The North Face Freedom Insulated Jacket: Designed for Action

Who is This For

This jacket is a great choice for anyone looking for warmth and weather production in sub-freezing temperatures.

The North Face Freedom Insulated Jacket is designed for skiers, and offers some essential features, including: a snow skirt, a goggle wipe in a discreet sleeve pocket, adjustable cuffs, pit zips, and more. However, it was tested as an all-around winter jacket.

Field Testing

Scenario 1

Urban hiking | 12° F, grey and windy | Gothenburg, Sweden

I’m not a skier, but I wanted a parka-style winter jacket that would provide both insulation and weather protection for my various outdoor adventures. Instead of layering an insulation jacket under my rain shell (which I can’t really do since I’d need to go up a size for the shell), I wanted a single garment that does two jobs.

The North Face Freedom Insulated Jacket has an appropriately spacious fit that provides plenty of shoulder space and freedom of movement without feeling too bulky. I found it to be tremendously warm while remaining very light in weight. The fabric is designed to block wind and repel moisture, and the jacket also includes design features that provide protection against the elements. The main zipper sits on top of a protective flap and is covered by another flap of material that seals over the zipper with Velcro tabs. These two layers prevent snow and wind from getting through. The sleeves have adjustable cuffs, allowing me to seal the ends of the sleeves around my gloves or mittens.

I usually wear an ultralight merino tee with a mid-weight merino hoodie under the jacket, and I have felt warm enough in temps down to the low teens. It’s quite sweet to wander around in very cold weather but feel completely cozy. Whether I’m walking to and from the grocery store a mile away or hiking in a huge urban park, The North Face Freedom Insulated Jacket keeps me very warm in cold, windy, wet conditions. (I should note here that I tend to run warm. Others might want a thicker or warmer base layer or mid-layer for more warmth.)

Since I often hike in a nearby park that has lots of hills, ventilation is just as important to me as warmth. When I start working at even a moderate pace almost anything I wear as an outer layer will eventually feel too warm, especially on days I wear a 26L-28L daypack that ends up filled with groceries for the uphill trek home. I appreciate that The North Face Freedom Insulated Jacket gives me options. First, I can unzip the pit zips, which are lined with a lightweight mesh to keep out snow. Next, I can lower the zipper or even unzip the jacket, then close the jacket with the Velcro tabs. This gives me a bit more ventilation. The North Face Freedom Insulated Jacket is fairly breathable as long as I don’t work too hard.

Scenario 2

Urban cycling |10° F – 30° F, grey and windy |Gothenburg, Sweden

Wind and precipitation make the cold in Gothenburg much colder than my phone app says it is. 40° F feels like 20°F, and when I see the temperature is in the low teens, I know it’s actually closer to 0°F. Also, snow here can be quite wet, hitting my jacket like rain.

The North Face Freedom Insulated Jacket does a great job of repelling the moisture, and it’s pretty good at blocking the wind. I’ve worn jackets that are more effective at blocking wind, but I feel like the insulation, the jacket’s tall collar, and some breathability make up for the less than 5-star wind protection.

I have stayed dry and warm in cold, wet, windy conditions, and that’s all that matters to me. The insulated hood fits easily over my bike helmet on days I feel up to navigating the icy bike paths. While I loved the tall collar that effectively covered my neck and most of my face, I found the lining material a bit irritating. I am highly sensitive to fabrics, so most people won’t even notice this material. It was easily fixed by wearing a thin merino neck gaiter. (This same lining is used in the pockets, too. Again, most people won’t notice it, and, it’s just a split second of contact when using a pocket. Still, it feels too nylon-y, and I wanted something softer, with a cotton-y feeling. Also, I noticed pilling after wearing the jacket just a few times.)

Everyone has their own system for keeping warm. For me, it’s keeping my head, core, and hands warm. Even with a thing cap under my bike helmet, wearing The North Face Freedom Insulated Jacket’s hood has been vital for staying warm on crummy days. Most of my testing journeys took place on dedicated cycling paths, so I felt safe wearing a hood while cycling since I didn’t need to rely so much on moving my head around to hear or see cars. (Take care if you share the road with motorists.)

The hood is adjustable via a back toggle that’s hidden under a protective flap and with two side toggles (I had to remove my mittens to use them).

Scenario 3

Waiting for a ride |12-20° F | Gothenburg, Sweden

It’s incredible how quickly cold weather can be dangerous, so it’s important to have a jacket that will keep more warm when I’m NOT active.

On days I don’t have the time or energy to walk to ride my bike, I order rides via an app on my phone. I never remember to order the ride while I’m still inside, though. First I walk a few blocks, then remember I need to figure it out. So, I always end up on the sidewalk, squinting at my phone, dropping my mittens, and desperately trying to cut and paste addresses into the app.

If I’m lucky, a driver will accept my request and arrive within 10 minutes, but sometimes, nobody accepts my ride. Then I have to try the app again, and sometimes re-try it several times. What I thought would be 10 minutes could turn into 20 or 30 minutes during rush hour. I can get a bit panicked, especially at night, but at least I never get cold. The North Face Freedom Insulated Jacket keeps me toasty warm.

I appreciated the two large zippered side pockets and the smaller, flat, zippered chest pocket. All provide enough room for the essentials: wallet, phone, asthma inhaler, lip balm, keys. Skiers will appreciate the sleeve pocket containing a lanyard with an attached lens cloth, a dedicated lift ticket loop on the hem of the jacket, and snow skirt. There’s also an internal mesh pocket, but I never use it.

Fit

I think most women will find that The North Face Freedom Insulated Jacket runs true to size. Because I am very tall and have very long arms, I felt myself wondering if I would have liked going up a size for a baggy fit. Still, I have never felt that it was too small or that I was restricted in my movements. Maybe I’m making an assumption about what skiers might want in a jacket.

Too small

A bit small

Fits well

A bit big

Too big

Materials & Construction

Material/Fabric: The shell is made out of waterproof, breathable, and seam-sealed DRYVENT™ 2L, with a non-PFC DWR coating. Insulated with HEATSEEKER™, an insulation featuring hollow-core fibers.

Sustainability Creds: 100% recycled nylon (shell), 100% recycled polyester (lining), 90% recycled content (insulation).

Bottom Line

I was looking for a single-garment solution for very cold weather, biting wind, and a mixture of wet snow and rain, and I think The North Face Freedom Insulated Jacket did an admirable job of keeping me warm, dry, and comfortable.

I liked the style, fit, pocket sizes, and the length (more coverage than my typical insulation jackets). I loved the pit zips, adjustable sleeve cuffs, and warm hood. Aside from my minor issues with the collar and pocket linings (which led me to lower my durability rating), I think The North Face Freedom Insulated Jacket has been a versatile, warm winter jacket. I look forward to wearing it for several seasons.

Specifications

• Men’s Sizes: S-XXL in Utility Brown/Khaki Stone, Dusk Blue/Meridian Blue, Dusk Blue/Meridian Blue, and TNF Black
• Women’s Sizes: XS-XXL in Sumac/Mars Dust and TNF Black
• Weight: 809 g (1 lb 12.54 oz)
• Price: $320 (on sale now for less)

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Main photo from The North Face website.