When it comes to synthetic insulated jackets, apparently all roads lead to The North Face. On my numerous trips to REI and other outdoor retailers to research the best “puffy coat” to bring with me on the Snowman Trek, the sales clerks consistently pointed me toward The North Face and, specifically, the Thermoball.
Here’s why…
The North Face Thermoball jacket is synthetic but equivalent to a down jacket with 600-fill. The jacket compresses down so small that it’s hard to believe it could be so warm but, dang, it is. Because it’s synthetic, I don’t have to worry about it getting wet–which it undoubtedly will–during the trek. Down, on the other hand, will get ruined with moisture.
The Thermoball is likely going to be too warm to wear while I’m trekking but it will be my go-to jacket once at camp in the evenings and mornings, when it’s going to be coldest. My plan is to also carry it in my daybag so that I can slip it on during tea and lunch breaks and in case it gets really really cold while I’m on the move.
There’s a few well thought-out features of the Thermoball that I really like:
- Zippered side pockets. Jackets don’t always have zippered pockets but I love this so I can keep items close at hand without worrying about them falling out.
- Two inside pockets. Just inside the front zipper, each side also has pockets (no zipper though).
- Stretch cuffs. These sit nice and snug around my wrists to prevent wind flowing in but have some stretch to them so it’s easy to take the jacket on and off.
As I mentioned, the jacket compresses down quite small. This is the jacket in an Eagle Creek Pack-it Cube. But not only is the jacket in this cube but so is a Sherpa Adventure Gear wool hat as well as a Merino wool Icebreaker balaclava. Not bad, huh?
Sizes run a tad large. While I usually wear a small, I’ve got an extra small in the Thermoball. I would call it a tad tight but it might prevent me from wearing too many layers underneath. Having said that, I don’t expect I’ll need too many layers with all the warmth this will provide.
Available for about $200 on Amazon. Note that there are a number of new styles and colors that have become available this fall so stop by The North Face store near you or their website for a full range of options.
Travel Well,
Beth
Related links:
Mauria Hiking Boots from LOWA
Sherpa Adventure Gear Kipu Tee
Disclosure: The North Face provided this jacket to me for review. Regardless, everything I have said in the post reflects my honest opinions.
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