Review: The North Face Progressor Insulated Hybrid Hoodie

This spring I got to check out some items from The North Face’s Progressor Collection, and this piece, the Insulated Hybrid Hoodie was my favorite.

Retail: $199.00

Essentially this is a layer that is light (less than 12 ounces), keeps you insulated, and allows for movement while climbing. The insulation comes from PrimaLoft Gold body, with air vents in the sides of the jacket for breathing. I found it to be a perfect spring layer in the desert when I wanted some warmth, but not too much. It’s the type of piece you can move in, not overheat, and then still keep on at a belay. The hood also fits well under a helmet.

My only real complaint about the jacket is when you do actually take it off on a multipitch climb. The jacket will compress into one of the pockets but when you do that there isn’t a proper clip in loop to attach it to your harness.

All in all, a great jacket to approach and climb in, but if you’re taking it on and off for bigger routes there are others which are more properly suited for that use.

-LM

The North Face Progressor Insulated Hybrid Hoodie (on Moosejaw) mens

The North Face Progressor Insulated Hybrid Hoodie (on Moosejaw) womens

In the vertical world, quality gear is as important as good weather or the right partner. At the Climbing Zine, we review gear that we put to the test in our personal climbing pursuits, over months of use. If we like it we’ll tell you, and if we don’t we’ll tell you. That’s our policy…If you have gear for us to consider for a review please contact us at luke@climbingzine.com.

Please consider subscribing to The Climbing Zine. It’s $17.99 a year for two issues, or $34.99 for two years, and this greatly helps us produce free web content like this.

About us: The Climbing Zine was started in 2010 by Al Smith III and Luke Mehall. It continues to the day with the mission of representing the true essence of climbing. Our crown jewel is our printed version, but we also do the interweb thing, and Kindle.