nothing exciting, but a solid all-arounder

By Ben Reff Ranked #260 - Men's Softshell Jackets November 3, 2009

TNF Apex Bionic is not as expensive as some softshell jackets, and there's a reason for it: It lacks a lot of the fancy features that many jackets include. But for the price, I actually like the Apex Bionic a lot (and that means something, coming from someone who normally avoids TNF products). It's a no-nonsense jacket, simple and solid. As other posters have commented, it's a good jacket for "medium" conditions - medium wind, medium wetness. But it's warm enough to layer under, and waterproof enough to layer over, other things, which makes it pretty versatile. The jacket has a somewhat roomier fit than my more technical jackets, but it actually fits comfortably over a hooded sweatshirt or several mid-layers, unlike the others. It is also noticeably longer in the body - something I appreciate, since I have a longish torso and no desire to expose it to the elements. I would describe the fit as "casual," pretty firmly between technical and boxy.

Like other reviewers, I like that it doesn't look freaky-techy. It's functional and simple and looks as good on the street as it does on the trails because of that. And of course, the upshot to how mind-numbingly well this jacket sells is that you get a lot more color selection than with many softshells.

My only major complaint is the fact that TNF decided they needed to put a logo on both the front and back of the jacket... c'mon, seriously? Do the people walking behind me really need to get an eyefull of brand name?

This jacket isn't the warmest and it isn't the most weatherproof. It's also not the most technical of outerwear. And of course, if you're looking for a unique jacket that will make you stand out on the street or in the mountains, TNF is probably not what you want. But for everyday use in cool climates, its versatility makes it a winner in my book.

Worn on its own, this jacket can probably keep you comfortable between 30 and 55 degrees F, or even as high as 60 if you aren't moving much. As an outer layer it could probably take you down to 10 or 15, but for extreme cold temperatures I would probably use it as a midlayer because of its lack of a hood.

View Details: The North Face Apex Bionic Softshell Jacket - Men's

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