pleased with the operation. It worked everytime and the length of battery life is excellent. I use the coat around town and when I ski, turn it on high when on the lift, hmmmm so warm. While I think the price is high, it does do what it says and I am very pleased with the performance.

I purchased a Met5 jacket and within one use it failed. Sent it to the North Face for repair and they demanded receipts, warranty cards, etc. They could not repair it and sent it back to me. So much for their customer service. I would never purchase another North Face product again. My Marmot and Arcteryx clothing is better made and their warranty is bulletproof. Stay away from North Face products. Read their warranty carefully...its misleading. The jacket was good when it worked, but it is not relaible.

I have turned heads everywhere I walked with this jacket, it is so unique, jet black in colour and the red The North Face logo is very smart. The batteries bulge out a bit too much and the hand cuffs catch and erode very easily while reaching into the zipped pockets. I wish someone would have thought of inner pocket to hide the heat control switch (it looks too robotic on the outside). The battery pack pockets need to have less threads hanging out and made of stronger material. It is not very easy fitting the battery in the pockets and removing them is even harder as there is little room for your fingers. Great looking jacket but needs some mental assessment.

I am in the Army serving in northern Iraq where it snows. The jacket kept me warm and worked great, but it is not military friendly. The switch on the shoulder is very sensitive and it turns on and off, and when you are wearing body armor the switch is difficult to get to! The second thing is the batteries are located too high on the jacket with body armor. If you are wearing body armor it also doesn't let the jacket make close contact with your body so you won't get the full heat from the coat. Overall, the technology of the jacket works, but it needs more improvements and it is not worth the cash you would pay for it.