The North Face Denali Jacket

Don't get me wrong I love almost everything else TNF makes but this jacket is just a weak attempt at something so many other companies get right. Here is a little science lesson... jackets don't keep you warm, it's the layer of air in between you and the jacket that keeps you warm (or the air between multiple layers). If a jacket doesn't have some type of 100% wind blocking ability like WindStopper fabric built into the jacket, then as soon as the wind blows it takes all that warm air you just heated up away and you are cold again. This leads us to the other problem with the Denali, it's too bulky. But it has to be to give you a comparable amount of warmth that a WindStopper jacket would provide. *ah... gettin' it are we grasshopper!* Oh and the third reason this jacket isn't the best choice (like others have said): It's way too popular! Go to any mall in the winter and you will see hundreds of people sporting this jacket. Save some money and warm air and get a jacket that has some windfighting ability and not to mention a better cut, this jacket is just a big box of fabric with a pretty name!

Where do I start? I probably own over $2K worth of The North Face stuff and this is my least favorite gear I have ever owned. I am a backpacker, mountain biker, and a hiker. I don't know why this jacket has such a high rating. Do you guys have any other fleece jacket to compare it to or are you happy just because it has that famous TNF logo on it? Or did you guys gave a high rating simply because you own it? First of all, it's not that stylish. It's rather boring looking. Don't dare to wear this jacket on windy days. The wind goes right through you! You can't wear it under 45 degrees or so. Shame on you North Face! I have high expectations on all of your quality products and this isn't one of them! Big thumbs down! I am so happy to sell it on Ebay for $60! It's not even worth that! Go get the Arcteryx Covert Zip Neck Sweater. Looks way better, has better insulation, and more comfortable. Nuff said!

I picked this up on SAC thinking I got a great deal. However, the first time I wore it I realized how very wrong I was. When they say there it's not windproof, they mean that there is absolutely zero wind protection. The slightest breeze will rip through this like it's not even there. Even the mild temperatures of Seattle proved to be too extreme for this fleece. For such a high price tag, I expect a lot more. Do not be fooled by the hundreds of rave reviews coming from people with large wallets and low expectations.

I'm sure TNF Denali is a really great jacket but I wasn't real impressed with the way it fit on me. I'm not a big guy and the Denali tended to puff out at the shoulders where the fleece and the goretex or whatever it is meet. I tried two of them but I wan't impressed. I ended up with the Pumori because it fit better. Sure it probably isn't as warm or technical as the Denali but I don't really care. Sometimes I would rather look good than feel good.

I want to love this jacket. It is very warm aside from letting in (and out) any sort of wind -- a great middle layer. However, this jacket just doesn't look right on its own. The fit is big/puffy in the arms with very wide shoulders. At the same time, the length of the arms and chest is appropriate to the sizing. I am about 5'10" 140lbs lean and the small has shoulders that are at least 2 inches too wide. Your mileage may vary heavily depending on your frame/build.

Don't get me wrong this is a nice fleece and it's very warm and very durable but it's bulky and not wind resistant at all. As soon as there is a little gust of wind you might as well not be wearing a coat at all. This coat has no practical uses outside of casual wearing. For the money buy something that is wind repellent, less bulky, and maybe even water resistant. You will be much happier with a coat like that.

Though it never claims to be a techincal jacket, the Denali is by far the worst jacket for the money you can buy. The only positive it has is it is a 300 weight fleece. But for $165 retail, you can get a Windwall 1 or 2 or pay $195 for an Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan, which is not techincal, but still warm and very fashionable.

I'd give it a zero if I could.

Over a hundred dollars for what? This jacket lacks a lot - mostly function. Not windproof, bulky, whats the nylon on the shoulders for? Get one if you want to look trendy and you have cash to blow (but then again everyone has one so you might just look lame). Am I the only person who thinks you should get a better and more functional piece for this price?

Even for the sale price on discontinued colors, one (at least this one) would expect a lining at least in the sleeves. If you are trying to put your arms in the sleeves with a long sleeve shirt, GOOD LUCK! Definitely not worth the full price and you can probably buy something with a little less name and a lot more quality for less money.

The airlines lost my last Denali Jacket which was about 3-4 years old. The NEW replacement does not have wind and water protection on the front shoulders anymore. The fleece is a lighter weight. I was devastated, and will not look at any more North Face. Sorry to have wasted my money. P.S. I loved the original Denali.

I own several nice TNF jackets ranging from a thin pullover to the warmest summit jacket. I have recently purchased the Denali because I was curious if it actually was the hotness so many claim it is. The TNF description says that Denali is a 3 season jacket, 2 if you're in the north. I bought it and wore it for about 1.5 weeks. I end up giving it away to my cousin. Throughout the time I purposely hang out in the restaurant fridge at 24F, went on a scooter ride at 35F and sat in my room at 72F. Denali is NOT windproof, NOT waterproof, kind of breathable and most definitely NOT stylish. It is very bulky, the heavy fleece does not adhere to any share other than a square that it is, and the jacket is very uncomfortable as an under layer. I would say that Denali is so popular because it's the CHEAPES TNF made for wide range of climates. To most people $160 for basically a fleece jacket is top of the line except they forget they're buying name brand. You will have to spend at least $200 if you want a good windproof/waterproof/slylish/breathable jacket to wear between 20F and 50F. I would recommend you spend enough for at least Sentinel/WindWall Thermal/ STH. I intern for an advertising agent with TNF so I get to wear all of these entry level jackets. I am telling you that these are the least you should be looking for if you're looking for an all-weather jacket. Besides, do you really want to give people the impression that you're unable to stand up to the fraternity group mentality¦? TNF has at least 15 different options for you, plus the color. My advice is to choose something unique and get away from the simple black color. Take it or leave it. I am just an intern after all. PS If you think you're a real bad*** then check out the Arc'teryx collections. Arc'teryx is not as numerous but better than TNF and much more stylish!

Still have an older Denali Jacket ~5yrs old or so.
Recently bought the newer hooded version. Same styling but add a hood and the quality/feel of the fleece was also updated.

Still very pricey!! Buy it when it's on sale ONLY!!

It's "adequate" in that is warm but NOT when it's windy! The wind will cut through the jacket and you'll literally freeze!

The purpose of the jacket is insulation so it's best when used with either a shell jacket or under an insulated jacket!

Fleece is very bulky when compared other 300-weight fleece jackets.
It's not "as warm" as other jackets that are made with Windpro or Windblocker fleece materials as those jackets use thinner fleece with a laminating layer to block out the wind, which makes those jackets WARMER!!

The NTF Denali jacket has become too "stylish" esp. amongst teens and college kids! The company is now owned by Vanity Fair!!

There are other jackets available for less that'll block out the wind and keep your warm.

Overall, it's still a good fleece jacket but not when the temps drop below freezing and/or when it's windy!

It's really fascinating to consider the ascendancy of this jacket. Not only is it practically ubiquitous, but its popularity seems to expand every year. The public never tires of it. But why not?

My theory is the well-placed black nylon. It partially conceals the fleece and makes it look less fuzzy, somehow more sophisticated. It's a jacket for people who are slightly disdainful of fleece. People who buy luxury SUVs and never drive them on dirt roads buy this jacket, and it suits them.

It's drafy and bulky (you probably already know that), but most people don't seem to care. That said, it does have its uses. I wore it in Alaska on a kayak trip, but always under a shell, but I'd never bring it backpacking or wear it standalone in winter/wet conditions. It works great in cold rooms with airtight windows. And of course it excels at the outdoor mall.

Either way, the Denali domination continues. They even make them for children.

I got this jacket b/c I wanted an inner lining for the Alliance: http://www.backcountry.com/store/TNF3533/The-North-Face-Alliance-Jacket-Mens.html?mv_pc=r200&cmp_id=EM_TRN1003 It was recommended that this was the best fit for the Alliance. With the zip in compatibility and the sleeve buttons, it does line into the Alliance nicely, however, it is very bulky. It looks and feels very baggy when I wear it w/o the Alliance. When I wear it in the Alliance, then my movements are a bit restricted. I got a size small for both. Anyway, the jacket itself doesn't provide that much warmth as people mentioned the lack of wind proof. But I didn't get it to wear it as a standalone jacket. I got it on sale and the main purpose was to wear it with the Alliance. I have been pleased with the warmth that the combination of the two provides. If it weren't on sale, then would return it. But for the price I paid, it serves the purpose that I need.

This is a nice fleece jacket but I would never pay full price for one of these. The $165 price tag is WAY too much. I bought this jacket on sale ($77) and still think it was a little steep. I wanted another black fleece to replace a Columbia one that had seen "better days." The medium fits me really well (I'm 175lbs, about 5'10") and the their fleece material is very comfortable. All of my other North Face jackets are large and they fit the same as this medium jacket which I found to be a little weird (I had to return the large I ordered for the smaller size). I am a big fan of The North Face products and have five of their jackets but this one doesn't seem to out quality wise like the others.

I bought this jacket years ago for hiking in and around the Washington cascades. It's a fine jacket, although a bit overpriced. My problem with it now is not anything to do with it's composition, it's just way too popular. I like to have a little bit of uniqueness and when I go to the mall I see entire families sporting this jacket. I see people who obviously have never even been on a mountain, and probably don't even walk to check their own mail wearing it. Now I will only wear it when I run no risk of being seen in this wanna-be status symbol. I like to wear gear that is functional, and this jacket is a great layering piece, but way too trendy, and that sucks.

About 5'10 150 lbs, lean build here. Ordered a black Medium, was too large on me, gave it to dad. Ordered a small in charcoal grey, fits me perfectly. Both colors are beautiful, and as you may have seen, the Denali is played out, and the reason is that they are GREAT looking jackets. You want this to fit snuggly b/c of the nylon panels, they are stiff, and you don't want to look like a football player with shoulder pads sticking out. Also, this jacket is BULKY, which means you can only layer with a large shell. As a standalone jacket, it is really a fashion piece, a slight gust of wind and I freeze. Bottom line, looks "A+", usability "C-".

I'll preface this by saying I'm 5'6" 180 Athletic build (around a 42 chest and 32 sleeve). TNF has some of the shorter sleeve lengths on the market, which made me interested in the TNF Denali Fleece, especially at $100 or less. I've tried on a few TNF jackets before, but none that I had tried were quite as bulky as this. Sleeves still felt a little long (nothing I can do about that), but the extra room around the waist and the heavier fleece threw off the overall fit. If you don't mind the bulk, it's a good jacket at an even better price. If you're looking for something more form-fitting, keep looking.

The Denali jacket is extremely warm as an insulating layer, has a nice assortment of pockets and the pit zips are a convenient feature. However, it is very poor at blocking wind and is rather heavy and bulky. I have other jackets from The North Face and Arc'teryx, and I would definitely suggest going with a lighter jacket (Arcteryx Sigma LT) composed of the Windstopper fabric. It will keep you just as warm without the bulkiness and weight of this jacket. Besides, everyone already owns this jacket, and people who buy it are purchasing it for fashion and not for its quality. There are much better jackets out there for this price!

This is a well made, nice looking, great fitting jacket. But I believe it is one of the most over-rated products on the market, at least for my use. The 300 weight fleece seems too bulky when layering under a shell, bunches up more than I like. Then, when you remove the shell, a cold wind will cut right through it. In the end, I think you're better off going with a lighter jacket that has better wind-proofing capabilities. (I switched to a Marmot Sharp Point jacket).