The North Face Scythe

I don’t think I’ve had had something in for test that you can actually call “a fleece” in the old sense of the word. But here it is, the Scythe from The North Face.
A strange choice you might think, but I put this on when I was down at the showroom recently and it felt really nice, but it’s not a dogwalking and shopping accessory.
For a start it’s part of the Summit Series, so it’s got a slim cut and brilliant arm movement, even with a fat heating engineer in a size medium. The fabrics are Powerstretch for keeping you mobile in that slim fit (that’s the black bits), and Polartec’s Thermal Pro High-Loft for the red areas. Aye, that’s the furry fleece stuff.
The pockets are good, one high napoleon, two low, but not too low, handwarmer/stash pockets, all with mesh backs. The collar is high and snug, the arms and body are nice and long so I’m all properly covered up in this.
I had (still have somewhere?) a Denali fleece from years back, and it was in these colours, so maybe that’s partly why I feel so at home. I won’t miss the 300 weight fleece fabric of the Denali though.
Interesting fact, the hem adjustment seems to have been changed for the production version. On this it’s a hidden thing, a button inside the hem, in the shops it’s a more standard mini cordlock and secured bungee affair. Must have been issues with the samples.
Walking to the summit on a cold crisp day with my hands in the pockets of a fleece? Haven’t done that in many years, let’s see how it works out 21st Century style.