Mixed Bag

By codemonkey Ranked #443 - Men's Softshell Jackets January 24, 2011

I bough this jacket in '09 because it was one of the cheaper softshells on the market. It's served me well. I've worn it through countless miles of the Appalachian Trail and many nights snowboarding our icy little East Coast hills we call slopes. It's been on Rainier twice - once to the summit in July and once to Muir in December. On the December trip I was only wearing this jacket and a wool base layer and was pleasantly warm despite the rather nasty wind. I also wear it cycling to work and back during our Norther Virginia Winters, which typically settle around 20-30 degrees.

On the negative side, this jacket is kinda heavy compared to some of its more technical competitors. It's also not intrinsically warm - it's great at blocking the wind but once you stop moving you're going to feel the cold creep in. Lastly, and perhaps my biggest gripe, is that it really doesn't do a good job wicking away perspiration. I think TNF recommends "mild aerobic activity" and they're not kidding. It's simply not suitable for running as it'll just get soaked and stinky.

I think the bottom line is that this jacket is more fashion over function.

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

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes