The The North Face Retro Denali Women's is our warmest for standing still pick, and we rate it 74 out of 100.
A 618g heavyweight in dense 300 gsm recycled polyester with DWR-treated nylon overlays, pit vents and hem cinch cords on both sides.
Scored on Comfort, Warmth, Breathability, Layering and Weight, weighted for how a fleece is actually used, which is why the warmest jacket here does not top the ranking.
Warmest for Standing Still
The North Face Retro Denali Women's
- Weight: 618g
- Fabric: 300 gsm recycled polyester with recycled nylon overlays, non-PFC DWR
- Weight class: Heavyweight
- Pockets: 2 hand, 1 chest
- Venting: Pit zips
- Hem: Cinch cords both sides
Pros
- Genuinely warm as a standalone layer
- Nylon overlays block wind across the core
- Huge pockets and twin hem cinch cords
- Shrugs off shoulder wear from heavy bags
Cons
- 618g and no packability
- Overheats on anything uphill
- Cropped fit costs midsection warmth
What We Make of the North Face Retro Denali Women's
The only true heavyweight here, and far more technical than the heritage styling suggests.
Across 5 metrics it landed on 74 out of 100, good enough for the warmest for standing still award.
What tips it: genuinely warm as a standalone layer.
618g and no packability.
Made for dog walks, town, camp and cold-weather work rather than anything aerobic.
I wore this on the coldest, stillest days of the winter and never wanted anything else. The moment the ground tilted uphill it came straight off.
Annie, Top-Notch test team
Test Results and Where It Ranks
comfort is where it wins. weight is where it does not.
The scores below come from the same tests every panel here went through.
Comfort
9 out of 10, joint highest in the test. One of our testers ended up sleeping in it repeatedly through the back end of winter, which tells you what the fabric does when you stop moving.
The cinch cords do double duty, trapping heat and giving a boxy shape some waist. The current cropped fit divides people. It is on trend and it costs you midsection warmth.
| Comfort | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 9/10 |
| The North Face Retro Denali Women's | 9/10 |
| Guide average | 7.1/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 5/10 |
Warmth
8.5 out of 10, and the only jacket here that genuinely works as a standalone outer in cold.
The nylon chest and shoulder overlays block wind across the core, which is what the heritage silhouette was always for.
Pockets are enormous, so a phone, keys and a day's snacks disappear into them.
| Warmth | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 9/10 |
| The North Face Retro Denali Women's | 8.5/10 |
| Guide average | 7.1/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 5/10 |
Breathability
6.5 out of 10, and the pit vents exist because the fabric cannot dump heat on its own. Owners describe overheating quickly on anything uphill, and our testing matched that.
This is a low-output jacket. Sell it to anyone who will sweat in it and they will be carrying it.
| Breathability | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 8.5/10 |
| The North Face Retro Denali Women's | 6.5/10 |
| Guide average | 6.4/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 3/10 |
Layering
5.5 out of 10.
The volume through the torso and arms means nothing goes over the top unless it is an oversized shell or puffy.
It layers well over things rather than under them.
| Layering | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 8.5/10 |
| The North Face Retro Denali Women's | 5.5/10 |
| Guide average | 6.4/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 5/10 |
Weight
618g, the heaviest here by a wide margin, and it does not pack down.
Weight scores 4.5 out of 10, the lowest number in this guide.
Not a backpacking jacket under any circumstances.
| Weight | Rating |
|---|---|
| Highest in this guide | 9.5/10 |
| The North Face Retro Denali Women's | 4.5/10 |
| Guide average | 7.9/10 |
| Lowest in this guide | 4.5/10 |
Who Should Buy This One?
It is best suited to dog walks, town, camp and cold-weather work rather than anything aerobic.
The standout: Genuinely warm as a standalone layer.
The catch: 618g and no packability.
If Not This One, Then What?
Different priorities? Start with one of these.
Arc'teryx Covert Cardigan Women's, our warmest fabric here. The warmest fabric in the test wrapped around a jacket that pills early and does nothing else well.
Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody Women's, our best overall. It feels like a worn-in sweatshirt and performs like technical kit, which is a combination nothing else here manages.
Columbia Benton Springs Full Zip Women's, our best budget buy. The warmest jacket you can buy at the budget end, as long as the proportions suit you.
Specifications
| Weight | 618g |
| Fabric | 300 gsm recycled polyester with recycled nylon overlays, non-PFC DWR |
| Weight class | Heavyweight |
| Pockets | 2 hand, 1 chest |
| Venting | Pit zips |
| Hem | Cinch cords both sides |
Final Word on the North Face Retro Denali Women's
The The North Face Retro Denali Women's finished this test as our warmest for standing still choice, scoring 74 out of 100.
It comes down to one thing: genuinely warm as a standalone layer.
Not perfect: 618g and no packability.
It belongs with dog walks, town, camp and cold-weather work rather than anything aerobic.
Compare it against the other nine in our 9 Best Women's Fleece Jackets, Tested and Ranked guide.
