The North Face Windwall Vest Review

I love vests. They are one of the most versatile pieces of outdoor clothing there are. As a lightweight and unobtrusive layering piece, they are always tops on my list. On backcountry ski trips, I always carry one in the bottom of my pack just in case. Several years ago, I lost my Marmot DriClime Vest somewhere between apartments or mountain biking trips to Moab. I'm still bummed that I don't have that vest. It was the perfect vest for spring or fall and provided just enough insulation and plenty of wind protection. Well, back to the vest at hand... The North Face Windwall Vest. Utilizing proprietary windproof Windwall fabric from The North Face, this vest has the potential to be a great vest for springtime wind protection as well as winter layering. Here are the details: Sleeveless version of the favorite windchill-inhibiting fleece delivering athletic warmth in moderate cold and excellent insulation when layered. Standard fit WindWall fabric wind permeability rated at 14 CFM Two hand pockets Hem cinchcord The North Face Windwall Vest Review I originally ordered the size Large in this vest. Upon arrival, I was swimming in the thing. I thought it odd since I always wear a size Large in The North Face and pretty much any other outerwear. No worries, a quick return for a Medium size and I was happier with the sizing. I guess I should have read the fit details a bit more before ordering. I didn't notice until afterwards that the Windwall Vest is a "standard fit". In other words, it fits like a barrel. I'm used to athletic-style, form-fitting vests, not square vests made for couch potatoes. Oh well... my bad for not reading more carefully. The material is soft and the vest wears well. The material blocks the chilly, constant wind here in Draper, Utah outside my office and it keeps me nice and cozy. I haven't had a chance to flog it extensively, but overall, it's not a bad vest, but it's nothing special either. I think I'd be more keen on it if it just had an athletic fit. It just feels a bit bulky for my taste. Thermal qualities are great and as a casual vest, it's awesome. I use it back and forth to the office on chilly days. It may not be packable enough to bring on backcountry ski tours, but I'll try it before the season is through. The Good Windwall fabric is soft and very windproof Price is great at only $79 The Bad Not true to size... Originally ordered a Large, then changed for Medium Standard fit limits its usefulness for athletic activities like trail running and cycling because it's too bulky Zipper pulls are overkill... should be shorter Windwall fabric attracts lint with reckless abandon Buy Now: Search for Vests from The North Face at Backcountry.com