The North Face Denali with REPREVE Jacket Review

Active Gear Review is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The North Face Denali with REPREVE

This is probably one of the most classic looking tops out in the active apparel world in my opinion. The North Face has a history with this fleece going back some 40 years, and the changes in style have been minimal. On the other hand, the technology and responsible manufacturing behind The North Face Denali with REPREVE is astounding as it provides a real punch to keep me and you warm. The green and environmentally responsible name associated with The North Face Denali Jacket is REPREVE. Stick around for more, because it is really something unique.

First Thoughts on The North Face Denali with Repreve Jacket

Wouldn’t you know it, I am planning a trip to Alaska this summer, and a trip to Denali is high on my list. It will be June, but I have a feeling that my Denali Jacket will still be a welcome and must-pack item for my trip especially with the colder nights, higher elevation, and the obligatory ocean glacier tour will be in order.

A preface here is that I received The North Face Denali with Repreve in Spring, and the really cold Winter temperatures are behind us. With that said, the ability to wear this on cold mornings was a nice welcome as the encapsulating warmth was instant and a real treat.

Features

• Classic fleece for warmth in cool-to-cold conditions
• Zip-in compatible
• Abrasion-reinforced shoulders and elbows
• Napoleon chest pocket

Napoleon Chest Pocket with the continued abrasion reinforcement for the upper torso/chest area.

• Horizontal chest pock
• Two hand pockets
• Elastic-bound cuffs
• Pit-zip vents
• Hem cinch cord
• Contains 85% recycled content by weight
• Bluesign approved fabric
• 727 g (25.7 oz)
•  Fabric:
  • abrasion: laundered 2 ply nylon
  • body: Polartec 300 Series fleece with REPREVE Fibers and DWR

• Guarantee: Lifetime Warranty

Solid and sturdy components – the YKK zipper

Performance of The North Face Denali with REPREVE

The fleece is made from durable, soft Polartec 300 series recycled fleece using REPREVE fibers. Made with 56 – 84% recycled content. 51 bottles went into making my Fleece. Before I really delved into the specifics of REPREVE and its processes, I wore my Fleece around for a few weeks. I had thought the days of wearing heavier clothing was over, but a sporadic and intermittent weather pattern has had me really enjoying my North Face Denali Fleece. To me it felt just like any other reliable North Face piece of outerwear that I’ve come to enjoy and love, but with an environmental bonus.

With the knowledge that recycled water bottles went into The North Face Denali with Repreve fabric is pretty awesome. This Fleece is warm like no other, and the multitude of uses is fantastic. It’s not winter, so grabbing my thick outer coat is not part of my vocabulary, and to tell you the truth, I have already put them away. My North Face Fleece has been hanging around quite handily and is filling the gap nicely. I’ve braved anything from our somewhat chillier mornings, freak afternoon rainstorms, and yes, a decent dumping of snow.

Now, I do want to mention that this Mid Layer is not water or wind proof. It’s not really designed to, but I didn’t quite plan accurately for one of my morning bike commutes. Temperatures in the 40’s with sun seemed perfect for The North Face Denali with Repreve. It was until I got away from the protection of the neighborhood, and the wind combined with my riding speed had the somewhat cooler air go through the fleece. It wasn’t terrible, but I wanted to mention it because this is a great mid layer for skiing. If it is a beautiful blue bird day on the slopes, the tendency to take your shell off can be appealing. Flying down the slopes can have the same effect, so I want you to at least think twice about shedding layers.

The Media Pocket is nice and big. I think they are anticipating the reverse trend of larger mobile devices, but my I-phone 5 fit just fine, and the 6 plus will also suffice with room to spare for whatever version 7 will throw our way. The media/ear phone port is cool. I had to kind of search for it as the black on black kind of hid it, but it is there I assure you.

The Zip-In function is cool. It does not quite line up with one of my ski shells, but that doesn’t mean that this piece won’t work with any other brand. I do suppose that now I need to get a North Face outer or ski shell to enjoy the benefits of the zip-in.

A comfortable fit

Underarm zip vents come to mind when wearing ski shells to allow for some body heat dumping as you work for your turns by climbing snow covered backcountry peak. The tricky part that comes with that is the layering aspect of things. Weather can change, the descents can get cold and chilly when you factor in the wind, and temperatures can be really cold when not actually climbing or hiking. I would have said that this fleece would have been too hot for even considering taking this out when skinning up a hill, but with the vents, I could throw it into the mix if the temperatures are anywhere in the teens or lower.

Pit Zips – not a common sight on a sweatshirt, but quite useful when ‘dumping’ some heat without losing the core warmth that’s been created.

REPREVE Process

Check out a ton of information and the different products that sport this recycling process at www.repreve.com. Here is a brief synopsis of that cycle and how you can participate.

1. Make the smart Throw – Toss your plastic bottles in the recycle bin, NOT the trash.
2. REPREVE chips in – Recycled bottles are cleaned, chopped, melted and turned into little plastic chips.
3. Chips to Yarn – Chips are transformed into Repreve recycled fiber, and then into fabrics.
4. Make the smart choice – Look for brands that are made with REPREVE when you shop. In 2013, REPREVE turned more than 740 million recycled bottles into fiber, allowing the brands you love to #turnitgreen.

What’s the difference between REPREVE and other recycled fibers in the market?

Unlike many other recycled yarns, Repreve contains recycled materials, including plastic bottles, and meets Unifi’s first quality standards when compared to virgin products. Their U Trust™ verification program ensures that Repreve recycled fibers are traceable, transparent, and most important, certifiably sustainable. Repreve is third-party certified for its claim of recycled content by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). And with this unique Fiberprint™ technology, products made from fabrics with Repreve are tested and certified before the Repreve brand name can be used. So if you see the Repreve name, you have assurance that it’s recycled.

A casual somewhat roomy fit allows for layering

The Final Environmental Thoughts on The North Face Denali with REPREVE.

REPREVE = 51 water bottles somehow churned into this fabulous piece of winter apparel. The North Face Denali with REPREVE is a rather unique and versatile fleece. Yes, it is warm! Yes, it is comfortable! There are plenty of garments out there that meet that criteria, but this jacket provides an environmentally responsible approach to keeping us protected from the elements. I really did try to look for flaws, but have yet to find any. I would definitely say that it’s price point is hefty, but I would venture to guess that it’s durability will long outlast anything else you’ll own. Oh, and there is a lifetime warranty, so piece of mind plays a large role as well. For additional information on this and other North Face apparel please visit: www.thenorthface.com or www.amazon.com/thenorthface.