North Face Apex Bionic Jacket By slepteco on Nov 11, 2007 - Updated Oct 15, 2011

Stitch quality seems very good. I anticipate this jacket will last a long time. All of the claimed properties seem to work as advertised (ie: water resistant, windproof). I took this jacket on a trip to the Klamath river. During a jet boat ride, it handled all of the spray and cold winds very well. Water just beaded off (jacket was/is still relatively new). It also cut through approx. 35 mph wind. I only had a medium weight, half zip grid fleece pull over underneath and I felt very comfortable. This jacket is designed to fit fairly close and it's not intended to fit a thick, heavy Polartec 300 fleece underneath so don't expect it to. The trim fit enhances the light, active feel of this garment. It doesn't get in the way or feel bulky. It is less bulky than windstopper fleece type soft shells. The microfleece is surprisingly warm in combination with the wind resistance it offers. Like other soft shells of this design (stretchy, tight-weave construction), water will eventually soak in if you're in a torrential downpour for a long time. Once it's wet and soaked in, it will take a long time to dry on it's own. Keep in mind, severe rain is NOT what this jacket is designed for. It will, however, handle sprinkles, drizzle, or a jet boat ride extremely well. I would recommend this jacket to anyone looking for a jacket, but are looking for something with a little extra style and performance.