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Mountain Hardwear Norse Peak Full-Zip Review

A stylish fleece with a retro look for around town or car camping.
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Price:  $90 List | $49.98 at Backcountry
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Inexpensive, stylish
Cons:  Heavy, not very warm for the weight
Manufacturer:   Mountain Hardwear
By Matt Bento ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  May 16, 2019
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56
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#18 of 18
  • Warmth - 20% 5
  • Comfort - 20% 6
  • Breathability - 20% 4
  • Layering Ability - 15% 6
  • Style - 5% 7
  • Weather resistance - 10% 7
  • Weight - 10% 6

Our Verdict

Comfortable and somewhat warm, the Mountain Hardwear Norse Peak Hoody is a fashion-centric frontcountry fleece. Great for hanging out around the fire or chilling at the crag, this jacket feels a lot more like your favorite cotton hoody than a performance fleece, especially in the case of the floppy, loose-fitting hood. However, the hardface fleece material dries much faster than cotton, making this jacket a good choice for the reluctant outdoorsman who values retro stylings at least as much as function.


Compare to Similar Products

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Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award  Best Buy Award 
Price $49.98 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers		$159.00 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers		$131.73 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$117.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers		$94.99 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers
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Pros Inexpensive, stylishPerfect fit for most active uses, ideal weight for many conditions, great hood designUltra breathable, very comfortableBreathable, awesome balaclava feature, great fitGreat warmth for the weight, excellent fit, good hood, affordable
Cons Heavy, not very warm for the weightNot as stylish as some other fleeces for around town, not as warm for its weight as some high-loft modelsNot very warmExpensiveZipper sticks, not as breathable as the R1
Bottom Line A stylish fleece with a retro look for around town or car camping.A perfect layering piece that regulates body temperature so well you'll leave it on from summit to sleeping bag and everywhere in between.This jacket is your best choice for high exertion activities in the winter.Arc'teryx's take on the half zip has some solid advantages over the R1.This jacket performs almost as well as our Editors' Choice and is more affordable.
Rating Categories Norse Peak Full-Zip Patagonia R1 Hoody Deviator Hoody Arc'teryx Konseal Hoody Marmot Preon Hoody
Warmth (20%)
10
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5
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7
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6
10
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5
10
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7
Comfort (20%)
10
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6
10
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8
10
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9
10
0
9
10
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7
Breathability (20%)
10
0
4
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
8
Layering Ability (15%)
10
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6
10
0
10
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
9
Style (5%)
10
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7
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4
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3
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7
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5
Weather Resistance (10%)
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8
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7
Weight (10%)
10
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6
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9
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9
Specs Norse Peak Full-Zip Patagonia R1 Hoody Deviator Hoody Arc'teryx Konseal... Marmot Preon Hoody
Type Midweight Lightweight Lightweight Lightweight Midweight
Weight (oz.) 16.50 oz 10.4 oz 9.65 oz 12.4 oz 13.95 oz
Main Material Hardfaced Melange Fleece (100% polyester) 6.9-oz Polartec Power Grid 93% recycled polyester 7% spandex with Polygiene permanent odor control 2L Polartec Power Grid - 84% polyester
16% spandex knit face 		Polartec Power Dry High Warmth 94% recycled ployester, 6% elastane
# of Pockets 3 1 3 1 3
Unique Features Elastic cuffs Balaclava style hood, thumb loops, Polygiene permanent odor control, longer length to stay tucked under a harness Thumb loops, Polartec Alpha insulated front panel Neck Gaiter/Balaclava, Thumb Loops, Media Pocket Scuba hood, recycled materials used
Hood Option Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

This jacket is in the same league as other style fleeces like the Patagonia Performance Better Sweater, the warmer The North Face Denali 2, and our favorite, The North Face Campshire Hoodie. You're probably not going to go hard in the mountains in any of these models; they don't breathe well, and they're heavy. However, they're all great for staying warm and looking good around town.

Performance Comparison


This fleece is for hanging out camping out but not hanging it waaay out on backcountry missions.
This fleece is for hanging out, camping out, but not hanging it waaay out on backcountry missions.

Warmth


This fleece is on the low end of the warmth metric, especially when compared to the other style fleeces. These jackets are warmer in general than performance fleece like the Patagonia R1 Hoody because they're designed for hanging out, not for sprinting up hills or activities where you'll generate your own warmth. The Norse Peak isn't as warm as the TNF Campshire or the Performance Better Sweater. Think "cool fall afternoons"; not "bitter cold winter mornings".

This jacket offers more wind resistance than most of the fleece in our review but that makes it score poorly for breathability.
This jacket offers more wind resistance than most of the fleece in our review, but that makes it score poorly for breathability.

Comfort


The men's small Norse Peak we tested fits as it should, relaxed, but not constricting. The arms are the perfect length, and the hemline isn't super long like the R1 or the Arc'tery Konseal, so it's not great under a climbing harness, but it looks better with a pair of jeans. The hood…doesn't fit as well. A drawstring to secure it to your head would be nice since the hood tends to flop around to the point of impairing your vision, a problem for one of our testers while is zipped around town on his bike. Two zippered handwarmer pockets are ready to keep your frigid mitts out of the cold or stash whatever you need without fear of it falling out, plus a chest pocket for all those chapsticks.

Our testers don't like the way the hood fits. It's too loose.
Our testers don't like the way the hood fits. It's too loose.

Breathability


The hardface fleece just can't compete with more air permeable gridded fleece used on the R1, the Arc'teryx Konseal, and the Marmot Preon. The Patagonia Performance Better Sweater is your best option if you're in the market for a breathable fleece that can also withstand the rigors of date night, thanks to stretchy breathable panels under the arms.

Retro-Check! Functional-Sort of! The cuffs are snug enough to stay in place underneath heavier layers but we prefer a thumb loop option.
Retro-Check! Functional-Sort of! The cuffs are snug enough to stay in place underneath heavier layers, but we prefer a thumb loop option.

Layering Ability


This fleece is designed to be seen, not to be hidden underneath an insulated jacket and a hardshell, and the relaxed fit doesn't lend itself to integrating with the layering system since the fabric bunches up. You'll be fine when a roomy waterproof layer over this jacket, but it's not appropriate for your backcountry skiing kit, or anytime you need a lightweight, breathable fleece.


Weather Resistance


Though it's described as "hardface", there isn't durable water repellent treatment on it like the very weather resistant Patagonia R1 Techface Hoody. When precip hits this jacket, it soaks through quickly. It does offer better wind protection than light fleeces like the R1 and The North Face Proprius Hoodie.

Weight


Our men's small-sized Norse Peak weighs 16.5 oz, putting it solidly in the mid-weight category, though it doesn't feel as warm as other mid weights like the Patagonia Synchilla Snap T or the Kuhl Interceptr. This jacket doesn't have a good warmth to weight ratio like the loftier, higher pile fleece.

Heavy. surprisingly heavy and not coming along on any lightweight backpacking trips.
Heavy. surprisingly heavy, and not coming along on any lightweight backpacking trips.

Style


The ribbed elastic cuffs and hemline illicit a retro look; think Adidas in the late 80s. If that's your thing, you can embrace the nostalgia in five different colors: Racer (red), Nightfall Blue, Dark Army, Manta Gray, and Void.

Value


This fleece is well constructed and fits great, and while it doesn't knock it out of the park in the performance sense, it's still a great value at only $90.

Best Applications


The Norse Peak is a good choice for city folks who need a little more than a cotton hoody for their next hike or day a the crag, or for mountain folks who are looking to up their style wise around town.

Conclusion


$90 is a screamin' deal for a full featured fleece jacket. Looking to save a few bucks but need performance for climbing and skiing in the backcountry? Check out the Best Buy award winning Marmot Preon.


— Matt Bento