The North Face Perception Jacket Review
Ski and Snowboard season is upon us and what better way to kick off the season to do some product testing on The North Face Perception Jacket. The Perception jacket is a Primoloft Eco insulated jacket with Gore Windstopper to help keep out the elements. Primoloft for those of you not aware of the insulation material is super lightweight and compact so you can enjoy the comfort of staying warm without having to worry about lack of motion due to bulk. Gore Windstopper is used as the outside shell on the TNF Perception jacket. In its product information, it is said to be a softshell, but I felt this material to feel a little closer to that of a standard shell. While skiing at Keystone Resort in Colorado, I encountered temperatures ranging between 15-25 degrees F with winds at times gusting up to 35 mph. And while Keystone is not known for windy conditions, having a Windstopper outer is nice to have on those colder windy days.
While the jacket is not claimed to be waterproof, this jacket is water resistant and for all intensive purposes, it keeps the water out. All of the zippers on the TNF Perception jacket are water resistant which helps from snow and water getting into the jacket. On the outside of the jacket, there are two zippered hand pockets with a fleece lining to keep your hands warm. On one of the pockets, there is a bungee style cord that can hold the standard old school lift pass. Since I have a plastic card with RFID installed in the card, I don’t find this all that helpful. For when you are skiing at the resorts with the older school passes, this is nice because your pass doesn’t have to be flopping in the wind. There is also a Napoleon pocket on the left chest that I like to use for my cell phone. On the inside of the jacket, there is a hidden zippered pocket with a hole for headphones. This pocket is the size of the standard smart phone. There is also a mesh pocket on the inside of the pocket to stash your goggles. I hardly ever use these pockets for goggles; instead I use these pockets for snacks and food so I can grab a quick bite on the lift.
To help keep fresh pow from getting up your jacket, the TNF Perception comes with a button style snow skirt that has plenty of grip to keep it from riding up. One option that I would like to see in this jacket is for the snow skirt to have the option to zip or button out. To help keep snow, wind, and cold from getting into your jacket, the TNF Perception comes with a bungee style hem cord that cinches around the waste. There is also a bungee style cord on the hood to keep the elements from blasting your head and face on the super cold days. The cuffs of this jacket and cinched so you will need a pair of gloves or mittens with a gator that can go over the jacket sleeves. The Perception is equipped with the RECCO location tag that helps emergency personal find you in case you are in an avalanche. For the most part, the resorts with RECCO devices are out west as the chance for inbound avalanches out east is not as great. At this point, RECCO is more used as body recovery than rescue, so be safe!
The look of the North Face Perception jacket is very clean and classic. There are not a ton of lines going this way and that, it’s pretty much a solid colored jacket with accents on the zippers. This won’t make you stand out on the slopes, but it is a nice look if you want to use it off the slopes. The North Face Perception Jacket retails for $279, which is an appropriate price for a winter jacket that includes Gore fabrics and Primoloft.
