The North Face Summit Series FutureFleece Full-Zip Hoodie Review

The North Face FutureFleece is one of our favorites in the world of men's fleece. This option is a fraction of the weight of many layers and doesn't compromise warmth or breathability. If this jacket is within your budget, we highly recommend putting it at the top of your list.

Comfort

If a jacket isn't comfortable, you're unlikely to wear it. We tested the comfort of the FutureFleece by assessing the overall fit first and examining the amount of bunching found around the arms, chest, waist, and neck. We then looked at the overall coverage, stretching our arms and upper body in all directions and seeing how well the piece stayed in place. In order to better test this, we took the FutureFleece all over the mountains, climbing frozen waterfalls and skiing remote peaks. Lastly, we scored the overall feel of the fleece against our skin.

The FutureFleece offers great coverage and a next-to-skin feel, with the full-loop fabric and seamless shoulders gifting a soft hug to our upper bodies. When lifting hands overhead, the waist rode up minimally, and we could do anything from grocery shopping to ice climbing without coverage being compromised.

The bunching of this layer was particularly pronounced around the wrists and stomach, ultimately lowering its score in this metric. As previously noted, the fit of this option is a bit unique, with a longer length and slimmer fit than other fleeces tested, so the bunching amount will likely vary depending on how well this fits you. Some shoppers may have a tough time finding the right sizing, which is one of this fleece's largest drawbacks.

Warmth

We tested for warmth by putting a bottle of boiling water into the jacket and recording the time the boiling water dropped to 150°F with an infrared thermometer. We also wore the jacket in front of a fan to examine wind resistance. Lastly, we took this layer all over the wintry mountains of the western US, making notations along the way about its warmth in various settings.

When considering its weight, the FutureFleece did fairly well in the warmth metric, keeping the testing water bottle above 150°F for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The full-loop fabric offers decent heat retention and is a huge component of this product's phenomenal warmth-to-weight ratio. The under-helmet hood was a fantastic addition for those cold climbing days, and it stayed in the right place over our ears and head for the whole outing. This layer isn't the most wind-resistant jacket, and we'd recommend looking elsewhere if you're seeking the absolute warmest fleece.

Breathability

This fleece was quite breathable. It's one of the lighter-weight fleeces we tested, ultimately making it an inherently breathable layer. We were able to sustain long periods of physical exertion without excessive sweating, making this a go-to option for high-output adventures. While there aren't a ton of breathability features, the full-loop fabric construction strikes an incredible balance between warmth and breathability. The chest pocket could be left unzipped for added breathability, but we often prefer putting our phones in that pocket.

Layering Ability

The FutureFleece has a slim fit, so it is naturally best as a next-to-baselayer option. We were easily able to fit jackets over this layer, though its longer length at the waist and arms sometimes made it stick out from a few over jackets. Overall, we were happy with this model's layering ability but wouldn't recommend it as an outer jacket.

Weight

This is the metric where the FutureFleece truly excelled, coming in at a fraction of some jackets' weight. We weighed and recorded each jacket on the same scale and compared. If keeping weight down is one of your top priorities, this fleece belongs in your shopping cart.

Coming in at 7.98 ounces, the FutureFleece is incredibly light, especially considering some models weigh over twice as much. This layer feels practically weightless and is a piece you can always keep with you.

As previously noted in the other metrics, this jacket doesn't sacrifice performance to keep its weight down. We always appreciate packability, and this option easily fits in your suitcase or backpack.

Should You Buy The North Face FutureFleece?

If you prioritize weight and performance over price in your fleece shopping, this jacket is worthy of your consideration. With an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, this layer could likely be brought with you for most of your wintery days outside in a variety of temperatures. While the sizing of this piece is a bit odd, it's a phenomenal jacket if it fits you.

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