The North Face ThermoBall Full Zip Jacket – $300
The ‘Monster Blue’ version of the ThermoBall jacket. Also available in vest and hooded models.
On my first wear of The North Face ThermoBall jacket, I was impressed by both its warmth and lightness.
After zipping it up, my initial impression was that I’d put on a garment better described as a fitted, padded shirt rather than an outdoors jacket, but I instantly began to feel warmer inside of it. The lack of ventilation under the arms gave some cause for concern; perhaps it would be too warm to wear while walking? I figured there was only one way to find out.
I gave the jacket its first stomp test over the course of an early morning hike at Werribee Gorge State Park, west of Melbourne. The weather conditions were great for hiking, with a lovely 25-kilometre an hour, gusty, Melbourne-to-the-bone southerly, yielding a wind chill of around six degrees and a spot of rain here and there.
Over the course of this walk, the same two factors continued to surprise me: the jacket’s weight and its warmth. Not only was it keeping me warm, I wasn’t overheating like I’d first worried I might. Even better, the jacket’s outer layer repelled the occasional shower. Throughout the course of the walk, no matter how hard I was exerting myself, I was able to continuously wear the piece without discomfort.
But the true genius arrives in the form of the ThermoBall insulation, an insulation technology developed in partnership with PrimaLoft to mimic the warmth of down, while maintaining the waterproofing of a synthetic.
Upon further investigation, the merits of this jacket hinge largely on the materials used. The aforementioned outer is made from 15D ripstop nylon, which puts it at the low-moderate end of the scale as far as waterproofed outerwear is concerned. I’ll be packing a more waterproof shell to go on over the top next time for when I’m expecting heavy rains.
But the true genius arrives in the form of the ThermoBall insulation, an insulation technology developed in partnership with PrimaLoft to mimic the warmth of down, while maintaining the waterproofing of a synthetic. It’s this insulation that helps the jackets regulate temperature as well as it does, without absorbing sweat or any excess moisture that happens to get past the outer layer (within reason, of course).
David was warm enough in his jacket to forgo pants on a windy Autumn day.
Along with the internal elastic cuff at the bottom of the jacket, the entire package weighs in at around 360 grams and can pack down into its own stow pocket, making it a great option to throw in the pack if you’re in for some variable weather.
For those seeking colour choices, there are a few to choose from in men’s, women’s and children’s models, as well as the option of a hooded version or a vest, both with according increases or decreases in weight and price.
As such, the adult’s jacket ThermoBall range varies in price from $240 up to $360, which I would consider very competitive for a garment that should come in handy on any of my autumn and winter walks, as well as any travelling that I may do in the same timeframe.
All that’s left is to see how well this jacket stands the test of time.