The North Face Terra Peak Vest Review

Lightweight insulated puffy vest.

I was looking for a down-free, packable vest, and found an ideal fit in The North Face Terra Peak Vest, available in women’s and men’s styles.

Sustainable but Not Overstuffed

The North Face Terra Peak Vest is made out of recycled nylon and insulated with blown ThermoBall™, a 100% recycled synthetic insulation. The vest also utilizes Pertex® Quantum to increase warmth and puffiness. I’m a fan of ThermoBall™ insulation because it provides a lot of warmth without the bulk, and it keeps me warm even when wet (important here in rainy Seattle.) 

This vest is what I would describe as “puffy light”: its horizontal channels are on the thin side and not overstuffed. It’s puffier than some of my other vests, but it’s not so puffy that I look puffed up. (I’d rather not look any bigger!)

Cozy Comfort

I like the Terra Peak Vest’s large zippered front pockets, which are well-hidden in the side seams. This design protects the pockets from the weather since the zippers are not waterproofed. Nylon cord pull tabs make it easy to find the zippers. I use the pockets most often for my hands because I seem to always forget my gloves. There’s a small vertical zippered pouch on the inside of the jacket that opens to a large flat pocket. I appreciate that it’s hidden and ideal for stashing my wallet, especially when traveling. (When I pack the vest rather than wear it, it’s easy to stuff it into this pocket, making it easy to stash in my carry-on luggage or in my daypack.)

Winter in the Pacific Northwest brings temperatures that hover in the low 40s most of the winter, so the North Face Terra Peak Vest is the perfect outer layer over a long-sleeved shirt or merino hoodie. I tend to be too warm in most situations, so I prefer wearing a vest instead of a jacket. This vest is my favorite outer layer for hour-long urban hikes and power walks. My cores stays warm, and the ventilation of not having sleeves means I don’t overheat.

The Terra Peak Vest has a nice, tall collar, so when it’s fully zipped it does an excellent job of protecting my neck and keeping me toasty warm. If I get too warm I can also adjust the double zippers, but I haven’t needed to do that. I think double zippers are handy, but to be honest, I often forget to use them. (If there is anything about the vest I would change it is the zipper. It works fine and is comparable to other brands I’ve tested. I’ve never had a North Face zipper fail me, but I’m hard on vests and jackets and always want chunkier zippers for winter wear.)

I fish for squid at night during winter months, and the Terra Peak Vest is perfect for keeping my core warm on windy, cold nights on the pier. Sometimes I wear it under a jacket and a rain shell, and sometimes the vest is all I wear over a wool hoodie. The armholes of the vest are covered in an elastic binding for added durability. 

Bottom Line

I’m very happy with the Terra Peak Vest. It never makes it into my closet because I wear it every day around the house because it’s always freezing inside and I keep it on for most outings because it keeps my neck and core warm without making me feel overheated.

Both women’s and men’s vests come in rich dark colors. I found a good fit in my usual size, but next time I might try a men’s vest for more length through the torso since I’m 6’ tall and have an abnormally long torso. 

Details

The Terra Peak Vest is available women’s sizes XS-XXL in TNF Black, Midnight Mauve, and Midnight Petrol/Algae Blue. I appreciate that the size ranges goes beyond XL to be more inclusive. The men’s Terra Peak Vest is available in TNF Black, Beetroot, and Midnight Petrol in S-XXL. 

$180 (women’s vest , men’s vest)