The North Face Makalu Insulated Jacket - Men's

This jacket is quite warm (very warm if you are keeping active), very light, easily compressible and weatherproof.

I am 6 foot, 215 lbs and ordered the XL so that I would be able to layer it over my lighter back-country ski setup. The idea was to use this jacket for lunch breaks, delays, inclement weather etc.

It is perfect as an XL for both the above purpose and also as a standalone jacket.

The 3 front pockets are perfect, the hood is very comfortable, and warm, and the overall design perfect as a backcountry layering warm jacket.

This jacket will find itself handily stuffed in my pack and put into action at on-trail lunch and dinner breaks, extended stops during ski tours and any other time when some extra warmth is needed.

I find it so comfortable and light that it is also becoming my lunch time cold weather - go-out-and-go-for-a-walk jacket.

Pros:
* Light weight (549 grams on my digital scale)
* Warm (actualy too warm when I am active)
* Weatherproof (good in rain and drizzle)
* Not made with down. (keeos warm even if wet)

Cons:
* Could use an extra interior pocket.
* Zippers sometimes a little fiddly

I would not pay full price for it though. I find most of the ones at the same or more price point (lightweight belay jackets) are over-priced. Wait for a sale and then get it. Awesome jacket if you can get it at the right price.

The jacket is a nice jacket but when I ordered it I specifically wanted a very warm ski jacket for my husband and was told this new technology in the jacket is very warm. Again, nice jacket but not warm at all. Only if you're skiing in 40degree weather so I am returning it for only that reason. Fit is good,quality good.

I went ahead and ordered this because they didn't have the Plasma Thermal in a medium. The differences in this one are, this doesn't have the waterproof zippers or zipper flap on front one. Both have 40D HyVent but the Plasma has the Alpha type. They both have two-way zippers on front, which both are hard to get started. I prefer standard zipper and the larger teeth ones like on the redpoint vest and jacket. Another big issue for some might be that this one doesn't have any pit-zips or core venting. This jacket DOES NOT have a tricot-lined collar as stated above, unless mine is a defect. The only part that has a lining on it is the small part behind the zipper. The logos on this jacket are not embroidered like others but looks more like a heat transfer type, not sure why that is on this one? Keeps it more waterproof without having to seal the back? So far this has been warm, I was out in blizzard conditions at 18* with around 20mph winds. I was shoveling so that could be a factor with higher energy level. I only had a thin thermal and t-shirt under it though. I will update if I find more issues or have more to add about warmth. The Redpoint Optimus is also similar.

to be honest, I had better expectations from this jacket knowing that it was a north face, but just touching the fabric, and seeing that not even the logos were stitched It looked like an imitation, and for that price I decided to return it and get a perception jacket instead.