Gear Review
The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's
THE DENALI - CONSIDER IT "AN ULTIMATE SWEATER"
By JEFFREY JAY LEVIN
Ranked #239 - Men's Fleece Jackets
November 30, 2009
The North Face Denali Fleece "Jacket" - in my view is not real outerwear. It is not intended to compete with DOWN PARKAS. What it is is a nice soft and warm fleece garment.
MY RECOMMENDATION:
1) Wear this Denali indoors - if the dead of winter when there is a bad chill in the house.
2) Wear this Denali after you have been skiing.
3) Don't expect this Fleece Garment to be a warm parka! It was never designed for this purpose.
BOTTOM LINE:
CONSIDER THE DENALI A WONDERFULLY WARM SWEATER OR SWEATER LIKE GARMENT!
This way you will appreciate the Denali, rather than having to criticize it - as though it were a Parka - which it is not!
View Details: The North Face Denali Fleece Jacket - Men's
Helpful Votes: 3 Yes
Tech Specs:
- Material:
- [body] 87% recycled Polartec 300 fleece w/ DWR; [abrasion patches] Bluesign-approved nylon
- Windproof:
- no
- Fit:
- standard
- Center Back Length:
- 28 in
- Pockets:
- 2 hand, 2 chest
- Hood:
- no
- Weight:
- 25.7 oz
- Recommended Use:
- Hiking, backpacking, climbing, mid-layer for skiing, casual
- Manufacturer Warranty:
- lifetime
Change me.
2 Comments Last Reply: January 1, 2010 By: Ben Reff
Most people are not criticizing the jacket itself necessarily, but the price tag that comes with it. You can get a pretty decent softshell jacket or windproof fleece for the same price, and you can get a comparable "casual" fleece jacket for MUCH cheaper. I'm fine if TNF wants to sell casual wear items under the guise of outdoor performance gear, but the price ought to reflect that. We don't expect it to be a parka. We just expect it to perform to the standards of comparably priced fleece or softshell jackets, which it doesn't. $165 is pretty absurd for a sweater. I'll appreciate the Denali more when they either amp up its features or give it a reasonable price, say ~$100.
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
I've owned a Denali for a number of years and used it for camping, backpacking and around town, and weight to warmth is better than most other fleece I own. I do agree that it's more a sweater than a jacket, as it requires a shell to repell rain and heavy wind.
Helpful Votes: 5 Yes