North Face Windwall 1 - Women's Review

Name: North Face Windwall 1 - Women's
Brand: The North Face

North Face Windwall 1 - Women's Review (North Face, Windwall, Fleece Jacket, Women's) — North Face, Windwall, Fleece Jacket, Women's
Credit: TheNorthFace.com

View at The North Face

Price: $99 List

Manufacturer: The North Face

By McKenzie Long ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Feb 19, 2013

Our Verdict

The North Face Windwall women's fleece jacket lives up to its name, doing a fabulous job of blocking wind. However, it is also stiff like a windbreaker and not soft or cozy like most fleece jackets. It is inexpensive and lightweight, so it is a versatile option if you want one multi-purpose layer.

REASONS TO BUY

Wind resistant

Reasonably water resistant

REASONS TO AVOID

Stiff

Not the most comfortable

Can't push up the sleeves

Of the wind resistant fleece jackets tested, the North Face Windwall is the lightest and cheapest option. If you care more about coziness and moveability, then I would recommend the Mountain HardWear Mistral, which also stands up to wind very well. Overall I think the Windwall is a very functional jacket, eliminating the need to bring two separate layers on an all-day pursuit. If you would prefer just a cozy fleece layer for a similar price, look at the North Face Khumbu.

See how this compared to other models in our review of the best fleece jackets for women.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Comfort and Coziness

This jacket lacks the qualities most often associated with a fleece: being soft, warm, and cozy.

Warmth, Wind and Water Protection

The North Face Windwall Women's Fleece Jacket does an excellent job of blocking wind and keeping you warm at the same time. We tested this fleece and a couple others while climbing on a really windy day and the other fleeces let the wind right through and left us feeling pretty cold. We tried the Windwall and felt much warmer just because the wind was not coming through the jacket. Extra features like the hem drawcord and the tight elastic sleeve cuffs help seal out additional wind. The wind resistant fabric makes this jacket relatively water repellant, which is a nice feature on a jacket you plan to have with you all day.

Breathability

Even though this North Face jacket does work well as a windbreaker, we aren't sold on the combination of windbreaker and fleece. At least in this jacket, the combination leaves the jacket feeling stiff and not very breathable. Also, you cannoth push the tight sleeves up on your arms if you get too warm.

Layering Ability and Ease of Movement

This jacket is pretty lightweight, which makes it easy to pack along, but its stiffness makes it an uncomfortable layer that does not move with your body very well.

Best Application

This jacket would be best suited for an outdoor activity like camping, where you would want a wind resistant layer but don't want to bother with the two separate layers of a windbreaker and a fleece. Overall, we would rather have two separate layers: a cozy fleece and a wind shell.

Value

This jacket is very inexpensive compared to most other fleece jackets, especially considering it is wind resistant. It is well worth its price of $99.

— McKenzie Long