REASONS TO BUY
Warm for its thinness
Simple but quality design
Packs into its own pocket
REASONS TO AVOID
Less coverage than others
Difficult to pack into its pocket
Shoulders are snug for movement
Many baffle seams create weak points
The North Face Thermoball Eco Hoodie 2.0 - Women's Review
A casual jacket that has less extensive coverage than most yet is warm for how thin it is
Credit: The North Face
By Maggie Nichols ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ December 1, 2022
RELATED: Best Insulated Jackets for Women
Our Verdict
The North Face Thermoball 2.0 is a solid everyday jacket. Its insulation is thin but dense and warm. It is well-designed and has proved itself fairly durable. Its torso and sleeves aren't as long as many others we tested, which detracts from its warmth but also makes it a more approachable fit for many of our testers. Though the shoulders aren't roomy or stretchy enough for intense activities, casual wear and use are a breeze in this straightforward jacket. It packs into its own chest pocket, though this requires some effort to accomplish. It's not a standout jacket, but it's still a sturdy option for non-technical use.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The North Face Thermoball Eco Hoodie 2.0 is a lightweight jacket with a relaxed fitted hood and a relaxed slim fit. Its exterior material is 100% recycled nylon, and the hem has a single bungee cord adjustment point. It has three pockets; two hand pockets with zippers and an interior zippered chest pocked into which it can be packed away.
The Thermoball is a decent and warm jacket for casual wear but lacks some coverage and mobility.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Warmth
Though a thin jacket, the Thermoball Eco packs dense insulation that's warmer than other similar models. Where it loses points for warmth is in its lowered coverage. The torso isn't nearly as long as most other models, and it has just the barest hint of a drop hem to keep your back and upper bum covered. The sleeves are also much shorter than most others and end in an elastic cuff that leaves your hands fully exposed. Without mobility features to make the shoulders complement your body motions, those short sleeves can leave wrists exposed as you reach. The hem does have a single adjustment point for a bungee cord that can seal the whole bottom of this jacket and the hood is well-fitted and protective.
The Thermoball 2.0 hood is well-fitted for wear even without a beanie.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Comfort
A classically swishy puffy jacket, the Thermoball 2.0 hides few surprises in how it feels. It has a very subtly tapered waist in its overall relaxed slim fit. Its dense insulation and standard construction make it harder to move in, creating pressure points when bending at the shoulders and elbows. The cuffs are also on the loose side, adding to the overall “fine, but not great” feel of this jacket.
Even with our arms at our sides, the Thermoball sleeves are a little short for our liking.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Weather Resistance
The fabric and insulation of the Thermoball do a great job blocking out wind, aided by a full-length wind guard behind the main zipper. Cinching the bottom hem tight also protects your inner warmth on windy days, though doing so leaves more of your lower half exposed than most jackets. When pitted against precipitation, the Thermoball shed most water, though some soaked into the seams of the excessive number of baffle edges. We didn't get wet underneath, but it didn't leave us with a lot of confidence in its water-resistance after years of wear.
The Thermoball fabric repelled water, but its scores of baffle seams proved to be a weak point.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Weight and Compressibility
The size Small Thermoball we tested weighs 12.6 ounces, a bit heavier than average in our test fleet. It can be packed into its chest pocket, though doing so proved challenging. The zippered opening is quite small, making it difficult to stuff this densely insulated jacket through that narrow space. The actual pocket itself provides an adequate amount of space to accommodate the jacket but getting it in (and out of) there is a chore.
The zipper opening to stuff the Thermoball into its own pocket is too short to make it easy, and the carabiner loop dangles awkwardly in the middle of this oblong package.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Breathability
With dense insulation meant to keep you warm rather than let you breathe, we're not surprised by the unimpressive breathability of the Thermoball. Loosening the hem helps some, as do the shorter sleeves that leave your hands exposed. At the end of the day, this jacket is built for warmth, not for breathability.
A single point of adjustability characterizes the bungee-filled hem of the Thermoball.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Should You Buy The North Face Thermoball Eco 2.0?
The Thermoball is a decent everyday jacket with an above-average price tag. If you prefer shorter sleeves with exposed hands and a dense, stiff jacket body, it may be worth its cost. But for similar — and sometimes lower — price points, we found numerous jackets with better technical and everyday performance.
What Other Insulated Jackets Should You Consider?
The Thermoball Eco 2.0 is a popular jacket that's warm but lacks coverage and mobility. For more weather protection in a warmer jacket, the Patagonia DAS Light is a great standalone jacket for most cold-weather pursuits. If you want something breathable for winter exercise, we recommend the Ortovox Swisswool Piz Boè.
The Thermoball is a decent non-technical layer, but there are others we like better.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare The North Face Thermoball Eco Hoodie 2.0 - Women's versus top competing products:
—Maggie Nichols
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