The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie Review
The midweight North Face Terra Peak Hoodie ($280) offers down-like insulation and warmth in a weather-ready and (relatively) affordable build. It carries extra weight and bulk—not to mention it’s not very breathable—so the jacket is not a backcountry specialist. But as a midlayer for resort skiing and properly cold days around town, it’s a quality choice.
Warmth
Comfort & Mobility
Breathability
Weight & Packability
Weather Resistance
Sustainability
Weight
1 lb. 3.7 oz.
Insulation
16 g/sqft ThermoBall
Fabric
20D Pertex Quantum
Packable
Yes (pocket)
Pros
Cons
The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets.
Heat retention is one of the North Face Terra Peak Hoodie's best qualities, and I stayed warm (too warm, at times) wearing the jacket as a midlayer in temps well below freezing. It's filled with the brand's lofty, down-mimicking ThermoBall insulation, and to really put that to the test, I wore it during a weekend snowboarding trip at Mammoth Mountain, where the thermometer dropped into the teens with wind gusts up to 35 mph. Wearing a dry-fit t-shirt and a polyester sweatshirt underneath, I actually found myself getting too hot, sweating and unzipping the jacket at the end of each run. To be fair, I was working hard, navigating trees and narrow chutes, but even during extended chairlift sits, lunch breaks by the car, or walking around town at night, I stayed comfortable and never felt cold. My brother, who wore an uninsulated softshell, couldn’t say the same most of the time.
The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie also performed well as a casual (unzipped) jacket while hanging around camp with just a shirt underneath in milder temps in the 40s and 50s, and I think it works best in those minimal-to-low-effort settings. (It was a great match for a spring camping trip in Utah's canyon country.) In many ways, the Terra Peak is simply a synthetic-filled down jacket: puffy, great at sealing in heat, and cozy.
The Terra Peak sticks to a classic insulated jacket feel, but that doesn't stop it from offering solid freedom of movement. The Pertex Quantum fabric has a slightly slippery, soft texture similar to a sleeping bag, which felt nice against the skin, though not as pleasant as a jacket with supple liners like the North Face Casaval Hybrid Hoodie. It's also a lot of jacket, with a roomy fit and bulky shape, which might be a turnoff for those who prefer a more streamlined fit. That said, it made layering underneath easy. The hood and sleeve cuffs also hugged my body well without ever feeling too snug, and the tricot-lined collar was soft against my face.
Given its bulk, I fully expected to feel weighed down and limited while snowboarding in it, but to my surprise, I never felt restricted, even doing jump turns, weaving through trees, or hitting grabs in the park. I actually forgot I had it on while riding, which says a lot about its flexibility. Personally, I attribute that performance to its slightly baggy fit, elastic and stretchy openings, and underarm gussets. There are other synthetic insulated jacket options out there, like the Patagonia DAS Light Hoody, that offer solid freedom of movement and warmth without carrying as much heft, but for a jacket as insulated as the Terra Peak, its freedom of movement is impressive.
While warmth is a true highlight of the The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie, it comes at the expense of its breathability, and it's clear that it's not an active insulator. There's essentially no airflow through the Pertex Quantum fabric, which makes it great for preserving heat and keeping the elements out, but also means that things can get clammy and stuffy fast. With no vents or breathable panels, the only way to dump heat is if you unzip it.
Even with "feels like" temps down in the single digits, I still got significantly sweaty fast while working hard snowboarding and had to unzip on the chairlifts just to get some airflow. Personally, I'd stick to wearing this one walking around town, hanging at camp, or during lower-heart-rate activities like mild snowshoeing or hiking. Push yourself harder—ski touring, running, mountaineering—and you're going to overheat.
The Terra Peak Hoodie is a big, bulky jacket, so it's not the pick for trips where pack space is at a premium, or where you're moving fast and light. It weighs in at 1 pound 3.7 ounces, making it one of the heaviest insulated synthetic jackets I've come across, and over half a pound heavier than the similarly warm DAS Light. That weight never felt overwhelming on the body, but it's far from feathery, and honestly, I felt kind of like a marshmallow wearing it. Luckily, mobility wasn't compromised, but it's clear this isn't a streamlined jacket.
While it does pack down into its own zippered chest pocket, it takes real forearm strength to stuff it in, and there were a few moments I got nervous about ripping the opening from how much force I was putting into it. Once packed, it measures roughly the size of a bread loaf, so it's not particularly compact, either. Compared to the down jackets I own, it stuffs down noticeably larger.
Given how bulky it is, this isn't a great option if you're traveling light or space is limited. I've had moments where its size became a genuine burden when packing for overnight trips, forcing me to rearrange gear or leave other things behind just to make room. For instances like these, I'd reach for my more compact Nunatak PCT Pullover or even something like the 8.9-ounce Enlightened Equipment Torrid instead. I'd really only consider bringing the Terra Peak on a single-day mission with a larger day pack where room isn't as much of a premium, but beyond that, it feels too big and bulky for much else.
The Terra Peak obviously won't replace a dedicated shell or rain jacket in truly rough conditions, but it withstood adverse weather far better than I expected. The second half of my weekend snowboarding trip featured near-blizzard conditions with 35 mph winds, and after spending nearly the whole day on the slopes, I never once felt wind cutting through. The jacket also picked up plenty of snow, both from the sky and a couple of tumbles. As it melted, the moisture beaded up initially before eventually soaking into the fabric, but it never felt heavy on my body, and I stayed dry and warm throughout. Safe to say I was genuinely impressed. If I’m being nitpicky, my one minor weather-protection miss is that none of its openings (hood, hem, or wrists) are cinchable for a true, sealed-in feel, but they all feature stretchy, elastic linings that help them snugly wrap around my body without feeling constricting.
Compared to my PCT Pullover, the The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie feels noticeably more weatherproof. I could sometimes feel wind cutting through the PCT, but with this jacket, even strong gusts on the chairlift didn't get through. In a full-on downpour, I'd still want a real shell, but based on how it handled pretty gnarly weather, I wouldn't hesitate to wear this in snowy conditions or even light-to-moderate rain, and I'd especially reach for it on a particularly windy day.
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PFAS-Free DWR
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Highlighted by 20-denier Pertex Quantum fabric, the Terra Peak feels solidly durable and won't let you down, even when you're venturing out in pretty rough terrain. In addition to use on lower-impact trips like camping, backpacking, and wearing around town, I really pushed it snowboarding, weaving through several tree sections and taking a few tumbles on both pow and icier terrain. Aside from the stitching on the underside of one of the gussets coming slightly undone, the shell material, lining, seams, zippers, and insulation all show no signs of damage. The zippers operate smoothly, and I haven't noticed any sticking or catching. Compared to my PCT Pullover, with its 10-denier shell, the Terra Peak feels burlier and less likely to rip or tear, giving me confidence it can endure plenty of hard use.
Hood
The hood is roomy, fitting comfortably around my head without feeling oversized, and it's big enough to accommodate a helmet underneath. There's no way to adjust or cinch it down, though, so you won't get a truly snug fit, and it can impede your field of view a bit. Even so, the hood feels good to wear, and my only real complaint is the lack of adjustability.
Storage
You won't find a truly comprehensive feature set on the Terra Peak, but I liked the streamlined, minimal feel. There are two zippered hand pockets and one internal zippered chest pocket, which also doubles as the jacket's own storage pouch. The hand pockets are generously sized, easily accommodating my phone, wallet, or some snacks, and the chest pocket is even bigger, large enough to fit a book inside. While I was overall happy with the pocket layout and all were easy to access even with a backpack on, the chest pocket was too oversized for me, making it tricky to grab smaller items (like my lift ticket) that fell to the bottom.
Tester size: 5’10”, 19.5” Torso
Size tested: Men’s large
I typically fall between a medium and a large—I've got fairly broad shoulders relative to my waist, which puts me closer to a large up top and a medium below the chest. I opted for a large, and it fit my frame well, if a bit roomy, which tracks given my proportions (the The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie advertises a regular cut). The arms landed at the perfect length right at my wrists, the collar zipped up to just below my lips, and the hem hit right in the middle of my butt. I didn't mind the roomier fit, either, as it made layering easy, including fitting a thicker polyester sweatshirt underneath. Given how bulky the jacket already is, though, you'll want to treat it strictly as an outer layer rather than a streamlined midlayer.
Patagonia DAS Light Hoody ($369): Similar Warmth, Better Technical Performance
The Patagonia DAS Light Hoody comes with an $89 premium, but anyone looking for a true mountain-oriented synthetic jacket will easily find the upcharge worth it. Like the Terra Peak, the DAS Light offers premier warmth and enough weather resistance to fend off blustering winds and light precip—but in a package that weighs half a pound lighter. It does use a thinner fabric to shed weight, but is still more than durable enough to withstand plenty of scrapes and scratches. Both jackets also have poor breathability, but the DAS Light's two-way center zipper gives you added flexibility you won't find on the Terra Peak. Finally, only the DAS Light features adjustments at both the hem and hood, making it the clear winner for alpine missions. For more, read our review of the Patagonia DAS Light Hoody.
The North Face Casaval Hybrid Hoodie ($290): A Similarly-Priced Active Insulator
While the Terra Peak better suits the casual user, The North Face's Casaval Hybrid Hoodie is for those who really get after it. It's a much more breathable jacket, complete with uninsulated areas to let heat escape, and features a thicker face fabric for increased longevity. Like the Terra Peak, the Casaval Hybrid Hoodie offers great mobility, but in a lighter, more streamlined silhouette, with handwarmer pocket placement higher on the jacket for easier access while wearing a climbing or backpack harness. Its insulation doesn't match the Terra Peak's, though, so if you need absolute warmth, that remains the better choice. But those looking for an active insulator while completing an alpine ascent or hitting the slopes will find the extra $10 for the Casaval Hybrid Hoodie money well spent. To learn more, check out our The North Face Casaval Hybrid Hoodie review.
For down-like warmth and looks, The North Face’s Terra Peak is a well-built, stylish choice. Its poor airflow limits it to low-output endeavors, however, and its hefty, roomy build is too substantial for those who prefer a lightweight, streamlined jacket.
Warmth
Comfort & Mobility
Breathability
Weight & Packability
Weather Resistance
Sustainability
Purpose-built for alpine climbing, the DAS Light Hoody delivers impressive warmth for its weight, excellent water resistance, and a feature set dialed for vertical pursuits. Its steep price tag reflects that performance, making it best suited for serious alpine enthusiasts rather than casual users.
Warmth
Comfort & Mobility
Breathability
Weight & Packability
Weather Resistance
Sustainability
Straight out of TNF’s high-performance Summit Series collection, the Casaval Hybrid Hoodie merges the comfort and breathability of a sweatshirt with the warmth of 60-gram insulation. It’s potentially too warm for all but the most cold-weather activities, but its durability, hand feel, and fit are hard to beat.
Warmth
Comfort & Mobility
Breathability
Weight & Packability
Weather Resistance
Sustainability
Is the Terra Peak for You?
Unlike generalists that provide serviceable performance in lots of categories, the The North Face Terra Peak Hoodie puts almost all of its eggs into warmth and weather protection. That really pays off for those heading out on low-effort outings in heavy winds, freezing temps, and even decently wet weather. Those strengths come at the expense of breathability, though, making it easy to overheat once you start sweating. It's also one of the heaviest and bulkiest synthetic jackets available, but it still offers excellent mobility should your pursuits call for it.
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