Customer Reviews The North Face New Defdown Futurelight Jacket

I saw this jacket at my local North Face store and loved the style and colors. However, I struggled with the sizing. The medium was pretty loose; a good five inches of space between my torso and the jacket. If you want loose that's great, but I wanted it to be a little bit snug to keep me warmer. I tried the small, and the hip/torso fit was great but the sleeves were too tight. I could tell that if I was keeping my arms bent for any significant period of time (talking on the phone, for example), it would be uncomfortable. Note: I don't live in a super cold place, so the looser fit of the medium may be less of a problem if you're wearing a lot of other layers. For me it was just not a perfect enough fit to warrant the price. I'm 5'7" and 145.

Great jacket extremely warm in Midwest winters

Great looking gray coat that provides excellent coverage to keep you warm! Added fleece at the sleeves to keep your hands/wrists warm. Extra long in the back to cover your rear, hits me at the back of my knee. Fur trim looks kind of gray in some light and almost purple in other light (kind of surprised me). Love the magnet closure over the zipper, it is super easy to bundle up!

Great winter coat. Unzip the sides for easier movement

I just got those coat and I already obsessed with the sleeves that come out to cover my hands for when I forget gloves which is always.

I loved everything about this coat except the sleeve length was too long (and I have long extremities). I returned it and purchased a parka...which I love!

This coat is a great length, super warm, and well made. I searched for a new winter jacket for close to a year wanting to replace my former jacket with a warmer one. This one definitely keeps me warm, and is easy to move in. I also love that it's Gortex, and comes with a lifetime warranty. The jacket has two cons, IMO: 1) the magnetic closures only work if the jacket is zipped, unlike snaps or buttons 2) when the pockets are unzipped, the jacket appears rather large around the mid section

Love the gortex and how warm it is. I was contemplating getting a canada goose jacket and had asked the salesman if he knew what the differences were. Turns out this jacket has a 550 fill volume for goose feathers and is waterproof whereas the canada goose jacket was 625 fill volume for duck feathers and is only water-resistant. Goose is considered warmer than duck feathers. so for something so comparable in terms of warmth and waterproof for a fraction of the price was a no brainer. My only wish for this jacket was for there to be something cinched at the waist for there to be more of a shape.

Really nice parka for winter. It kept me warm in cold and windy Chicago during winter. Also, it's so stylish, I got a lot of compliments.

This has the potential to be great but it ran really big, I was drowning in it. It would be perfect for someone who commutes via public transportation because it's super warm and weather proof. Too warm for car commuting IMO. Size down!

For hockey rink and cold weather in New England

I like this coat a lot! the outside material is actually pretty soft, it isn't that shell material that's standard for winter jackets. It is a little bulky and I think it runs a little large. I wish I could've tried the outer boroughs parka to see if it was a better fit since it stated that was a more fitted jacket

This is my new favorite coat, very comfortable and warm.

I needed something warm and versatile that fits my body shape (pear). This jacket fits the bill. It's not very fancy, but I have received multiple compliments from strangers. I love the magnet closure, and the fleece cuffs that can fold over your fingers are convenient for quick trips outside or when I've forgotten my gloves. I also like the various zippers around the bottom. While I rarely unzip them during my day-to-day life, I think they'll be convenient for more active outdoor activities, like hiking or snow tubing. I have no trouble sitting and driving in this jacket when it is fully zipped. The hood is very warm and fits over my head well. If you have a larger than average head, the hood may be tight for you. I like the large fur around the hood. So far, I've only had the chance to wear this jacket in temperatures down to the low 20s. Everything covered by the jacket stayed warm. It does well against wind. I have not had an opportunity to test out the water resistance. The front pockets are very large and will accommodate hands with thick mittens/gloves. The jacket fit as expected. There are a few things I wish were different about this jacket. First, I wish the fabric inside the hood was fleece or some other soft fabric. The polyester taffeta lining is kinda loud (though otherwise comfortable) when I move while the hood is up. Second, the hood is heavy, and it pulls the front of the jacket into my neck when the hood isn't up. It's a little uncomfortable, but I'm getting used to it. Third, it'd be great if the entire hood was removable. That would help with the second issue I mentioned, and it would reduce weight on days I don't need a hood. Fourth, there is very little shape to the middle of this jacket, so I feel a little like I'm wearing a sleeping bag. Maybe the next version of this jacket could include an interior drawstring?

I wear it daily to and from work and during the weekend. The side zippers make a clink noise at every movement and the mittens sleeves are too tight. But overall-the jacket was a great investment. Very warm, light weight and the hood with or without the fur is amazing at wind proofing and it dries very quickly. The shape is great too. Being it that I am only 5'1-the length is perfect. I have more positive comments than negative.

I use this product in Seattle winter. Protects from rain, winds and low temperatures. It is bulky so it is difficult in situations where you can any to put it on or off often while travelling within the city. Zippers were slightly hard to work. But overall very comfortable and super warm!

I LOVE THIS COAT. I wanted a long warm coat for the Chicago winter, and this coat has lived up to expectations. It feels like I'm wearing a blanket to work each day, but it looks sleek and doesn't feel bulky. It is exceptionally comfortable and I like the materials on the inside and outside. The gortex feels almost soft while still causing moisture to bead up. You can just brush off water in the snow and rain. I also think the mat finish makes it look high quality. I really like the magnetic snaps - I would never bother to button up the entire front by hand, and I can use the magnets to quickly close my coat without zipping when walking briefly between buildings at work. As others mentioned, it is pretty light and doesn't feel heavy to carry in your arms. All of that being said, it is exceptionally warm. I haven't felt cold at all yet this winter. I do think the bottom is slightly too A-line, because I do feel a draft when it's particularly windy (but a narrower fit would probably make my zipper problem worse, see rest of review) That said, I've been very warm regardless so far, but I'm curious to see how it does later in the season. My only complaint is the zipper. It is a bit annoying to zip up as others have mentioned, though not enough to cause me any significant problems. My issue has been that it sometimes splits from the bottom if I bend over or put too much strain on it. This is a two way zipper, so I normally unzip the bottom when I sit down, but if I don't, instead of pushing the bottom zipper up, the zipper will split and I have to unzip from the top, forcing the zipper open. It hasn't gotten too stuck yet, but it is annoying to have to unzip all the way (especially the one time I was outside in 10 degree weather) and I'm worried one of these times the zipper will break. I researched coats online extensively before going into the store to try on a few. The woman in the store told me this is the one all the employees bought for themselves. I can see why!

Love the magnet feature wasn't expecting it

I'm athletic. There is no traditional size chart with measurements to base my size decision upon. Based on the true fit recommendation, I ordered a medium, despite the fact that I always wear a small. A medium is frumpy on me, and I would have preferred a small. I havent had a chance to test the coat out yet because I live in the deep South. Our worst weather is rain in the 30's so I needed something warm and waterproof that I could also use when I travel to the North East. The new taupe color is gorgeous and the pictures dont do it justice. I wish the fur ruff was brown, but it still looks nice.

Assuming you have long arms, this is a superb coat. The jacket exterior is not plain black; in person, it is actually a textured black made up of little lines. I think it adds a premium look to the coat but some people may want just a plain black instead. The second thing I noticed about it is just how incredibly lightweight it is. The coat weighs much less than how substantial it looks, and once you put it on you realize how warm it is. The jacket is exceptionally warm and should work well for our winter trip to Vermont. The magnetic zipper flap snaps are fun and upscale. I have to say there are only two cons to this coat: The fur is big, but at least it is detachable; and the sleeves are a little too long. My fiance has short arms and they swim in the long sleeves. I tried on the coat and I have long arms, and even for me the sleeves were too long. So that would be my biggest complaint. We may end up exchanging the coat this weekend for that reason. But, if you are a person with long arms, I think this is an incredible cold-weather coat.

I love how warm this coat is. I really dislike being cold. I live in Pennsylvania and we get very cold weather. We often visit Ireland and I'm excited to see how it holds up there. The only thing I do not like is that the zipper splits or sometimes Iit gets stuck . I am planning on exchanging it for the very same one. I really do you love this jacket -it's just the zipper. I think I just got a bad zipper.

This is the perfect coat for cold weather. I wish there was a little side ventilation but over all great. I love that it is magnet closures on the wind flap.

Love this coat. Perfect bend of fashion and function.

The coat is beautiful and well made. I love it and would give it 5 stars if not for it feeling a bit too big in the body. I usually wear a small in clothes but size up to M for coats to fit sweaters under, and this fits in the arms but is very wide looking from the side.

Loved this parka! I would definitely recommend to people who are looking for a sturdy, animal-friendly winter coat. Well-worth the money!