The North Face FuseForm Dot Matrix Jacket - Insulated (For Women)

it is too thin

This is an update to a prior rating. I LOVED this jacket. Won't go into why again. But it leaked badly all through the front, not just at a seam. This was in a 2 mile walk. I thought maybe defective and would try another, which I had here from STP, but then met a neighbor at the store who was looking for a new rain shell. In his hand was a NF rain shell that leaks. So, I am now afraid to put this much money into hyvent. Some of them must work, but I know of 2 that don't. I ended up going for gore tex, as it is reliable. Paid a little more, but not that much more.

I wore it to downhill ski and it worked fine. I had a Smartwool NTS 250 base layer which is a thin wool sweater, and then an ultra light down vest in between. This fuse form jacket is the very outwear, it worked well with 15 C up on the mountain. It is light weight and water proof, the fabric is not stiff and the insulation is not heavy which allows venting. Comparing to other 2in1 jacket which is always too heavy, thick and stiff, this jacket is perfect for hiking, skiing or every casual wear in a cold or raining day. I absolutely love it. I got two in black and dark blue for me and my mom. She loves it, too.

I've been looking for an insulated jacket for hiking that is waterproof, breathable and has pit zips. I find it easy to overheat in my current jacket and really want pit zips. So far I REALLY like this jacket. It is very light weight and not bulky. Love the cuffs as so many jackets are tight in the cuff, and when I try to put on waterproof gloves I can't get them under the cuff without help. This jacket is great that way. I can fit my phone into the inside pocket, which is super since I use a navigation program on the phone. The jacket seems thin, which concerned me. I've worn it in wind in the 30's and it is warm. I think Primaloft is a super insulator. My reason for the 4 stars is that I really wish the hood either detached or rolled up. I like to wear a rain hat and rain can get into the hood. I've added my own way to roll the hood up so we'll see if it works during the next rain. Also, more pockets would be nice. All in all, very pleased. Have not had it out in extended rain but for an hour or so it has been very waterproof. With North Face's reputation, I expect it will be good at keeping one dry. I am 5'4", 110 lbs and the small fit perfectly. However, I like to have the option to layer and went with a medium (even though color choice was nicer in small). I'm very glad I did. It does not seem excessively big in the medium.

Nice, well made jacket. My bad for not reading the description more closely however. Best suited for sports like cross country skiing, with continuous heat output. Not warm enough for sitting on a chairlift on a cold day.