The North Face Hawthorn Down Jacket - Men's - 2008 BCS

Okay, so first of all my husband is 6'8" and we never would have thought TNF made anything that'd fit. He LOVES this jacket. The sleeves are long enough and it fits him with room for layering (though it's super warm without...). This is the perfect "around town" jacket in Alaska and I'm so glad we found it.

Put simply, this is the nicest coat i've ever owned. I live in the bitter cold of Minnesota and this thing has treated me great even through the coldest of weather. It was -9 deg yesterday and being cold never crossed my mind. My only complaint is that the hood is a little oversized for my head, but better that than too small.

This is a great coat. I purchased the "New Taupe" which is is actually a dark Greenish-Olive (understatedly beautiful). As with most North Face products I always purchase a size down. I am 5'10" and wear a 42R coat. For the Hawthorn, I decided on the Medium, and it's a perfect fit with enough room to layer a thick sweater and undershirt. The sleeve length is generous as well, so no worries.

The coat is very warm, but not bulky like The North Face McMurdo which is similar in materials and construction. It is also shorter in length than the McMurdo, and falls a few inches below my hips. I think the biggest challenge is the hood. It's HUGE, but when wearing a beanie or hat, works well. There are cords to cinch it up, but if you have a normal head (mine is a little big) then you might take this into consideration. As for the rest of the jacket, it's very well made (in China) and comes with a Lifetime Guarantee. It keeps the rain, sleet and snow out. Though my only nitpicking is that I wish it had a removable liner and perhaps ribbed internal cuffs, but that's just a personal preference.

Pros: Rugged, Lightweight, Warm, Blizzard-proof and Fashionable with a Lifetime Guarantee.

Cons: Does not fit true to size (go one size smaller), the hood is a little too big, but suitable for certain conditions (Siberian Winters), and there's only one small internal "media" pocket (not that you should be unzipping in freezing temperatures anyways).

On a final note, this is not an Mount Everest Expedition coat. And for a normal ski trip holiday, it may be overkill, and perhaps you'll be wishing it wasn't so warm. With that said, as an overall jacket, it's difficult to beat, especially if one is working out in the elements on a regular basis, Siberia inclusive. If you want durability and longevity, I say go for it, after all, that's what I did."

I had this for a week but wasn't satisfied so I returned it for the Gotham. The material of the Hawthorn was more rigid compared to the Gotham. The elastic bottom of the Gotham seals in heat a lot better. I can feel cold air coming up from under in the Hawthorn. The hood of the Gotham is smaller and more practical. I can't look up and see the raod when I put on the Hawthorn hood. It a decent jacket but just didn't fit me well. Very happy with the Gotham though.