Gear Review
The North Face Free Thinker Jacket - Men's
2010/2011 version quite different than before
By WishfulThinking
Ranked #544 - Men's Ski Jackets
October 9, 2010
This year, North Face did two things that discouraged me from buying this highly technical jacket: (1.) Hand pockets are in the traditional street-jacket area, low on each side of the jacket. Hard to access when you've got the waist strap done up on your backpack. For those of you who always wondered why technical jackets often have the pockets high up in the chest area, it's for that reason - so you can access your pockets while wearing a pack. The previous years' versions had the pockets up higher. (2.) The pit zips are not longer "pit" zips. There is now only about a 6" zipper under the arm, near the armpit. Previous generation had full pit zips up the torso and along the underarm.One good thing they did this year was add back in the upper left arm pocket. They had this in the 2007 version, which I own. The upper arm pocket is perfect for a cell phone or small walkie talkie. It's easy to hear whatever you've got in there. If a walkie-talkie, you can talk into it easily without removing it from the jacket, and without taking off gloves. If it's a phone, it's easy to reach quickly without undoing any straps on your backpack (which may be obstructing your other pockets and main jacket zipper).
View Details: The North Face Free Thinker Jacket - Men's
Helpful Votes: 4 Yes
Tech Specs:
- Material:
- Gore-Tex Pro Shell (3-layer)
- Insulation:
- none
- Fabric Waterproof Rating:
- guaranteed waterproof
- Fabric Breathability Rating:
- guaranteed breathable
- Hood:
- yes, fixed, , helmet-compatible
- Fit:
- athletic
- Venting:
- dual core
- Powder Skirt:
- yes
- Pockets:
- (external) 2 zippered hand, 2 chest dual vertical zip, 1 bicep, (internal) 2 goggle / media, 1 stash
- Seams:
- fully taped
- Wrist Gaiters:
- no
- Liner-Compatible:
- no
- RECCO:
- yes
- Recommended Use:
- alpine climbing, mountaineering, skiing
- Manufacturer Warranty:
- lifetime
Change me.
3 Comments Last Reply: January 2, 2011 By: Peter Kaminski
The 'rotated core vents' are on the front of the bicep - where you have the most blood vessels on the surface, and thus they do the most good to cool you off. Behind the arms and slightly lower than the pits are another zip that, when opened, provides a flow-through from the rotated vents and moves air through much more efficiently than a standard 'pit zip'. In addition to the upper left arm pocket where you hold the walkie or cell phone, the left napoleon pocket is actually designed for a walkie and has a spot to run a headset up from it.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
To comment on wishfulthinking's review about street pockets. This has always been an issue with me buying jackets. High pockets are great when wearing a pack- but a lot of skiers out East here do not wear packs (in fact the majority don't). When using your jacket without a pack or around town- the high pockets can be a big pain holding and accessing your valuables. This version at least combines the city pockets with napoleon pockets that can be accessed in the chest with a pack. It seems to be a nice comprimise. Good looking jacket too!
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes
Another small change is they finally added a foldover to the zipper guard near the mouth. Dunno about other people but MAN the lack of one is freaking annoying when wearing the last version because the flap of fabric would slide all over the place and not stay over the zipper.
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes