REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Flattering for a down jacket
Inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Shows dirt easily
Not very water resistant
Discontinued
This jacket is no longer available.
This jacket is no longer available.
The North Face Point It Down - Women's Review
The North Face Point it Down
Credit: The North Face
RELATED: Best Ski Jackets for Women of 2024
Our Verdict
This lightweight jacket is equally great for around town and on the mountain. It has a very flattering shape for a down jacket and has lots of useful ski features. Our testers hardly had anything negative to say about The North Face Point It Down. We wore this jacket a lot and noticed that it had a tendency to show dirt more than others. We also wish it was more water-resistant than it is.
Our Analysis and Test Results
This warm and cozy down ski jacket is good in cold, dry climates and for wearing out on cold evenings in the ski village.
Performance Comparison
We like the extra length of this jacket, it keeps the behind nice and warm and prevent snow from reaching the waist belt.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Warmth
This 700 fill down jacket kept us cozy and warm. We reached for this jacket whenever we had a chill, not just for on the ski hill. It is long enough to cover your tush and has a soft chin guard when you zip it all the way up. We like the down-lined hood that fits over a ski helmet. We wish it had wrist gaiters — they would make it even more warm! The warmest jacket we tested was the Arc'teryx Andessa jacket.
Water Resistance
We don't think the Point It Down is very water resistant. The North Face uses Windstopper fabric to make the jacket breathable, but there is no apparent DWR coating or waterproof fabric used. We would not want to be out in the rain or warm, wet snow in this jacket. Down insulation is very warm when it is dry, but once it gets wet it can no longer retain its loft or insulating properties, and it takes a long time to dry out. Jackets such as the Arc'teryx Meta and Primo Down have a fully waterproof outer material that inspires more confidence in wet and stormy weather.
The Point It Down is a great jacket for cold, dry climates because it is warm but not the most water resistant. However, we found it withstood dry snow fairly well.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Ventilation
The Point it Down has mesh-backed pit-zips to allow for ventilation without letting snow get in if you take a tumble. The shell fabric seems relatively breathable, which is important because if the down gets wet from your perspiration, it will not keep you as warm. We found this jacket relatively breathable and we could wear it even on mild, sunny days.
Ski Features
Even though it looks like a casual down jacket, the Point It Down is a fully featured ski jacket. It has a powder skirt, two large mesh interior pockets, a pass pocket with a goggle chamois, a convenient media pocket with a headphone port, and a RECCO reflector installed.
The North Face Point it Down uses 700 fill down to keep the wearer warm on cold days, but it has enough ventilation to cool down when working hard on powder days. Note that the hood fits easily and comfortably over a ski helmet.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Style
Not many ski jackets can comfortably and stylistically cross-over to casual wear, and this one does it well. All of our testers think this jacket is especially flattering for a baffled down jacket. The chevroned baffles give shape to what can be a very frumpy material. The Point It Down also comes in three very bright and cheery colors. We would wear this jacket out on the town on cold evenings as well as on the slopes.
We wore this jacket in all kinds of conditions, it tends to show dirt easily in this color after a few wears.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Comfort and Fit
This jacket is very comfortable and moves well with you as you ski. Some of our testers practically lived in this jacket, and it saw more use than most of our test fleet. We think it fits true to size.
Best Application
Because the waterproofing is not great on this jacket and that it has down insulation, it would not do well in a wet climate. We think the Point It Down would be best in a place like Utah or Colorado where the climate is dry and cold. Wear it to the bar or on the chairlift. It can successfully be one winter jacket for everyday wear as well as ski specific wear.
A very lightweight jacket, the Point it Down helps you get air and go faster.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Value
The Point It Down is an excellent value for $380. It is by far the least expensive ski jacket we have reviewed with down insulation. It is also the least expensive jacket we tested with RECCO technology. We considered this piece for our Best Buy award, but ultimately felt that the Columbia Whirlibird Interchange - Women's is more versatile but not as stylish as this one. So, if you want something warm, cute, and functional for a great price, buy this jacket.
Conclusion
All of our testers agree that the Point It Down is a cute, warm, and comfortable jacket. It will also keep you performing well on the ski hill with all its useful ski features, such as a powder skirt and goggle chamois. It is a great value, but should not be trusted in warmer, wet climates.
—
Jessica Haist
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