The North Face Thermoball Remix Jacket Review

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New for 2014, The North Face has introduced a number of new cold weather jackets to their Thermoball collection.  The North Face Thermoball Remix Jacket is designed for the person who’s active and plans to be outside in temperatures between 0F-40F.  This jacket is different in design from the standard TNF Thermball Jacket which reviewed last year and can be seen here but uses much of the same Thermoball technology.

Thermoball Technology

For those not familiar with Thermoball Technology, it is a down alternative insulation that keeps you warm in both dry and wet conditions. While I love down in my sleeping bags and jackets, the downside is that if it gets wet, the warming properties pretty much disappear.  This means that if you’re out in cold rainy weather or you are out in a wet snow, the down can wet out and you can quickly get cold. Thermoball technology uses small synthetic balls that are grouped together to provide loft which help provide warmth in cooler weather.

The benefits of Thermoball include being lightweight, breathable, and easily compressible.  These features don’t mean a lot to you if you’re using the jacket for around town, but if you are out hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, etc., these features are all be important to you.

The North Face Thermoball Remix Jacket Features

It’s all about the body mapping.  For those not familiar with “body mapping”, it’s where a apparel piece places different types of fabric and levels of insulation to match the body’s temperature needs.  In The North Face Thermoball Remix Jacket, there is a 60 g Eco Primoloft insulation that is used for the chest, arms, and shoulders.  These areas do not require as much insulation because the Core (chest down to hips) is where you want be retain most of your heat. However, there are other jackets in the TNF Thermball lineup that use 100 g Primoloft insulation.  That said, this is not the warmest jacket, but if you don’t need the warmest jacket, the Remix should be fine.

If you happen to take this jacket out hiking, backpacking, backcountry skiing and need to shed the layer, it is good to know that this jacket compacts down to just over the size of a grapefruit.  The picture above is how the jacket looks when it compacts inside its own pocket.  It is good to note that it can get smaller if you need it to.  It can also double as a small pillow

Remix Jacket in Use

I’ve tested The North Face Thermoball Remix Jacket while hiking, walking the dogs in temps between 0-30F, and cold weather runs below 10F. One use that I haven’t tested this jacket out yet for is to use under my shell for in-bounds resort skiing.  Using this jacket under a shell will be a great use for this jacket because it provides warmth, it’s not bulky or heavy, and you can unzip the jacket to to vent if you get to hot.  This jacket also provides plenty of mobility which I can attest to through my cold weather runs and hikes.

Internal Cuffs to keep snow out and warmth in

To keep snow out and warmth in, there is an internal elastic cuff on the Remix jacket.  I am indifferent with having an internal cuff vs. having an external cuff, they both work in my mind.  The zippers used on The North Face Thermoball Remix jacket are easy to use because the tracks use thicker teeth. The last thing you want when it’s cold is to fumble around with your zippers, and it’s good you don’t have to worry about that with this jacket.

For durability, the TNF Thermoball Remix Jacket uses a 15 d ripstop nylon that helps prevent the outside of the jacket from getting snagged on branches, sharp rocks, and other brush ups with nature.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in the market for a jacket that you’re looking to keep you warm this winter, The North Face Remix Jacket is a great option to look at. The Remix jacket is sure to be one of the jackets is a go to piece for almost any cold weather activity. For more information on the Remix Jacket and other North Face gear visit www.thenorthface.com.