REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Hydrophobic down
Comfortable
Large pockets
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Non-adjustable waist hem
Poor compressibility
The North Face Summit Down Review
This is a top-tier jacket with practical features and incredibly refined details
Credit: The North Face
RELATED: Best Down Jackets for Men of 2024
Our Verdict
The North Face Summit Down is built for the mountains. Stuffed with 800-fill hydrophobic down, a helmet-compatible hood, and large pockets that remain accessible while wearing a harness, this coat is ideal for hikers and skiers who need a seriously warm, packable jacket. Sporting a total of five pockets, including an external zippered breast pocket, you have room to store your phone, snacks, gloves, and any other small items you want close at hand. While the torso does taper at the waist, it doesn't have an adjustable waistline, which some of our testers found to be a detractor.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The North Face built this midweight down to perform. Constructed with 800-fill hydrophobic down, the Summit has an incredible weight-to-warmth ratio and is one of the more water-resistant options we tested. Equipped with useful features and tailored to have an athletic fit, the long cut of the torso makes it an excellent around town. Whether you're looking for an insulating layer for skiing or cold weather backpacking, this down will be more than capable for any adventure you have planned.
Performance Comparison
We loved the long (and cinchable) hem for the extra coverage and for holding in the heat.
Warmth
The 800-fill down used in this jacket makes it the warmest midweight down we tested in our review. If you're using it for touring, hiking, or any high-output activity, this jacket will easily keep you warm in below-freezing temperatures. If you're standing around in single-digit temperatures, you'll likely need a layer or two underneath.
The long torso gives you plenty of coverage and more protection from the elements.
Credit: Buck Yedor
While it's not the absolute warmest coat we reviewed, pound for pound, we found it has one of the best weight-to-warmth ratios in our testing lineup, making it one of our first choices for cold-weather adventures.
Weight
The size medium we tested weighed in at 14.1 ounces. Given its incredible warmth and heavily featured design, we found this to be quite light compared to jackets offering similar levels of warmth and feature sets. Weighing in at just under a pound, this jacket is great for truly cold weather activities but will probably be on the heavy side for summer backpacking and unnecessarily large for the average day at the crag. This is not the jacket you'll want for your fastpacking trip through the mountains or for any mission where eliminating every unneeded ounce is more important than the extra warmth it provides.
Water Resistance
Down is notorious for not standing up well to moisture. Untreated down is naturally hydrophobic to an extent, but when subjected to precipitation, it soaks up water, losing both its loft and its insulating abilities. This nylon outer shell is treated with a DWR (durable water repellent) coating that acts as the first line of defense against moisture, which would turn your down jacket into a soggy mess. In addition to the DWR coating, the down used in this jacket has also been chemically treated to be more hydrophobic. While this doesn't make you impervious to water, it will fair better than your average down jacket if you're caught in the rain.
Whether you need a puffy for cold desert mornings or long ice belays, this beefy coat will keep you toasty.
Credit: Buck Yedor
The extra water resistance makes this coat a good choice for skiing, where you will undoubtedly be exposed to a bit of moisture from snow and ice.
Comfort
For a medium-weight jacket that straddles the line of heavyweight, the fit is surprisingly athletic, making it comfortable for casual or hard-working wear. The torso tapers to a more narrow waist but gives you plenty of room in the shoulders. The jacket is by no means slim fit and provides ample room to layer underneath. The arms are on the long side, but the elastic cuffs keep them from drooping down past your hands if you don't need the extra length.
The oversized hood easily fits over a helmet.
Credit: Buck Yedor
Despite the fairly athletic fit, it is still a bulky jacket. The bulkier fit makes layering a rain shell over the top somewhat cumbersome. This piece, like most down jackets, thrives in cold, dry weather, and that's when it will feel the most comfortable.
Compressibility
Our size medium compressed down to about the size of a football. While it compresses well for its size and easily stows into a backpack. It does stuff into one of its zippered hand pockets, eliminating the need for a separate stuff sack.
It doesn't have the best compressibility but considering how warm this jacket is, we really can't complain.
Credit: Buck Yedor
Features
This jacket has all the classic features most folks are looking for. It has an oversized helmet-compatible hood, extremely large zippered hand pockets, a zippered outer breast pocket, and two internal drop pockets.
The two zippered hand pockets sit high enough to remain accesible even while wearing a harness.
Credit: Buck Yedor
The wrist cuffs are elastic and lined with an incredibly soft and stretchy material that made this one of the most comfortable jackets we tested. The zippered hand pockets extend well up your torso, making them accessible even while you are in a harness. The only feature this jacket doesn't have is an adjustable waist hem. Our testers find that being able to cinch your waist tight is incredibly helpful for keeping drafts out and warm air in.
The cinchable hood keeps the oversized hood fitting snuggly against your head. Pictured here is The North Face Summit Down.
Credit: Buck Yedor
This coat relies on its tapered waist to achieve the same thing. While it does a fairly good job at keeping warm air from escaping, an adjustable waist would be a welcome addition.
The stretchy and plush wrist cuffs are not only comfortable but excel at keeping the wind out.
Credit: Buck Yedor
Should You Buy The North Face Summit Down?
The North Face Summit Down is one of the most comfortable midweight downs we reviewed and boasts one of the best weight-to-warmth ratios. With an athletic fit that also accommodates layering underneath, it makes a great insulating layer for cold weather ventures into the mountains. The quality and features you get with this jacket come at a price. The Summit is built with the high-end mountain athlete in mind and is priced accordingly. It's incredibly warm for its relatively low weight and is exceptionally comfortable.
The internal drop pockets are ideal for keeping your skins or climbing shoes warm, or snacks close at hand.
Credit: Buck Yedor
What Other Down Jackets Should You Consider?
While this is an incredibly high-performing jacket, we do have other options in our fleet that are worth considering. The Feathered Friends Eos is another model that we love for its exceptional warmth, as is the Rab Electron Pro and Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer.
The relaxed fit makes it easy to layer a base and midlayer underneath.
Credit: Buck Yedor
—James Lucas & Buck Yedor
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