<p>I have a Denali that I got back in March and used it for the Southern VA Mountain winter/spring (9 degrees outside, 0 degree wind chill) and while it’s not meant for being outside, not moving for 30min+ in this type of weather, it was great. I’d sometimes throw on a sweatshirt under it, and I’d be roasting by the time I got to where ever I was going 15min later. At the same time, it dipped into the upper 50s at one point this summer at home (DC! ah!) during the nights and I’d throw it on to walk my dog, so it’s verrryyy versatile. Overall, it’s a great jacket, and I suggest buying one that’s a tad big so you can put it over a sweater/sweatshirt in the winter.<br>
As for the outer shell: I was in Boston back in May, but it was 50 degrees and raaiinnn so it was nasty out. I was there to walk 40mi over two days for Avon’s 2-Day Breast Cancer Walk, and so walking wet was a horrible idea. So, we stopped in a North Face store in Boston and I got a gore-tex waterproof shell that the Denali can snap into. Although I’ve yet to try out them both together (other than around the house), the shell kept me 110% dry and the fleece is extremely warm, so I plan on using the combo for the VA winter coming up.</p>
<p>Overall: I really suggest getting a Denali, and then buying a shell for it to snap into. Since we’re coming into Fall, there will be lots of selections for colors/sizes (I personally have the white fleece with alloy grey paneling, and then my shell is a light purple/blue color…I loovvee the white fleece because it can be slightly dressy but warm, and the blue color is fun in the dreary rain/snow, but the light green color was a second favorite for both)</p>
<p>speckledegg: “North Face Denali jackets are expensive but can sometimes be found for less at their outlet stores or discount outdoor supply shops. Regarding durability: My son received one as a gift from a grandparent for Christmas in 8th grade. He is now a college junior in Vermont and is still wearing the jacket. During high school, he wore it virtually every day in the colder months, sometimes with a shell on top. In all of those years, the only thing that needed fixing was that some stitching on the cuff binding became loosened. Since then, we’ve added two more Denali jackets to the household. They are a great value when you consider how long they last.”</p>
<p>My son who will be a freshman in N.H. decided to buy a Denali jacket. We are from Southern New England and he has warm winter parkas but decides that a Denali jacket is good enough for the winter in N.H./Vermont area.</p>
<p>I will probably have to wait and see if he will freeze this winter since he decides not to bring any other winter jackets with him to college.
But from what I heard, that is what the college kids all wear in New England.</p>
<p>Speckledegg, can you recommend a shell that will make this warm for the winters in those areas? Will a shell with the Denali be warm enough without all the down fill? Thanks. But of course, boys being boys may go around the cold winter wearing just “thin fleece”.</p>
<p>I was particularly concerned about wet. Not so much snow but rain. If you get a Denali jacket, get a waterproof shell as well. I did not know the jacket can snap into a shell (check that they are compatible).</p>
<p>I agree with Marite about layering - you can do that with LL Bean or any outerwear company in all price points. The fleece jacket is a bit puffy for my tastes and not nearly as versatile. If you have a great fleece zip up jacket with wind blocker you can use it literally from fall to spring. For winter all you need is the waterproof breathable shell over that windblocker fleece. On the coldest days I would recommend long underwear but honestly can’t imagine a college student would bother. I use the layers in Minnesota where it is colder than Chicago and sometimes just as windy. I also walk outside for exercise in the middle of the winter.</p>
<p>I live north of Chicago and spend a lot of time outside and also both myself and son have large (read that to say “no more coats for you dear”) coat colections. On most winter days if I am going to be outside and be active I just use a TNF heavy fleece liner coat. If it is blowing the fleece doesn’t cut it (even Windstopper leaks air). At that point we put the Goretex outer coat over the liner. That combination will work for any weather and now you are covered for cold, wind and rain (Goretex outershell). I have coats from TNF (good but pricey) and REI and DS has ones from Marmot (highly reccommended) and Columbia (a POS). Patagonia makes the highest quality stuff you can imagine (a very green company), but you have to create your layering system yourself (seperate liner and shell that work together).</p>