Brand: The North Face Gear Reviews
Model: Summit L2 FuseForm
Our take
The L2 FuseForm’s close fit, low weight, and best-in-test breathability let us focus on moving forward when chilly alpine starts turned into tough, sun-drenched ascents. The North Face’s FuseForm tech places lower-pile Polartec Power Grid in the upper torso, where you can overheat; sections of higher-pile fleece everywhere else are then joined with it in a seamless construction, which reduces weight. “Over a midweight baselayer it was all the insulation I needed starting out in the teens, but once I took off my shell, even light breezes kept me from overheating,” said one tester after a sunny, mid-30s ski tour in Alaska’s Chugach Range.
The details
Polartec Hardface on the exterior helps additional layers slide on and off smoothly and resists damage from heavy packs and skis. Bonus: Thumb loops are comfy even under gloves.
Trail cred
“After a sweaty climb, a light breeze dried the L2 FuseForm quickly, warding off chills so I could enjoy the views of Prince William Sound,” our Alaska tester reports. thenorthface.com