North Face Retro Denali Fleece Review

Bottom Line

The North Face Retro Denali (women’s / men’s) is a true classic with roots going back to the climbing world in the 80s.

It is one of the heavier-weight fleeces that we tested in our lineup, evident in its thick and plush material, which kept us warm on chilly morning hikes in the coastal forests of Northern California. Although we found the heavier material to lack the same breathability as other fleeces, the included pit zips provide adequate air flow over a large surface area under the armpits. It is a stylish jacket that also features three zippered pockets and an adjustable drawcord at the waist.

However, our gear analyst did come across some fit concerns with the jacket. The biggest fit issue we noted was the extra-tight non-stretchy cuffs, which made pulling the jacket sleeves over your hands slightly difficult. Also, the torso of the jacket may be too short for some body types. Maybe it’s a style thing, but there’s significant fabric around the biceps, creating a bulkier fit and look. Due to the bulk and weight of this fleece, it is best suited for around town, camping, or light day hiking in colder temperatures.

To compare to other top-performing fleece jackets, check out our gear guide to the best fleece jackets of the year.

How We Tested

Our gear analyst rocked the Retro Denali Fleece on local hiking trails in the coastal forests of California, where early summer weather still consists of chilly mornings and occasional fog – perfect weather for hiking with a fleece. We tested the warmth, durability, and packability of this jacket while day hiking and relaxing in the outdoors.

Warmth

While hiking on a chilly morning in Northern California, it was no surprise we immediately noticed the Denali’s warmth. Upon putting on the plush fleece, there’s a significant increase in temperature. 

The midweight retro tumbled polar fleece is made of 360g recycled polyester and provides excellent insulation, which is perfect for cold weather. However, after warming up and continuing to hike on, we started to overheat very quickly. While the pit zips help with air flow, the Retro Denali does trade some airflow for its extra warmth. For that reason, this jacket is best suited for casual day hiking, trail-to-town outings, campfire gatherings, or winter weather.

For everyday use, we love the Retro Denali and often find a reason to throw this little furnace on whenever the temperatures drop.

Comfort

The brushed fleece of this jacket is extremely soft and cozy against the skin. We found no restrictions in movement when lifting our arms, moving around or bending. 

However, the fit is somewhat unusual. The hand openings are non-stretchy and very small, requiring extra effort to pull your hand through the sleeve, especially if you have some big mitts. It makes it difficult to pull the sleeve down over your wrist, hand and fingers for extra warmth and coverage in cold weather if you don’t have gloves. 

Overall, the jacket is slightly boxy with a short torso and is on the bulkier end of fleeces on the market. But that is the intended style of the Retro Denali. The material around the biceps is much roomier than a body builder would need, causing some discomfort when hiking with a pack due to the build up of fabric around the shoulder straps. 

We opted to hike without a pack when testing this jacket due to its fit. Although we have some gripes with the fit on this style, the coziness of the material is unparalleled.

Durability

We’ve been zipping up many generations of North Face Denali jackets since we were tweens. But not all iterations are made the same, so here’s what we found with this year’s model:

Upon first impressions, this jacket appears extremely durable with its thick brushed fleece, heavier weight, and woven overlays on the chest, collar, and lower-back sleeves. The overlays are made with a DWR finish, which provides some barrier to moisture.

While our gear analyst didn’t notice any wear and tear on the fabric, she did experience some significant debris clinging to this fleece compared to others in our lineup. When brushing up on branches or mossy rocks, the fleece material collected a lot of debris that didn’t immediately shake off. 

While there are no specific washing instructions on the North Face website, our gear analyst recommends that this jacket be washed on a gentle cycle to better preserve the material over time.

Weight

Because the Retro Denali is over a pound, we don’t pack it for backcountry adventures or hikes where we will likely shed a layer. Its weight and lack of compressibility make it better suited for chilly strolls or hikes with little elevation change. 

When storing the fleece away on a hike, our gear analyst found that it took up most of the space in the main pouch of her mid-sized day pack – not ideal for longer adventures when snacks, extra water, and other essentials would also be fighting for space. Even when storing the jacket in our wardrobe, we find that it has to hang because it takes up too much space when folded in a drawer. 

For those hikers looking for a stowable, lightweight fleece that can be stuffed, tied around the waist, or strapped on to the outside of a pack, the Retro Denali is likely not the best fit. However, those willing to sacrifice weight and packability for warmth and features will not be disappointed.

Features

The Retro Denali boasts excellent features, in addition to its timeless retro look. It features an adjustable drawcord on the waist, which can be cinched down to customize the fit. There are also two zippered hand pockets and one large zippered chest pocket, as well as a lined collar. The sleeves also come with snaps for attaching to other North Face outer shells.

The pit zips are very large and allow effective air flow when unzipped, which helps reduce sweating (and the number of times the fleece has to be washed!). However, the zippers are bulky and slightly noticeable when moving your arms around. On local hikes, our gear analyst found that this fleece was not the best for hiking with a day pack, due to the bulk around the upper arms. With that being said, its extra roominess would allow for layering in winter conditions.

Should You Buy The North Face Retro Denali Fleece Jacket?

The North Face Retro Denali is an excellent pick when warmth is paramount. It excels in colder weather, where thicker fleeces are essential for extra insulation. The added features, such as a waist drawcord, three zippered pockets, and pit zips are also beneficial and add value to the jacket. 

On the flipside, if you are looking for a more active-oriented fleece for shoulder seasons rather than an everyday townie layer, we suggest you check out our other jacket recommendations in our gear guide. 

Folks who have a longer torso, larger hands, or a smaller frame may find the fit to feel slightly awkward and very bulky. While this jacket is not geared towards backpackers, it is still a great option for casual day hikers, car campers and trail to town troopers.

What Other Fleeces Should You Consider?

If the North Face Retro Denali is not quite what you are looking for in a fleece jacket, we have many other recommendations to consider. You can head over to our best fleece jackets gear guide for more of our top picks. Here’s a peek at some options:

Patagonia Better Sweater Review: Another classic from a tried and true brand, this Patagonia fleece offers a slimmer fit than the bulkier North Face Retro Denali, but is still a heavier and thicker jacket than others in our lineup. 

Cotopaxi Abrazo Half-Zip Review: This is an excellent pull-over option that provides a slimmer fit than the Retro Denali. It offers solid warmth and also includes a zippered chest pocket.

REI Trailmade Fleece Review: This is an excellent lightweight, simple, and budget-friendly option that is everything the North Face Retro Denali is not. If you are in need of a packable, straightforward, more breathable fleece that is doable for a tighter budget, then this is a great option.