The Hiker Photographer

This is a fantastic light-midweight jacket. I have had one for 5 years and it has performed in all kinds of weather conditions.

Light, packs small, warm. Despite how thin it is, it is for light activity use only unless its really cold-like say in the teens.

Great fit-trim with none of the down Michelin Man look. Can layer under it easily. I often wear Midweight Tneck, R1 pullover, fleece vest and this without feeling like Randy in a Christmas Story. I can also add my Gore-Tex shell over it for the coldest temps.

The best hood I have ever used. Most jackets it seems you fight the hood, in this it moves with you perfectly. That hood also really helps extend the range of this jacket. When its in the 20's and I am standing around, just zip up to stop drafts and keep the noggin warm.

As a bonus for large format photographers, I can fit a Fuji Quickload holder in the pockets of this.

My only downside to this jacket is I wish the pockets had fleece in them. At least my 2005 version does not.

The Monkey Man is the best fleece going today. Super warm. Super soft. Trim fit that you can do some layering with. Great arm length and tall stay up T-neck.

Like all regular fleece items it is not windproof, so you still need a shell. But if you want fleece get this!

Note- the Muppet look is awesome too. My wife loved mine so much I had to get her one too. Now its her favorite winter wear.

The TNF Denali fleece is a classic. But it also has been pretty much the same for 20 years. Fleece technology has changed but the Denali has only slowly evolved. It is warm but it is bulky. I think its more around the cabin wear as there are better fleeces for an alpine environment. Monkey Man comes to mid as a better more modern fleece, that packs smaller and is warmer.

Get this for the classic nostalgia, get something else for the peak.

This is the best fitting of the 800 fill down sweaters. Much better than the Patagonia or Mountain Hardwear which were both awkward. Trim but roomy is how the fit is. The price is right too.

Excellent choice!

This is a decent warm jacket. It is nicely detailed by MH.

However if you are contemplating this jacket you should really jump upto the hooded version. If you need this warm of a jacket you really want the hood. Plus the hooded version has a Conduit shell.

This is really more of an around town jacket in my book. If you really do cold get the hooded. If you want light go for a thinner 800 fill sweater like a Marmot Zeus.

The jacket is ok. It is a decent coat.....for around town use. But if you are in the wild and need this much jacket, then you need the hooded version. The hood makes a huge difference in warmth. Also it has Conduit so it can withstand wet snow and sleet better.so this is a better choice around town. but for being outdoors, you want the one with the hood.

And if you do not need this much warmth get a lighter 800 fill down sweater.

This is a great warm, I gotta have heat cause it is freezin outside jacket.

I like the fit. It is cut short to wear with a harness. I like that. Non-climbers might not. If you have a tall torso it might be too short. If thats the case look at the Subzero Hooded Parka. For me with a 19" torso, its perfect.

Good warm hood. Nice soft fleece in hand pockets. High cut on pockets. The Conduit shell makes it possible to use it in a wet snow you might wet out other down.

Too warm to hike in. This is a keep wam when I aint moving coat. As a photographer that is really where it shines. When I hike into a location in predawn light I do not wear this. Its when I get to location and will be standing for 2-3 hours waiting for light that this makes the difference.

I also own the TNF Hooded Redpoint Optimist jacket. That is much lighter than this, they compliment each other well in my kit.

Warm. toasty. Priced right too.