The North Face Apex Bionic Jacket - Men's

I really like this jacket...and am a big proponent of the apex fabric for "medium" cold "medium" wet days....no it's not water proof, but if you are out in the rain or snow and moving non-stop it's a lot more breathable than gore-tex or other fully water-proof fabrics, and I think this is a great jacket for ice-climbing, cross country skiing, climbing, running, and anything where you need a wind and water resistant piece that is ultra breathable. As an added bonus I think this jacket is "techy" looking with out making you look like you are in extra in Tron! Nice balance of form and function.

Great Jacket. Holds up well against light rain and wind. It's made as a base layer or light cover for your base layer, don't expect it to be a "do it all jacket". Worth picking up for the price I got it for..
I'm 6ft 180lb medium fits perfect

This is a great jacket to just throw on. Comfortable, wind proof, and somewhat water resistant. I own two of em , one for work and the other for whatever. They are very durable for being a soft shell. The fit might be snug if you like your clothes baggy. Dont expect an extremely warm jacket but its great to bomb around in.

Wear it anywhere! Great quality, but just a shell. So not much insulation on the inside remember. I bought the black, and the zipper ties aren't white, they're black so you know! Excellent jacket.

I thought the fabric was a little stiff. It kind of gets in its own way. It will keep you warm, but I prefer my TNF Zot.

Ok, if I could have added a half-star I would have. I love this jacket: fit, durability, warmth, zippers and everything else. BUT ... I just wish it came standard w/ a hood. I believe they make the hooded version, so if you are like me run w/ the hoody.

This is a great jacket, it does well in rain (not heavy mind you, it is a soft shell) and cuts wind. I use this for style and looks for casual wear or the occasional day hike. I prefer my old school (15 years old and as good as new, just broken in) TNF Steep TECH for colder and wetter ventures.

I was debating between the Windwall 2 and this jacket, I own a Windwall 1 from a couple years back and it has been very good to me. But after trying them on a local sporting goods store I bought the Apex Bionic and I love it. The fleece lining is warm, I wore it snowboarding in Colorado with a baselayer and was dry and warm. I'm going to Utah in a couple days and will be climbing with it also. Its a great jacket, Best North Face jacket I've ever had.

I really like the jacket and this is my first north face. I'm 5'8 and weight about 175, i got a medium and it fits great. I haven't tested it out on the motorcycle yet since it is still to cold and we are getting snow today. Its great at blocking the wind on the cold miserable mornings and it keeps me warm with a t-shirt underneath.

Used my Apex Bionic Jacket skiing at Snowmass, CO late March/early April '08. Don't let the dates fool you, it was cold and we received 30" that week. The softshell kept me warm and dry under my Spyder winter coat. Later in the week, as it warmed up, I wore the softshell alone up top while skiing and it worked great. Very wind resistant. One note, is that it shouldn't be used as a big time cold weather jacket alone. If the weather is cold (<35-40 degrees), wear it as a layer. Last but not least, I'm 6'5, 235 lbs and the XXL was perfect, including a nice long sleeve length!

I have been impressed with this jacket since i got it because it seems to have grown out of what TNF has been lacking- more stylish clothing= less quality gear. This is the best of both worlds- very stylish but very functional. The only con is that you are now just another TNF posterchild- every other person on the street is either wearing this jacket or the Denali fleece.

This Apex is a good buy, great quality as expected of NorthFace apparel. Super light, essentially water and wind-proof. Great for xcountry and outdoor activities involving a ton of movement, especially during adverse conditions like snow & wind. The adjustable waist & wrists allow for a good weather seal, or loosen it up if you want it to breathe. Nice feature.

I personally use mine as a very comfortable and lightweight building-to-building jacket when it is nasty outside. While it protects very well from the elements, it's not bulky or overly-insulated, so you can wear it indoors without overheating by simply unzipping it. Not optimal for stationary outdoor activity under 32F; I wore it ice fishing and froze - but that's not its intended function. Great layering jacket though. Just FYI.

this jacket is great... the only thing i regret is taking it camping with me cause now the smoke smell won't leave... but otherwise, perfect jacket, warm, good looking, good fit.

Awesome jacket! This is my first North Face piece and I couldn't be happier. This is a very stylish jacket for all-purpose wear and the function of cutting the wind, and keeping me ware and dry were outstanding. I can wear it over a t-shirt or layer it over a fleece or under a shell. I'll happily wear this jacket throughout all the cold season. I'm 6'1" and 190 lbs, the Large is a perfect fit and didn't short-arm me.

Looks great, blocks the wind and water very well. I would have made it a little longer on the torso, but that is about the only critique I could give it. Also, you can hear when the material it rubs on itself and it is a bit stiffer than I expected, but that doesn't bother me a bit. It makes it a little awkward to ball it up and pack, but it also ensures that it looks smooth and sharp all the time. Highly recommended.

Great jacket. Good fit. Blocks wind well. The pumice grey came with a bright red zipper. Still a great jacket.

I live in New England, and I was looking for a jacket that was light enough to wear in the spring, and warm enough to use on cold days too. This jacket fits the bill. It is very wind resistant, and precipitation beads right off of it. I do a lot of hiking, and dog training, which makes me appreciate the durability of this jacket as well. I have three jackets total. One for the coldest of cold days, one extremely light jacket for summer, and this one that covers everything in-between.
This is a perfect all-around jacket.

everyone else has said it all.

worth the money

From the minute I got this jacket, I loved it. I have a raincoat North Face jacket and the Denali jacket, but I like this one the best because not only is it lightweight and waterproof, but also keep you really warm. I was trying to decide whether to get the hooded Bionic jacket without the front chest pocket or the one without the hood with the pocket. The only bad thing is I wish it was hooded with the front pocket, but I'm still very satisfied and would recommend it to anyone. Just decide which is more important, the hood or the front pocket.

I love this jacket!!! Keeps the water off, keeps me warm, looks great doing it.

The Jacket all your fleece wishes they were! Wind resistant and semi water proof.
Great jacket for active people. Toss a Gortex shell on top or a base layer or two under and you have a very versitle jacket.
Worth every penny.

Regrettably, I'll be returning my medium-size Apex Bionic today. The jacket is absolutely perfect for me --- except, for some reason, the armpit area is way too tight and contstricting. I Don't think it would ever stretch out enough. I would not be able to wear a sweater or anything under it. I'm a chesty 5'7", 177 lbs, 16 neck and 32 arm. I don't know what the North Face designer was thinking. I'm afraid a size large would have arms way too long. I guess I'll have to try one on at a store first. It's too bad. I had gotten a discontinued model for almost half price. The customer service person thinks the newest models are cut the same as mine.
Oh well.....

I travel every week and wear this on the planes with me. I wear it to work everyday. Great for business casual, depending on your office. I have worn it to Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek and Keystone. It has kept me warm and dry in 14 inches of powder and in short sprints through the rain. I wear it on my motorcycle when I ride the interstates and it blocks the wind like a leather. Have to make sure you have a warm insulator layer underneath. I wore two long sleeve dry fit thermal layers and this jacket in 20 degree weather on the mountains and was warm all day.

Perfect jacket for the right activity. The stretch fabric is very durable and breathes well while keeping you warm. It has a very athletic fit (I'm 5'7", 150#; I got a small) so size up if you want to layer more heavily but if you are using this for strenuous activities (climbing, hiking) this jacket is perfect. My only complaint is that it is not super warm by itself so grab a puffy jacket for camp or belaying

Great jacket for Virginia winters. Also, Backcountry has been great to order from. Thanks !!!

in israel we need it mostly for rain, and a lot of cold wind.
works great, blocks wind and still breathes.

I love my Apex Bionic, it's classy and very performing against wind, it's warm enough and very light! Wear it any time i can. Just go ahead eyes closed.

I ski about 20 days a year. I bought this jacket as a lightweight jacket for skiing. The 1st day I took it out, the weather called for light snow. I figured I could always go back to the room and change, if the weather got bad. The day turned into a blizzard and the jacket kept me completely warm and comfortable. I was shocked! I had thermals on and a sweater underneath. I've since worn it everyday I ski (from cold and windy to spring conditions). It's nice and slim and looks good. I get many compliments. I've since bought another one in a different color.

Love the coat it does the job in all weather. Fits good for the most part, it is a little long in the sleeves but besides that very true to size. Keeps the cold out and the warm in.

This is a great windproof jacket, and as others have noted, it runs a tad large, but that's okay if you want to add a layer beneath. Wearing it in 15 mph winds and 40 degrees F, I added a vest underneath it and worked all day without feeling constricted. I have a medium, and my stats are 5'8", 145 lbs, 39" chest, 32/33 arms, 15-1/2 neck. The arms are long enough so that they don't pull back onto my forearms when I reach overhead, so they do hang down onto my hand a bit. Hope this helps.
Tom

Let me start off saying my wife and I both bought these, partly because of a great sale price, but we really like them a lot!
I like The North Face, but the last couple of years have gotten away from them because I was afraid they had gotten away from the core business of outdoors. We live in the midwest and you never know what the temp is going to be. We just went on a 3 day hiking camping trip in the ozarks, I had my icebreaker layers on and this jacket, temps from 20 to 40 degrees, felt comfortable the entire time. Glad I bought the jacket, look forward to many years of use. I also have the Mountain Hardwear Monkeyman jacket, great for a base layer under this jacket for really cold days.

Love the jacket, the black soaks up the sun on the forty degree days that I'm on the soccer fields or just kicking around. Just wish it were made in the USA

This is a great jacket. I'm 6'3'' and athletic, most xl jackets are for fat guys with short arms. This is cut great, trim but not too tight. Material is stretchy, not too thin or too thick. Blocks wind well keeps light rain off.

This is without a doubt my favorite Jacket. It's perfect for those windy days, light weight, easy to pack and has stylish looks. Good work The North Face!

Apex bionic jacket is great for what BC advertises it for. Great for spring skiing, hiking, and casual use. Keeps you warmer then other fleece jackets because it has a windproof shell. Would benefit from vents, but oh well. Great all-around durable jacket.

NICE FIT, WIND PROOF AND GREAT WATER REPELLENT, I WENT TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN WHEN IT WAS WINDY AND RAINING AND IT WAS DRY IN AND THE WIND WASN'T GOING THROUGH.

Apex bionic jacket is great for what BC advertises it for. Great for spring skiing, hiking, and casual use. Keeps you warmer then other fleece jackets because it has a windproof shell. Would benefit from vents, but oh well. Great all-around durable jacket.

A bit tight, but great for cooler to cold weather. And it being a jacket also means I can wear it open for warmer weather, as opposed to hoodies and pullovers.

Let 'er rip. My husband loved the jacket so much! It looks very sleek on him. Thanks for the great service and great prices. A

Great jacket overall. Warm enough for cooler days as a light jacket by itself. It's also useful for layering on the colder days.
My only complaint is with fitting: i'm 5'9", 175 lbs, water polo player/swimmer, and the sleeves are about 2 inches too long for me. Also, the velcro straps around the sleeves grab the inside of the pockets can which get pretty annoying.

Just got this jacket in Light grey/dark grey, super comfortable, alot warmer then I thought great jacket for winter in Ca.Wore it on a very damp cold evening kept the wind and moisture off me, if your looking for a warmer than normal lite weight jacket this is it.. It's a great jacket

Greta Jacket. Excellent weight and warmth. With a fleece layer you can handle about any around town weather you get and it definetly works on the trail and in the mountains.

I shopped price for a while on this jacket and Backcountry's listing was the best by quite a bit.

This jacket is amazing. Absolutely love it. Only thing to be cautious of is the sizing. Sleeves run long while the rest of the jacket runs small. Overall a great purchase!

Perfect for all kinds of weather.

Technical, Functional, Versatile.

Looks as good as it performs.

Warmer than one would think.

great jacket! exactly what was needed!

this jacket is great! exactly what I wanted.

I love the jacket and the color (green). The jacket tends to run a little large, I got the XL and wish I got the L. I'm 6'1" and 190 lbs (athletic), but very pleased overall.

Great for just about any occasion. Warm enough to wear in the cold NW, but light enough when I wore it in Bosnia's warm rain.

Fits is good for me 6' 210lb. Arms are a tad longer than I like but would be perfect for someone riding a bike\motorcycle. I think it has decent wind resistance and water beads off it for short periods of time. Good jacket for 40-60 deg f range. I like the style and material.

Bought this for my boyfriend and he loves it. Looks great on him and it's the perfect weight for the in between temps of the winter/spring transition in NYC. Highly recommended!

I now own two of the jackets. First one was the older model about two year's ago used it to find my lost dog in the Santa Fe national forest went through juniper and pinon trees was'nt on a trail and it also rained. The jacket has held up well the fabric never ripped. The newer version 2007-08 is even better The North Face listened to its customers. And made great jacket even better. The new jacket comes with waist draw string, velcro sleves which helps to keep you warm. I have used the jacket to run and hike in and to mountain bike. The temps range from 5 degrees to 45. Obviously if the temp drops to 20 degrees I wear an underamour shirt with a mock neck and some other thin poly pro with long sleeves and I'm fine. If you're a runner who likes to wear as little as possible this jacket might be ok if worn in 30 to 40 degrees with just a long sleeve ploy pro shirt. I also have a $200 jacket from REI and this one is just as good but for half the price!!!!!!!!

Got this in the fall to be my first option jacket for everyday use. It's held up great and is just the right blend to stand up to mild cold. I wore it with no problems all the way down to about 20 degrees, but not in constant outdoor exposure at those temps. Would definitely buy again...

It is a fantastic jacket, but for me who do gymnastic strength training it is too tight in the shoulder/upper arm.

I got a large, I'm 6'1" and 180lbs. It fits very well and I've been pleasantly surprised with the temp range I feel comfortable in. It keeps me warm down into the 30's, but I don't feel uncomfortably hot when it's high sixties....

Good buy!

Nothing wrong with the jacket, nothing special about it either. The arms are longer, and the fit is looser than a super athletic cut. If you have broad shoulders this jacket is you. My room mate has 42'' shoulders and a 29'' waist. This jacket works great for him.

It is too light for any serious wind, and it has limits on warmth too. I cut mine with a ski edge carrying it in less than 4 days.

Fine for around town, not up to technical wear.

This is an excellent middle layer to wear in a Pacific Northwest weather as an everyday jacket. It's warm (but not like a Denali), water repellant and some wind resistance, but this is not a Gore-Tex, you are expected to have another outer layer as well.

I've had it for over a year and it's still in great shape. On chilli days I take it over a base layer and under a gore-tex outer shell and I can sustain freezing temperatures on my bike.

I'm a big fella (lift and run) and the fit seems fine to me. I use this as my biking commuter jacket here in the NE and the wind resistance is much appreciated as the temp drops. I do sweat alot and have found even Goretex cannot shed my sweat fast enough, this jacket is certainly no exception. After 20 minutes of medium-level biking I can feel the sweat start to pool in spots (arms and backpack area). Dries exceptionally fast though. Definitely would recommend this jacket for this purpose.

I love it. Great in the rain, and comfortable. I get a lot of compliments on it.

This is a very nice looking jacket. It is versatile and performs very well in cold and windy weather. The size medium fits me very well for my height (5'7"). The one in empire blue color looks much better than asphalt gray. Will buy another one for wearing to work.

A colleague of mine purchased this jacket first. I then followed suit. I like it quite a bit. Rain beads off it but it will get wet with a good rainstorm; wear a waterproof shell outside and it will work great for bad conditions. Warm and cosy. Works best with layers. Fits well in shoulders but is a little loose in waist (average build).

This is easily my favorite lightweight jacket purchase ever! It's completely windproof and waterproof. It's ideal for those blustery, drizzly Washington winter days.

I've worn this jacket in temperatures ranging from 40 to 65 degrees and been comfortable. I've worn it in light rain and stayed dry and it does a good job of keeping the wind out. My only complaint is the fit; a size large fit nicely in the shoulders but was too baggy through the stomach and waist areas. The medium fits better but it's a bit snug across the shoulders and back unless I'm wearing just a t-shirt or very light long-sleeve shirt underneath.
Overall it's very good.

I'm 6'2" and where a 42" long and weight 190. The XL comes down over an inch past my wrist bone and a little loose in the body - pretty much perfect in my book. It's a versatile jacket that works well with an overpriced Northface fleece. The jacket is perfect for the weather here in the NW and I probably will pick up another one next season.

Love it and it was a great price.

Pros it looks cool, it's soft on the inside.
Cons it doesn't keep me warm enough on it's own below 40F. There is room enough for a thin sweater or fleece which wouldn't be a problem if the inside lining were a different material. It's a pain to wear this jacket over any kind of long sleeve shirt since the jacket lining has the uncanny ability to stick to almost any material.
It does keep you relatively cool with activity which is good for skiiers/snowboarders perhaps.

The softshell material is waterproof and windproof--I've held my arm under the shower for minutes without springing a leak. The jacket seems light, but that keeps you comfortable at warmer temps. For skiing, the apex will keep out a driving wind on the top of any mountain and keep you warm. It's absolutely my new base shell--I can't believe there was a time when I had to brave the elements without this jacket.

I purchased the Apex Bionic for my son, he just loves it. I wore it one day during some sub zero weather under a hooded sweatshirt and could not believe the ability to cut the wind and cold. Needless to say, I am not up on the new technology of cold weather gear, but I intend to learn a lot by checking out the gear on this site. Thanks for helping me find the right stuff and I look forward to more purchases in the future.

Awesome

I'm 5'10", 175 lbs., average-athletic build, and I got this jacket in size medium. My build is very average, so its unusual for something to fit me poorly. It felt like a combination of two things: the holes where the arms connect to the body of the jacket felt small, and the back of the jacket felt like it was cut too small, so that I had to stretch it when I reached forward. I unfortunately didn't read enough of the reviews to see the problem of the bunching in the armpits and the excessive roominess of the arms. It's because the arms were ample enough in the medium, that ordering a size up wouldn't have fit either. So I returned it. Aside from the size, it was very warm for such a thin jacket. Felt a little stiff and rubbery, but I'm guessing it just needed to be broken in. Water beaded off it excellently, and it was totally windproof.

Great jacket! Excellent for wind, and holds up pretty well in a light rain. Everything I could have expected. Will definitely own a couple more...

I bought this as a birthday gift for my husband just over a month ago and I don't think a day has gone by that he hasn't worn it and told me how much he loves it! We have been more than satisfied with this product.

Bought this jacket as a base layer/Jacket for around town. Only just been able to wear it hear due to the rain cooling it down. So far so good, good fit, good make, very happy. Slightly waterproof will give you enough time to run for cover. Excellent customer service, ordered from Australia fast everything, and easy, even shipping

Great gear, the Apex Bionic Jacket was exactly as described. Fast shipping! Thanks for everything!

This Jacket is awesome. My son has not taken it off except to sleep since opening Christmas morning. It's light weight and warm. Of course our temps have not been below 20 degrees F

This jacket is a well made piece of clothing, as expected from TNF. it is durable, and breathes well. My only complaint is the length of the sleeves. They are really long,and get in the way when layering with an outer shell. They shoulders are also a bit narrow. I have fairly broad shoulder width, and it fits tight if i wear anything bigger then thin baselayer/t-shirt under it. If it werent for that it would be a five star item.

I bought this coat for my boyfriend and he absolutely loves it. It's a great lightweight coat. Fit is very true to size. He's 6'1" and weighs a little less the 200. Normally to get a coat were the sleeves are long enough but were the body of the coat he's not swimming in is very difficult. This coat looks great on him.

I just came back from a ski-trip to Austria. I must say that this jacket more than satisfied my expectations. I bought it just a month earlier to have a lighter top layer for temperatures above 0 C instead of using a down fill jacket. I ended up using only the Apex Bionic with only a simple base layer underneath for skiing. This jacket has great windbreaking capabilities. It has a light insulation, and as long as you stay in motion you will be perfectly warm. I used it in temperatures below -2 C in strong wind and never felt cold. Moisture is easily vented to the outside and the jacket repels snow perfectly. I really like the combination of a tight fit around the chest and the long sleeves. Just a tip: Pick a black one and you will see, that it absorbs sunlight and keeps you even warmer whenever you sit down for a break. The pocket-design is great. I kept a slim camera in the napoleon pocket where it is easily accessible and protected while having cellphone and 2-way radio in the other pockets. Bottom line: I can recommend this jacket for skiing/snowboarding when using the right base- or insulating layers underneath. Thanks for great chat-support!

I love the versatility of this jacket. It is perfect for cool outings because it is light and flexible. It holds up in colder weather insulating from the harsh cold, wind and rains. This is by far the best jacket I have ever purchased