The North Face Terra Peak Hooded Jacket Reviewed & Tested

After a lifetime of owning (and swearing by) down insulation, Explorer Evan may have finally been converted to synthetic thanks to The North Face Terra Peak Hooded Jacket.

The Terra Peak jacket from The North Face is a synthetic insulated jacket designed to keep you looking good and super warm in almost any weather. Featuring ThermoBall™ insulation and Pertex® Quantum fabric for durability, it has all the perks of down without the heftier price tag.

Why am I the right person to do this review?

Isn’t there a saying about learning from other people’s mistakes? Well, take it from me (and my lifetime of finding out what does and doesn’t work in the backcountry – sometimes the hard way!), I think I’ve finally got it. I’m also obsessed with being outdoors and figuring out what the best bit of kit is in any given situation.

That, and I didn’t have any other clothes that helped me camouflage with the sky | @andrew.exploring

Quick Specifications

Weight: 700g (Men’s XL)
Waterproof: Kinda (water resistant)
Colourway: Men’s – Midnight Petrol (featured), Meadow Grass/Forrest Olive, TNF Black | Women’s – Mystic Haze, Apricot Glaze/Iron Citrus, TNF Black
RRP: $400 (but at the time of publishing it was on sale for $50 less at Wild Earth)

Performance

The North Face Terra Peak jacket does exactly what it says on the tin. 

Putting the jacket on for the first time, I had an immediate sense of cosy warmth that I’m used to, and much more familiar with, in some of my down jackets. The ThermoBall™ insulation packed into this jacket does an incredible job mimicking down feathers, thanks to the small synthetic fiber clusters, trapping heat in small air pockets to retain that precious warmth. If I didn’t know it was Thermoball, I could’ve been convinced it was down – technology has come a long way fast.

What’s more, it’ll even keep you warm if you’re caught out in the wet, unlike down!

The Pertex® Quantum outer fabric is tough as and designed to keep the wind and modest amounts of precip out, whilst allowing you to brush up against rougher surfaces and not worry (too much) about ripping it open. 

Forget quantum mechanics, it’s all about this fabric

Beyond the debate of down vs synthetic as far as wet weather goes, I’ve generally found that synthetic jackets provide a better ‘active’ insulation during activities in which you’re moving a lot, like hiking, skiing and climbing, over down which I find excels at keeping you warm while you’re ‘static’, sitting around camp cooking dinner or cuddled up watching the sunrise somewhere.

But on my most recent trip down to Kosciusko, with temps dropping quickly below 5°C camping up at 2000m, The North Face Terra Peak jacket had me feeling right at home. It was as if I’d just put on my puffiest, warmest down jacket while we sat and cooked dinner with the sun setting right in front of us. 

Even the synthetic baffles feel a lot more akin to how a down jacket feels, which is so good considering other synthetic jackets can feel a bit more structured due to using wide panels of insulation over certain areas of the body. 

Having the four-way stretch gussets in the armpits also drastically helps with movement inside the jacket, along with the stretch cuffs, elastic-bound hem, and hood, which all help keep the bitter cold winds out and the heat in.

Durability

Only time will be the true test of The North Face’s Terra Peak jacket. 

However, one thing is certain – the build quality is unquestionable. It’s one of the first things I noticed unboxing it – it’s tough and has a real solid feel to it without compromising comfort. From the wrist cuffs, to the zippers, to the outer shell, this is a bomber jacket (no, not the US college kind).

Despite having this jacket for a few months, I’m yet to give it a proper flogging and see what its real limits are. But having owned and witnessed multiple other bits of kit from The North Face go through thorough testing, I’m confident that it’ll be with me for a long time and on many trips in the future.

It survived lazing against rocks for many meal breaks | @andrew.exploring

Comfort

I mean, yeah, this jacket is comfy. Like when does feeling all warm and cosy not feel good when it’s absolutely freezing out? 

I did have a small issue with the fit of the Terra Peak, which I’ll explain later, but overall I find the Terra Peak jacket quite comfortable. Perhaps too comfortable, and this adds to its weight. It’ll probably be more of a casual/city winter jacket for me due to its boxier fit around the torso, rather than a more technical ‘hiking’ jacket as it’s described on TNF’s website.

Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean it won’t shine in the backcountry for others. The Terra Peak jacket has all the right things in the right places to keep you warm and safe in the most miserable conditions you dare to find yourself in. But it feels more like your favourite hoody than a purpose-driven hiking jacket.

With an internal draft flap and chin guard on the main zipper, brushed Tricot linings (fancy talk for soft and cosy) and elasticated cuffs and hem, the Terra Peak jacket sure is cosy. The synthetic baffles also have a really fun squish to them too.

The front doesn’t sag when your hands are in the pockets either – a small detail but a sign of good construction | @andrew.exploring

Design

For me, if this jacket falls down anywhere, it’s in the fit. 

As per the website, The North Face lists the jacket as a ‘standard’ fit, but I found the torso to be quite boxy and almost oversized, much more akin to the oversized t-shirt look that seems to be quite trendy these days, with the arms being quite short. 

My wrists want warmth too! | @andrew.exploring

I’m 193cm with long limbs and a short torso style chassis, and generally run a size large for pretty much all of my jackets across most brands (mid layer and beyond). But for the Terra Peak, I had to go up to an extra-large. The arm length seemed to fit much more like a medium than a typical large.

Going to the extra-large size definitely increased the ‘boxiness’ of the jacket quite a lot, which I’m not completely sold on for a more technical jacket. Although it does give you plenty of room to layer, which could be a plus. 

While the Terra Peak boasts that it can pack away into its own pocket and that the ThermoBall™ insulation is super compressible, I found it to still be quite large and bulky compared to some of my most trusted down jackets. That being said, it made for a very comfortable pillow addition to my sleep system. I simply slide it inside my buff for a very home-like pillow experience. 

From left to right: The North Face Terra Peak, RAB Neutrino, Patagonia UL Down Jacket

If you’re a multi-disciplined Explorer looking for a do-it-all jacket this winter, it’s worth noting that the hood doesn’t quite fit a helmet underneath like other technical jackets would. 

I’is only advertised as a hiking jacket, so I guess it can be forgiven there and might work better with a slim, low-profile helmet. You’ll still be able to tuck your brain bucket under the hood, just beware the jacket might ride up a little.

And for our gram counters, at approximately 700g for the extra-large size – this isn’t exactly a lightweight jacket. But it isn’t deathly heavy either. Being stuck with a few extra grams as a synthetic jacket, compared to down, for the benefit of staying warm if you’re wet, it might be worth it.

Sustainability

While The North Face might not bang on and make as much noise about their sustainability efforts as other brands, they are doing their part as one of the market leaders in outdoor gear. They produce high performance fabrics and materials that are as gentle as they can be on our Earth. 

But if you’re looking for a new ‘winter puffy’ and are concerned about making the best choice you can around sustainability, choosing a synthetic jacket over a down jacket might be your answer. 

The North Face Terra Peak features recycled nylon body fabric and overlay along with synthetic insulation, removing any questions about whether the fabric is truly fair trade or not. 

It’s worth noting that the insulation isn’t made from post-consumer recycled nylon, unlike The North Face’s ‘eco’ version of ThermoBall™ insulation, unsurprisingly named ThermoBall™Eco. Unfortunately for us Aussies, is only available in North America (from what the Australian website shows anyway).

The North Face is a good all rounder when it comes to sustainable production

Price

The Terra Peak is listed at $400AUD, which puts it towards the more affordable end of the scale compared to other high-quality down/insulated jackets on the market.  

Considering the performance benefits you get from the ThermoBall Insulation and the robust outer shell, if I had to fork out a couple hundi dollarydoos today, I’d definitely consider the Terra Peak. 

Given it’s not an outrageous sum of money and you’re getting a product you know will last many years to come, you can think of it more as an investment than just another piece of clothing.

Nifty inner chest pocket is always useful too | @andrew.exploring

Final Thoughts

The North Face Terra Peak Hooded jacket: does it do what it says on the tin? Yes. Is it comfortable? Yes. Does it look cool as hell? Big yes. 

What more do you need? I mean, it packs away into itself, the insulation is guaranteed to keep you warm, it’s got all the right things you want in an insulated jacket, and the outer shell is not only made from recycled materials, but it’s pretty burly too. There are more technical jackets, but for something that can go from city to trail, and look at home in both, the Terra Peak walks the line nicely.

Overall, The North Face Terra Peak jacket is a great bit of kit, and I think it’ll definitely find its way into my bag for plenty of trips in the future. Also, the midnight petrol colourway is kinda banging and just looks super steezy. Heck, maybe I’m trendy after all.

Catcha out there! | @andrew.exploring

FAQs The North Face Terra Peak Hooded Jacket

Is the Terra Peak jacket waterproof?

Not quite. It’s water-resistant – not raincoat status – but it’ll shrug off light showers and misty mornings without breaking a sweat.

Is the Terra Peak jacket sustainable?

Yep. The jacket is made using recycled fabrics and synthetic insulation, so it’s a more ethical choice than down. Bonus points for not involving any geese.

Is The North Face Terra Peak Hooded Jacket actually warm?

Yep, this jacket is toasty! Thanks to ThermoBall™ insulation, it mimics down so well you’ll forget it’s synthetic – until you get rained on and stay warm anyway.

Can I use the Terra Peak jacket for hiking and everyday wear?

Absolutely. It’s warm, weather-resistant, and looks good, so it can be worn both on and off the trail.

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Header image by @andrew.exploring