The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie

Lightweight puffer jacket in men’s and women’s styles.

I’ve been wearing The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie around town for weeks now, and it has kept me toasty warm on blustery, cold winter days.

Made out of Pertex® Quantum, a 100% recycled nylon woven ripstop fabric, and insulated with ThermoBall™ insulation (made out of 100% post-consumer recycled polyester) that is blown into the horizontal baffles, the North Face Terra Peak Hoodie provides a lot of protection against the elements while remaining lightweight and not overly puffy. The main zipper has a wide draft flap under it for added warmth, and the zipper fits into a fabric zipper garage at the top. The collar is nice and tall, so when I zip up the jacket all the way, it covers half my face, with room inside for a wool neck gaiter or scarf.

Superior Weather Protection

The Pertex® Quantum fabric is tightly woven (which helps with insulation loft), water repellent (with a DWR finish), and provides great wind protection. I recently took the ferry across Puget Sound, and was impressed with how well the North Face Terra Peak Hoodie protected me from the wind. It’s easily 10 or more degrees colder on the ferry than it is on land, and it’s always windy. I usually don’t spend more than a quick minute on deck before going inside the ferry. But the North Face Terra Peak Hoodie was so effective at keeping me warm that I was able to stay out on the deck and take lots of photos before I went inside for a snack break.

It rains most days of the week here in Seattle during the winter months, so I really appreciate that the North Face Terra Peak Hoodie keeps me warm even when it’s wet and windy. The jacket isn’t phased at all by the constant drizzle. Most often I wear the North Face Terra Peak Hoodie over a short- or long-sleeved cotton or merino t-shirt in temperatures between 38 and 45 degrees F. I tend to run hot, so it has to get down to freezing for me to add a sweatshirt or merino sweater or hoodie as a mid layer. The jacket has a boxy cut that I like because it’s comfortable and gives me room for addicting layers.

The jacket’s lining is super soft and silky, the zippered side pockets are generous and hold all my essentials (asthma inhalers and spacer, giant iPhone, nutrition bars, lips gloss, gloves), and there’s a deep zippered pocket on the inside of the jacket where I like to stash my wallet. All of the zippers have corded nylon zipper pulls that make it quick and easy to locate the zippers when I need them.

The hood and bottom hem are encased in a nylon binding for durability. The same elasticized binding is used at the ends of the sleeves to keep out cold weather. I like the The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie’s hood because it’s designed for simplicity. I just pull it on. No need for cinching it tighter, so there are no pull ties. The hood binding is slightly cinched to give it a shape around my face. I almost enjoy the cold now because the North Face Terra Peak Hoodie is so effective at protecting me from the elements. If I could change one thing about this jacket I’d make the hood adjustable. When I forget my hat, I want to be able to cinch the hood snugly around my face.

The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie has another feature I’m really loving: armpit gussets! They’re made out of a four-way stretchy material, and give me a bit more mobility. I think they also make the jacket a bit more breathable than similar jackets I have that don’t have the gussets. 

Bottom Line

I love this warm, attractive jacket. I think of it as “puffy light” since it’s puffy but not super puffed up. It’s important to me to have an insulated jacket that will stay warm even when wet since my winters are very wet and often windy, too. I also like the large pockets and the ease of packing when I stuff the jacket into its inner pocket. I wear it night fishing, and it keeps me warm in freezing temperatures. 

I’m allergic to down, so I really appreciate having a warm jacket that’s quite lightweight, packs small, and stands up to the weather. (Editor’s addition: When the temps dropped below freezing in early February, I remained confidently warm on afternoon and evening outings while wearing the North Face Terra Peak Hoodie. I really appreciate its light weight, its protection against wind, and its roomy fit that allow me the space to layer when needed. Even when temps slid down to the 20’s, I stayed warm in this cozy winter jacket.)

Details

The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie is available in men’s and women’s styles. Because I’m 6’ tall and have an extra long torso (and arms) I opted for testing a men’s hoodie, and I’m glad I did. The men’s size L hoodie is 28 inches long, perfect for me because it just covers the top of my bum. I’m not a fan of short winter jackets. The women’s North Face Terra Peak Hoodie is a couple of inches shorter through the torso. 

The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie is available in men’s sizes S-XXL in several colors, including: Clay Grey, TNF Black, Beetroot, Meadow Grass (two-tone green), and Midnight Petrol. 

The women’s North Face Terra Peak Hoodie is available in sizes XS-XXL in Midnight Mauve (one of my favorite colors this winter), Midnight Petrol (my second favorite color this winter), Apricot Glaze/Iron Citrus (two-tone orange), TNF Black, and Clay Grey. 

$240 click for men’s, click for women’s