The North Face Sentinel Jacket

I managed to get my hands on both the Sentinel Thermal and the Bionic Thermal and here are the differences:

The Bionic Thermal is the heavier of the two yet stiffer (the shell)...your range of motion is not as free as the Sentinel Thermal. The Bionic Thermal is also the warmer of the two. The High Loft Fleece backer is a little bit thicker on the Bionic Thermal plus the shell is harder and thicker as well.

Both Jackets are windproof to 0 CFM (based on what MPH, I have no idea) so that is a wash and they both are water resistant however I believe the Sentinel water-resistance is better because I dont believe it is a laminate like the Bionic...the bionic laminate is good thru 60-80 washes...ok that is a lot but still the sentinel wins because the gore windstopper material is in my book better.

I like the cut and feel of the Sentinal Thermal Better it also looks better but this is subjective and it is so marginal it isnt even funny. The sentinel Thermal will breath better...once again because of the gore windstopper material which is thinner and lighter weight while achieving the same wind stopping ability as the Bionic Thermals heavier weight.

Durability goes to the Bionic Thermal...the shell is a tank!!! TOUGH!!! However the Sentinel Thermal isnt a wimp either but not as beefy as the Bionic...I dont think it was designed to be.

So if you are looking for the warmer of the two the Bionic Thermal is the winner in colder weather. If you are more athletic the and don't need the warmer the Sentinel Thermal is better. I believe the Bionic to be far better than my Denali (I even have a summit series one...discontinued in 2005...heavier than a 300 weight fleece denali). The denali is not windproof and isnt water-resistant...so if it snows/rains and it is windy the denali is terrible. Not a fan of the Denali...wish I wont have bought it. Get the Bionic Thermal over the Denali without thinkin twice!!! But the denali is a fleece not a soft shell.

I really like the Bionic Thermal it is an excellent jacket...I believe it looks nicer then the girlie Patagonia R4 while still offering the same warmth (my opinion). You could wear the Bionic Thermal to 20 degrees and the Sentinel Thermal to 35 degree much less for either and you really should look at a warmer jacket...but if you are climbing or running these temps are different. I live in chicago and it is windy here so either is good.

Oh and to throw a wrench in this (more towards the Sentinel thermal side) I have a TNF Pamir Windstopper also...it is lighter than both (not much more then the sentinel thermal..that is a close call)... the Pamir is more like a wind breaker...very little to no insulation or fleece backer at all...go with the sentinel thermal over the Pamir Windstopper...the sentinel thermal kills it bad without being much more in weight while gaining so much more. Hope I helped.

This is the second softshell I've owned, after many tried on, and is by far my favorite of any. The Gore Windstopper material is superior to the traditional TNF Apex material. It's much more water-resistant, lighter, and softer than any other softshell out there, but doesn't sacrifice any durability or performance. You will be surprised how soft this jacket is, both inside and out. This jacket is perfect for anyone active during brisk, winter months. I purchased it with rock climbing in mind, and so far, it's been perfect. It's surprisingly abrasion-resistant for how soft it is. The flexibility of this jacket is ideal for climbing and other similar activities. It even has some stretch and breaths very well. I would say the ideal temperature range for this jacket is 35-60F (with a short or long sleeve t-shirt underneath). Once I wore it out casually and was caught standing outside in some colder weather (30F) with only a t-shirt underneath. Let me say, that this jacket blocks the wind like no other, but isn't very warm in colder temperatures unless you're engaged in an activity. It's definitely intended for active use. I ran into an issue with the sizing. In every other TNF jacket I've owned, I've been a consistent medium, however the performance fit of this one had me guessing. I'm 6'0", 165lbs, 31 waist. I originally ordered a medium in this jacket, but quickly returned it for a large. The sleeve length is good on both sizes, with the large being about 1.5" longer, but still looks right. The chest area was very fitted in the medium, and is perfect in the large (as to layer). The biggest issue I encountered with the medium was the length. It was just too short and anything I wore under it was longer than the jacket itself. I'd recommend getting your normal TNF size if you plan to wear this jacket as a mid-layer, but order a size up if you want an outer-layer with some room to layer underneath. In summary, this jacket is awesome if you plan to be active. For the price, some may expect a warmer jacket. If you're looking for a casual winter jacket, I'd look for something a little warmer. It would have been a nice touch if the pockets were lined, but it�s not a flaw. The Gore Windstopper material is very impressive and this jacket won�t let you down. 4.5/5 stars.

I live in central Alaska, and was looking for a jacket to get me through the transition into and out of winter for skiing, walking to work, and just wearing casually on cool summer evenings. I bought a 'traditional' Marmot softshell three years ago. It is beautifully made, fits perfectly and ... sits in my wardrobe unused. Why? Because below 30 degrees F, it's not warm enough and the 'traditional' softshell fabric is neither soft enough to roll up and sleep on in an airplane, nor waterproof enough to substitute for goretex, and it's stiffness made it, frankly, feel awkward wearing it purely for warmth indoors. It is neither a raincoat nor a warm jacket. I mention all of this because the North Face Sentinel Thermal _is_ warm and soft enough to wear just like a thick fleece jacket, it _is_ a great wind breaker, while also offering the shower resistance of my Marmot softshell. Right now in central Alaska, temperatures are ranging between 20 and 50F, and the jacket is just perfect in this temperature range over a cotton shirt. I had serious reservations about spending so much money on the North Face Sentinel Thermal, but I am so impressed that I now am selling my Marmot. I strongly recommend the North Face Sentinel Thermal jacket for use like a traditional thick fleece but for much less weight with far superior wind and water resistance.

A very fitted jacket by TNF, the shell is softer than any other Windstopper softshell out there, its almost like a fleece. I actually wanted this for casual wear but I didn't want Apex Bionic, since every 18 year old has one.

You can't beat quality and style of this jacket, down to the immaculate stitching. However, the sizing is really made for active climbing. Tailored fit, the entire jacket fits like a glove, except the sleeves. The sleeves are designed to be long enough to be worn with a base layer, backpack, and activity involving a lot of reaching (climbing). That translates to 2 extra inches of sleeve length compared to many other jackets I own from TNF and MHW.

Since I don't climb frequently enough to justify the hefty price tag, I went with Mountain Hardwear Windstopper soft shells.

I originally received the prior year's model only to find a tear in one sleeve. Backcountry quickly replaced it, but it gave me a chance to compare the latest model to the prior one. Both are surprisingly warm given the thickness of the lining. The fleece on the older model was thicker and noticeably warmer, while the lining on the newer model is softer. The exterior on the new model, however, is superior in both its appearance and performance. All in all a very nice jacket for windy and even wet conditions. Might not be sufficient for long periods of time in temperatures under 20 F.

I live in Buffalo and this jacket has changed my winter experience. No need to wear two or three layers anymore and feel like an onion. It is very flexible and water resistant. In Buffalo, it snows more than it rains, so the lack of hood is not an issue. Even during very cold days (<20F), I can wear the jacket with just a Calvin Klein 365 top underneath. Works great as an �after the gym� jacket too. I consider buying another one this winter.

I live in Buffalo and this jacket has changed my winter experience. No need to wear two or three layers anymore and feel like an onion. It is very flexible and water resistant. In Buffalo, it snows more than it rains, so the lack of hood is not an issue. Even during very cold days (<20F), I can wear the jacket with just a Calvin Klein 365 top underneath. Works great as an “after the gym” jacket too. I consider buying another one this winter.

Being a competitive ice boat racer, this jacket was exactly what I was looking for. I've had more problems with excessive sweating than I've had with the cold. The North Face Sentinel Thermal Softshell allows me to sweat while keeping me warm. If worn by itself it's not the warmest jacket you will ever wear. But if used with the correct clothing it's excellent for being very active in the cold.