Review: North Face Dawn Turn 50/50 Synthetic Mid + Outer Layer
Price
£340 [tho available cheaper on North Face site currently]
Gender
Male
Brand // Manufacturers
What we liked …
Clever baffles keep your temperature well-regulated
Water repellent outer
Cosy cuffs don’t let snow in
What we didn’t
Needs a hood + face quick-pull
The Verdict
THE SHORT READ…
I have to admit this has become my go-to jacket this winter season thus far. I’ve given it a solid month of on-mountain use, as well as daily street wear. It works as a warm outer layer with a weather resistant surface, it’s flexible enough to wear layers underneath and still enjoy unconstricted movement. Or wear it as a mid-layer under a fully waterproof shell, or larger puffer. Great bit of kit.
Many bits of kit are alike, the brand name doesn’t matter much, they all do the same job. Every now and again there’s some clever tech development which pushes things forward – as a kit nerd, always hunting the most efficient layers to bring on the mountain, I’m quite sold on this 50:50 design.
The first thing you notice about the Dawn Turn jacket is the curious horizonal ribs which traverse the inner side of the coat and arms. They are filled with synthetic down, though I honestly would’ve sworn it was real down until I just read the details on North Face site.
In between these ribs, is… nothing. Yep, in between each baffle strip is simply the outer shell material. When you’re yomping up the mountain or ripping down it, the body’s temperature seems to stay amazingly balanced. You’ll have to try it out for yourself, but I’m sold.
As an ultra-runner as well as snowboarder, I’m sensitive to maintaining as balanced a temperature as possible under exertion – saves on needing to drink water and calorie intake ultimately. (not that I’d take this jacket ultra-running as it weighs 545g, which is pretty light for ski touring, but not for a small running pack).
This winter in the alps has been a slightly warmer than normal one – so I’ve worn this jacket in -3C up to 14C. I’ve worn it in fresh powder, full snowstorms dumping big wet flakes, bluebird cold days, and warm rainy days. Under wet snowflakes snowboarding the woods, the jacket kept the wet out for a couple of hours at least. And when it did get more wet in places it was still warm.
The sleeves aren’t for everyone, but I’ve really enjoyed the optional thumb loops and snug wrist section – in deeper powder days it keeps all snow at bay. The design keeps on giving – there’s a clever overlap which rests above the wrist section on your gloves – again, ensuring no sneaky snow particles creep down into your gloves.
The hood is generous and fits over your helmet, sadly missing a quick-pull however, but if it sits under another shell layer – it will be cinched by that outer quick-pull anyways. So no biggie.
The front stow pockets are fine as long as you’re not wearing a harness, then they become less useful as the belt cuts across them. In the chest, there’s a pocket for phone and also packing the whole jacket into.
SUMMARY…
I’m super impressed by this bitta kit, well done North Face. Money no object, I’d also consider the Men’s L3 505 Hooded Down Jacket, slightly more pricey, with real down, weighs an even skinnier 375g. But the synthetic down will stay warm when wet, whereas real down will lose it’s benefits.
Intended use is genuinely mountaineering / hiking / ski snowboarding. A super useful jacket for your winter and summer quiver.