Customer Reviews The North Face Apex Bionic Jacket

The North Face - they have changed "something" about the Apex Bionic Jacket's material ( STIFF!) and fit. I wear a MEDIUM across the board with this brand. This jacket ( and other style's of Apex Bionic ) fits super tight across the chest. I can zip it, but then across the back of my arms and shoulders…I can't even move! The large way too big!

I'm 5ft1/2inch and 95 lbs. It's super warm and totally lined with fleece on the inside (body and arms!) but it's really stiff and too long. While standing the top of the collar dug into my chin whether it was zipped or unzipped. I wish more companies realized that not everyone is 5'6." Kid sizes won't work as I, being an adult, have these things called HIPS and I'd rather not be pink-polka-dotted twinsies with my kids.

All is well until it's time to wash it. Although the tag says differently...dry clean only! I'm now stuck with a name brand unruly piece of fabric.

I have been holding out to buy this jacket for a few years now. My mom has the Apex Bionic from 2008 in a medium, which I've enjoyed borrowing. I usually wear a small and extra-small in shirts and coats. I'm 5'2" tall and weigh 120 pounds; the medium I borrow from my mom comfortably layers over sweatshirts and such, without looking sloppy. Fast forward to 2014. I decided to buy an apex coat this year but was not satisfied with the new fit. It's long enough to hit me mid hip (the widest part of my body), and the cut now defines your waist, which can be a good thing, but not in this case. Because it's so contoured I have no choice but to wear the small, (the medium gapes across the chest and back) which is so fitted it wouldn't be comfortable to move around in while layered over thicker tops. Another negative is the fact that the jacket comes with defined chest room above the contoured waistline, which makes it obviously ill fitting for those who do not have enough chest to fill it. Granted, the Apex from 2008 is a bit boxy and short, but this jacket is probably more universally flattering. It doesn't fall to the middle of my hips (which is the worst place for a coat to lay if one is petite). In addition, because the old 2008 Apex is straighter up and down it doesn't matter that I am small chested. I can wear a small for a tighter fit or a medium for more layering room. Hopefully next year The North Face will make a coat that is flattering on short, small chested women and offers more room to comfortably move around. More neutral color options would be great as well. Navy, beige, olive...etc.