Reviews by User: CDogg (4)

It was hard to justify yet another fleece to my wife until she wore it, and I now have to prohibit her from wearing it. Only fleece I've ever tried that literally provided instant warmth. It's as if it has a heating pad -- it's that warm, and luxuriously soft next to the skin. I've never felt as warm in my regular Denali, and as such the Thermal is worth the extra money. Much lighter than the regular Denali (easier on your back stowed in a pack). Great fit too. Power stretch cuffs are a nice touch. Only negative is that it needs to be worn under a shell for maximum effectiveness (but it was designed that way) -- extra breathability lets in more wind, the nylon on the shoulders is much softer (probably wouldn't stand up under pack straps for too long) and no elbow patches. Bottom line: if you want a fleece to beat the crap out of, buy the regular Denali. If weight, warmth, breathability and comfort are more of what you need, buy the Denali Thermal, you won't be disappointed.

Perfect. Simply perfect. Arguably the warmest jacket in existence. Nice short fit hangs at the waist. Snug fit yet tremendous freedom of movement. It's so light and unrestrictive you often don't notice it's on. Higher fill (800) than Nuptse (700) yet not as poofy -- you don't look like the Michelin Man when you wear it. Far superior in construction than the TNF Nuptse. I was never warm enough in my Nuptse (always had "cold spots"), whereas the Phantom is always toasty. I looked forward to single digit days knowing I had this jacket to wear. It's even worth buying at full price. You'll never need another winter jacket again.

Marvelously fits the greatest number of conditions you can experience. Windproof so you can wear it as an outer layer, thin and non-bulky so you can wear it underneath easily. Easily packable, lightweight, comfortable and good-looking. Smooth face helps with layering underneath or over. Warm enough to wear alone in the mid-20's yet won't overheat you when it's windy and 55F. If only one jacket will fit in your suitcase or pack, any season of the year, this should be the one. Look for the vest version too.

Marvelously fits the greatest number of conditions you can experience. Windproof so you can wear it as an outer layer, thin and non-bulky so you can wear it underneath easily. Easily packable, lightweight, comfortable and good-looking. Smooth face helps with layering underneath or over. Warm enough to wear alone in the mid-20's yet won't overheat you when it's windy and 55F. If only one jacket will fit in your suitcase or pack, any season of the year, this should be the one. Look for the vest version too.

A great piece in every manner except for the hem. C'mon Mountain Hardwear, ditch the power stretch bottom and make the hem adjustable. It can only be worn under longer jackets. (I couldn't wear it under my MHW Phantom jacket -- the hem protruded at least a couple of inches from beneath the jacket.) Since the vest is form-fitting, tucking the hem beneath the vest creates a little "inner tube" around your waist, essentially negating the nice look of the form fit. This is particularly ugly in back as the vest (and presumably the jacket as well) has a longer tail. It looks like you've got a little fanny pack on. The hem isn't all that tight either, so if you tuck it, it will invariably fall out. It's probably a great fit for people over 6 ft. tall though. If you can live with this annoyance buy the vest or the jacket -- instant warmth, snug but stretchy fit and good looks. I opted instead for TNF Denali Thermal Jacket. Also super warm, also a great fit (buy 1 size smaller as it's roomier and you do prefer a snug fit), though pricier and no vest version as of yet.