The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's

If you're looking for a heavier weight fleece jacket or liner for a waterproof shell, this is the one! This jacket is very warm to wear on it's own and zips in perfectly with a #5 zipper to any shell. I use it when backpacking through the Black Hills where temperatures can get pretty frigid at nights during the spring and autumn and have stayed very warm in it. The Denali also dries very quickly when it gets wet, but since it is a fleece, it really doesn't repel much water. The tactical zipper pockets and pit zips are nice features as well, and make it all the more versatile. I'm a ranger for the National Park Service and this is my jacket of choice on colder nights, and when the weather really bottoms out, I zip it into my Marmot shell to stay both dry and warm. Great product by The North Face

This jacket doesnt really have much technical performance, but for some reason i still wear it 4+ days a week in the nothwest. In my opinion is is quite fasionable, clean and simple, but a little annoying when you can start a club of Denali Wear-ers everywhere you go! Its very warm, and really comfortable because its soft fleece inside and out. I like the pockets and pit zips (not mesh lined), and its sooooo light too. The bad part is that its not windproof at all, after youve worn it for about a week the fabric stretches and just lets all air pass thru withought a fight, and that makes the warmth of the fleece usless. In your normal size it is pretty roomy and too bulky to layer under a shell, but in a size down it will work ok as a layer, but be REALLY hot so high-output activites like snowboarding would not be a good idea with this as a layer. The nylon panels are very waterproof with the DWR and can easily withstand a light shower, but the rest gets wet and nasty and doesnt dry very quickly.

The optimal use ive found for this is just indoor casual, with a sweatshirt under it most of the time...besides that its good for any cold weather environment that is not windy or rainy - which i cant really call an example to mind.

I gave it 4 stars because i really like the jacket as a casul piece, but its lacking performance.

Don't get me wrong this is a nice fleece and it's very warm and very durable but it's bulky and not wind resistant at all. As soon as there is a little gust of wind you might as well not be wearing a coat at all. This coat has no practical uses outside of casual wearing. For the money buy something that is wind repellent, less bulky, and maybe even water resistant. You will be much happier with a coat like that.

This is probably the best fleece jacket that has been made. Simply classic. It has great functionality which gets overseen by the 5 billion people who own it and wear it to the mall and never try it out in the backcountry. My only criticism of this product is that I wish it had more "athletic" fit. It is a little bulky.

Overall this is a great fleece, don't know if it's worth getting at full price though. Doesn't block wind very well and is a little bulky like others have said. I prefer my TNF Windwall 2 fleece, warm and it blocks the wind like a champ.

Wear it to the kegger and then to class the next morning. A great insulating layer, but when worn as a jacket the wind bites right through it. I gave it 4 stars because of all the products TNF has now with WindStopper and this jacket being a flagstone of their product line, it only makes sense to solve the wind problem by offering a Denali WindStopper edition. C'mon TNF, get it right for Winter 2009.

Though it never claims to be a techincal jacket, the Denali is by far the worst jacket for the money you can buy. The only positive it has is it is a 300 weight fleece. But for $165 retail, you can get a Windwall 1 or 2 or pay $195 for an Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan, which is not techincal, but still warm and very fashionable.

I'd give it a zero if I could.

Best all around jacket
Great under a shell

Cyrus said it all in his review. He is dead on in the review. I have one Denali, i wear it because it matches my work colors perfectly. While it's not part of the uniform, I get away with it.

Well if you have never heard of north face you must live on an island
the denali is really the gold standard as far as these go
this is me second coat they fit well and really are worth the money!
Love this even more as i got it half price disc color !!!

It's interesting reading these other reviews with the few complaints it's received. I've had a Denali Jacket for about 5 years now, and I love it. People may complain about the wind whipping through it, and it's true. However, you should understand that this is not "windstopper" fleece. This is 300 fleece, which is really warm as an INSULATOR, which means on a cold windy, rainy, or snowy day, you should have a waterproof shell over it. That's what it was made for. It's great as an outer layer when it's cold and not raining or windy, but don't expect it to be a great storm proof jacket, because that's not it's purpose in life.

This was one of the first fleece's i ever owned and it was adequate for the job. as TNF grew over the years, the quality of this jacket has decreased so the "style" factor can increase making it affordable to everyone (which is nice)but resulted in TNF more interested in getting their name out instead of quality jackets. This jacket is more of a "around town" jacket and not recommended for backcountry adventures as it is super heavy and not built to quality.

This is the most cozy fleece i've worn. Super thick fleece feels like it will hold up well. Breathes great! It has lots of pockets and features, but is a little thicker than I like for layering except for on the coldest of cold days. All in all I am pretty psyched about it and think it will make a great fleece for cruising around town or the mountains.

Great jacket.
Does run on the big size. I ordered a M and it was huge, returned it for a S and it was perfect (5' 10'' & 140 lbs). I would recommend that you where a long sleeve underneath it because it does not block wind, but NO regular fleece does unless it has different fabric in it. Keeps you warm and I have worn it as a base layer and it is PERFECT.

Though this jacket has kept me very warm on the occasions when I have used it, it is WAY to heavy and hard to back for any backcountry usage. I have several lighter, more compressible fleeces that insulate just as well. For this kind of money, look elsewhere.

Still have an older Denali Jacket ~5yrs old or so.
Recently bought the newer hooded version. Same styling but add a hood and the quality/feel of the fleece was also updated.

Still very pricey!! Buy it when it's on sale ONLY!!

It's "adequate" in that is warm but NOT when it's windy! The wind will cut through the jacket and you'll literally freeze!

The purpose of the jacket is insulation so it's best when used with either a shell jacket or under an insulated jacket!

Fleece is very bulky when compared other 300-weight fleece jackets.
It's not "as warm" as other jackets that are made with Windpro or Windblocker fleece materials as those jackets use thinner fleece with a laminating layer to block out the wind, which makes those jackets WARMER!!

The NTF Denali jacket has become too "stylish" esp. amongst teens and college kids! The company is now owned by Vanity Fair!!

There are other jackets available for less that'll block out the wind and keep your warm.

Overall, it's still a good fleece jacket but not when the temps drop below freezing and/or when it's windy!

Over a hundred dollars for what? This jacket lacks a lot - mostly function. Not windproof, bulky, whats the nylon on the shoulders for? Get one if you want to look trendy and you have cash to blow (but then again everyone has one so you might just look lame). Am I the only person who thinks you should get a better and more functional piece for this price?

I haven't had much time yet to really test my Denali in difficult conditions. as for fit, i'm 5'11 175 athletic build and the medium fits me very well, as for wind protection, it has none, but then again it is not designed or marketed for wind protection. i bought it as a midlayer for backcounty hiking/skiing, as well as, daily use. overall, great jacket, would recommend for "daily" wear alone, but definitely want a shell over it if you might run into some wind or precip. if your going to use the fleece more for extreme backcounty than daily use, i would recommend something a bit more technical.

This is a nice fleece jacket but I would never pay full price for one of these. The $165 price tag is WAY too much. I bought this jacket on sale ($77) and still think it was a little steep. I wanted another black fleece to replace a Columbia one that had seen "better days." The medium fits me really well (I'm 175lbs, about 5'10") and the their fleece material is very comfortable. All of my other North Face jackets are large and they fit the same as this medium jacket which I found to be a little weird (I had to return the large I ordered for the smaller size). I am a big fan of The North Face products and have five of their jackets but this one doesn't seem to out quality wise like the others.

I own several nice TNF jackets ranging from a thin pullover to the warmest summit jacket. I have recently purchased the Denali because I was curious if it actually was the hotness so many claim it is. The TNF description says that Denali is a 3 season jacket, 2 if you're in the north. I bought it and wore it for about 1.5 weeks. I end up giving it away to my cousin. Throughout the time I purposely hang out in the restaurant fridge at 24F, went on a scooter ride at 35F and sat in my room at 72F. Denali is NOT windproof, NOT waterproof, kind of breathable and most definitely NOT stylish. It is very bulky, the heavy fleece does not adhere to any share other than a square that it is, and the jacket is very uncomfortable as an under layer. I would say that Denali is so popular because it's the CHEAPES TNF made for wide range of climates. To most people $160 for basically a fleece jacket is top of the line except they forget they're buying name brand. You will have to spend at least $200 if you want a good windproof/waterproof/slylish/breathable jacket to wear between 20F and 50F. I would recommend you spend enough for at least Sentinel/WindWall Thermal/ STH. I intern for an advertising agent with TNF so I get to wear all of these entry level jackets. I am telling you that these are the least you should be looking for if you're looking for an all-weather jacket. Besides, do you really want to give people the impression that you're unable to stand up to the fraternity group mentality¦? TNF has at least 15 different options for you, plus the color. My advice is to choose something unique and get away from the simple black color. Take it or leave it. I am just an intern after all. PS If you think you're a real bad*** then check out the Arc'teryx collections. Arc'teryx is not as numerous but better than TNF and much more stylish!

This jacket is warm up in till there is a little breeze. Its also really bulky. Dont waste your money unless you want to look like the rest of the sorority girls and wanna-be locals.

Too expensive and lacking function for the high price tag. Honestly, only get one if you want to look trendy. This jacket is bulky, not windproof, and everyone has one. NorthFace should and can do better then this.

I got this Fleece from Santa back in the 90's and It was great. It was also about $150 more expensive then too.
This Jacket was essentially became a layer a second layer of my skin I wore it so much.

OVERALL:
This Jacket is great for all seasons. I once stood at a football game with it on when it was pouring down rain and my upper body never got wet. It will keep you warm but like previously mentioned it is not a great windstopper. If you are one of those who drink the North Face Kool-Aid from head to toe then you will love this Jacket. If you ski this puppy works great zipped into a shell.

Only Draw Backs: Everyone and his sister has this Jacket..seriously. It attracted more cigarette burns than any other fleece I have ever had. probably due to its bulkiness. *Make sure you hang dry it.

provides great warmth and keeps you fratty but not a great technical piece. I'm a lanky 6'3" 190lbs and the L is huge, even the sleeves are too long. Also there's a reason the bittersweet brown color is discontinued.

I want to say that I have had many fleece jackets and none have kept me more warm than this one. I love the color and I was loving the great deal I got from this site. Thanks

Love this Fleece /Fits well /I like a big fuller fit and is definitely warm

Ok, well I have been wanting one of these for a while. At 99 bucks on sale from Back Country I had no more excuses. I got a black one.

The free shipping was quick and the key word being free. Awesome.

Bottom line, This fleece jacket is warm. I have a 12 year old Polartec 300 from another company and this new 300 classic stuff is about twice as warm.

It holds up in cold, damp, misty conditions. Drizzle just beads off. It will also keep you warm in low to moderate winds in the 40s and 30s. It hasn't been any colder than that this spring here in San Antonio.
For rain and high winds, I recommend a shell but yeah, this is a fleece jacket so that sorta goes without saying. The Denali makes for a good stand alone jacket in most average conditions, or a toasty insulator under a shell.
Great pockets and the vent zips come in handy too.

The Denali's looks are great. People take notice of the jacket. Many people want to touch the fleece. So some admire and some are jealous. What really matters is I like it. :) I hope it lasts as long as my older Polartecs that I still wear even today. I rate the Denali as a good investment for those who like what fleece has to offer.

Thanks Back Country!

This is my favorite and most effective winter hike base layer [in a deep freeze] and jacket in just plain old cold. It got me easily to the top of Mount Whitney through snow, ice, and wind in early June [when I actually forgot my wind jacket]. It is miles better than all the cheaper [brand name] Polartec wear I own - by far! It prevents cold air from slipping through the zipper area, the cuffs or waist. It seals great, the pit vents allow for smooth transitions during long hikes or "warm moments". The relatively light weight [given the pile of the fleece] makes it an easy add to the pack when in doubt of weather conditions. At 6'7" tall, the XXL fits my length and is just a tad short in sleeves. I would strongly recommend it to anyone and everyone. I've had it for almost three years, and it's been everywhere in this region, up Rainier, and in Canada.

This is it. The pros: Warm, Good pockets, can be zipped in to a proper shell as a liner when needed, classy look, clean fit, I'm 6'4" 210 and the large is a great fit for a midlayer. The cons: not waterproof, not windproof.

This jacket is not wind resistant at all. Not really practical for really cold winter days. The gusts will shoot right through the jacketa and you might as well not be wearing a coat at all.

This is a great fleece. Definately not wind proof, but does a good job cutting it down a bit. Perfect as a camping fleece, or as a layer under a shell. The pit zips are nice and help keep from over heating. I am 5'10', 170 lbs with an athletics build and a M is a bit big. Although if you are going to use this as a backcountry fleece a medium should be fine. If you are looking for a fashion fleece I would go with a Small, as the shoulders aren't as wide and the sleeves not as long.

About 5'10 150 lbs, lean build here. Ordered a black Medium, was too large on me, gave it to dad. Ordered a small in charcoal grey, fits me perfectly. Both colors are beautiful, and as you may have seen, the Denali is played out, and the reason is that they are GREAT looking jackets. You want this to fit snuggly b/c of the nylon panels, they are stiff, and you don't want to look like a football player with shoulder pads sticking out. Also, this jacket is BULKY, which means you can only layer with a large shell. As a standalone jacket, it is really a fashion piece, a slight gust of wind and I freeze. Bottom line, looks "A+", usability "C-".

Ok, well I have wanted a Denali for a while. When it went on sale for 99 bucks, I had no more excuses not to buy it. I got a black one.
The fast and free shipping rocks.
The Denali is toasty warm. Its a great stand alone jacket for most average conditions. Works fine in the damp and drizzle, up to light- moderate winds, into the 30s and 40s. That is as cold as San Antonio got with this week's Blue Norther. For more wet and windy conditions, I recommend a shell. That should kinda go without saying though for most fleece. Again the Polartec 300 is very warm. I have a 12 year old 300 Polartec from another company that has held up great, however the Denali's Classic 300 is twice as warm. The Denali looks great. I get a lot of compliments. People like to feel how warm it is. Some people are visibly jealous. Really the bottom line though is that I like it. :)

Pockets and the vent zips work very well too.

The Denali is warm, good looking, and made of a durable, reliable Polartec 300 weight fleece. I recommend it as a good investment for those who will appreciate what a good fleece jacket has to offer.

Thanks Back Country!

This is a well made, nice looking, great fitting jacket. But I believe it is one of the most over-rated products on the market, at least for my use. The 300 weight fleece seems too bulky when layering under a shell, bunches up more than I like. Then, when you remove the shell, a cold wind will cut right through it. In the end, I think you're better off going with a lighter jacket that has better wind-proofing capabilities. (I switched to a Marmot Sharp Point jacket).

I usually wear Mountain Hardware gear... I believe it is just as good, at less cost. My older M.H. fleece is close to 3 years old and has lost some of it's 'goodness'. I figured I'd try and go with a 300 wt. fleece vs. my old 200 wt. fleece. It is a great jacket, and is warm, but in no way windproof. It fits well under my Mountain Hardware Alchemy ;) I'm 6'2" and normally wear a 42L. I have a Large and it fits great, if not a bit big. BTW, Backcountry is a great place to shop for gear. I always come here for my 'researched' purchases, and REI for my impulse purchases...

I picked this up on SAC thinking I got a great deal. However, the first time I wore it I realized how very wrong I was. When they say there it's not windproof, they mean that there is absolutely zero wind protection. The slightest breeze will rip through this like it's not even there. Even the mild temperatures of Seattle proved to be too extreme for this fleece. For such a high price tag, I expect a lot more. Do not be fooled by the hundreds of rave reviews coming from people with large wallets and low expectations.

As far as fleece jackets go, this is the most versatile one I've owned. It keeps you warm, its durable and the vents work well to cool you off on warmer days. I've had it for five years now and have no complaints. I use it as a base layer for skiing when the temp drops below 10 and it always keeps me warm. Also works well for New England spring skiing. Great for fall hikes as well.

Just ordered one after hearing so many great things about this jacket from friends and the reviews on this site. For $99 I figured you can't go wrong. Can't wait to get it.

I'm about 6', lean 150 lbs and the small still looks and feels a bit too small for me so I'm exchanging for a medium. I definitely don't have a 40" chest, but even so the jacket seems to fit like any other jacket, so if you're an M I'd say don't fuss and just get an M.

The jacket is extremely warm if there is no wind. But a simple shell fixes this.

Excellent jacket. My 17 yr old son got it for christmas and loves it! I'm sure our other son will be wanting one next year. I will definitly be ordering from backcountry again. The service was top notch!!

Alright so this is a nice jacket, but I must see 30-40 a day on the streets so if you get one get some wacky color or sometihng. There are much better jackets out there for the price like monkey phurs or or just about any 300 weight fleece. So unless you need something to zip into your TNF jacket or you want to be like everybody else get creative and find another fleeced. Oops did I say fleeced.

I have two of these jackets and I wear them for just about everything. They're great for wearing to the gym in the winter, and really whenever I need a jacket for temps down to ~15-20 degrees.

This jacket is very well tailored. It is amazingly comfortable.

i had a denali cota for 8 years, but out grew it and finally bought a new one. Absolutely the most worn coat i own. i love it! in teh fall/winter, its teh only coat i pretty much wear.

The standard among midweight fleece jackets. Can be worn as a jacket or as an insulating layer and is versatile enough to go from campus to the mountain. It's comfortable, the pockets have zippers, it's warm, and it's compatible with North Face jackets as a zip-in. Some may say it doesn't block wind and while it won't keep you warm on a really windy night, it does block some wind.

I love my Denali Jacket! I wear it fall, winter, spring AND summer. Up here in New Hampshire, it can get mighty chilly on a summer night. I hope The North Face keeps up the good work!!!

I use the Denali as a midl ayer underneath a shell. It is wonderful, soft and keeps me very warm. The only drawback is that it does not keep the wind out, if used by itself. Otherwise a great piece!

I purchased the jacket for my boyfriend for Christmas and he could not be happier. Since he works outside most of the day, the jacket keeps him very warm and protected from the (now) cold Nebraska winter. He also receives many compliments about its fit, color and overall appearance. I will definitely purchase more jackets like this in the future.

This purchase was perfect-quick ship WONDERFUL COMPANY in general backcountrystore gets a A+++ in my book, the jacket was everything I wanted and then some, plus the price was great overall this was one of the very best purchases I made online high fives all around to backcountrystore!

Besides overstating the obvious, the pockets are nice too.

The Denali jacket is extremely warm as an insulating layer, has a nice assortment of pockets and the pit zips are a convenient feature. However, it is very poor at blocking wind and is rather heavy and bulky. I have other jackets from The North Face and Arc'teryx, and I would definitely suggest going with a lighter jacket (Arcteryx Sigma LT) composed of the Windstopper fabric. It will keep you just as warm without the bulkiness and weight of this jacket. Besides, everyone already owns this jacket, and people who buy it are purchasing it for fashion and not for its quality. There are much better jackets out there for this price!

The denali has been a great fleece jacket for me. If you're looking for a high value/warmth ratio, however, look elsewhere. There are far warmer jackets in this price range. The Denali fit/cut is flattering and the TNF logos have become quite fashionable. If these are your priorities, the Denali is the way to go. If not, look elsewhere. The Denali makes a great 3rd jacket or insulating layer.

A warm jacket for a liner. Great to wear under a wool coat to be warm when it is windy and cold. A little bulky compared to some other jackets, like the Mountain Hardware wind stopper. The Rhythm blue/ industry looks grey in some light and blue in other light. Overall a good jacket, but everyone has one.

This is my second Denali jacket, as I gave my last one to a friend who is slightly smaller than myself and couldn't afford a new one. I go to a southern private high school where this model jacket is the current trend. This jacket never leaves my car. Anyone debating on whether or not to buy this jacket, let me decide for you. GO FOR IT!

My wife and I bought two Denali jackets for an October hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. We usually hike in the summer so we didn't know what to expect. One of our hikes was to the top of Mt Mitchell (6650 ft.)Weather was overcast and foggy with the temps in the low 40's with wind. The Northface Denali's worked well by themselves with a tee shirt underneath. Nice and warm all the way to the top. Would recommend them to anyone.

This is my second Denali jacket. My first was purchased during my sophomore year in high school back in '97. At that time only 2 colors were available, but now there are many choices. I wear it all the time and practically everywhere. It's not too heavy causing you to sweat, and light enough that it can be worn on warm fall days and cold summer nights. The styling looks good with just about anything I can throw at it. Simple, but unique. My only gripe is that it recently turned into THE fleece jacket to have. I see them everywhere now! Other than that, if you're looking for a stylish fleece jacket that works great on its own or as an insulating layer, the Denali should definitely be on the top of your list. Myself, I’m a charcoal on black fan.

Great Fleece! All around warmth and comfort. Don't settle on anything less. Worth the extra few bucks.

This jacket rocks. I was a little nervous with the purchase. There were mixed reviews. But I would love to clear that up. This jacket just plane rocks. Like all good fleece it wicks water rather well and dries extremely quickly. The pocket arrangements are great. And the pit-zips are a blessing from above. As usual the order got out expeditiously. I have never had one bad thing to say about these guys. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME.
Signed,
One Happy Camper

I bought the Denali jacket for my boyfriend's birthday, and he absolutely loves it! It's a great jacket for any time and anywhere!

This is a great jacket. I wear it for all weather. It is very comfortable and warm. This is the best out of all the North Face fleeces. Definitely get this one!

This is a super warm very soft gret all-around jacket. I am buying a hard shell for it this week so I can wear it all winter.

Could not have been more pleased with the quick shipment and quality of product. My son has barely taken this jacket off since getting it. Thanks!

Thanks so much I love my new jacket it is very comfortable and not heavy like other winter jackets.

The best looking fleece jacket on the market. Everyone should have at least one.

I live in NYC where winters are not so severe. The reflective liner is not too warm. It does afford you the ability to use fewer layers (NF Denali Vest is mine) and to unzip them both on balmier days. As for the occasional artic night, you don't even feel the cold.