Editor's Rating:

Can a single jacket provide two different levels of warmth? Well, the people at The North Face figured it out. With the Reversible Mercurial Jacket, you wear it inside out when the conditions are mild and flip it back when the temperature plummets.

Men's Reversible Mercurial Jacket at a Glance

• Temperature Rating: Zero to sub-zero. Inside out: 30s.
• Climate Compatibility: Windproof, water-resistant, snow
• Designed for: Backpacking/camping, cold winters, campuses

Compare Prices & Buy Men's Reversible Mercurial Jacket

The North Face Men's Reversible Mercurial Jacket $348.95  $338.49 On a day whe... [Read more] Store: Altrec.com Outdoors The North Face Men's Reversible Mercurial Jacket (Fall 2010) $349.00  $199.99 FEATURES of ... [Read more] Store: Moosejaw

Reversible Mercurial Jacket - How Does It Work?

The North Face company is known for its Triclimate designs, in which different thermal requirements are met by two separatable jackets. The Mercurial Jacket, however, takes on a radically different approach. Rather than utilizing different pieces of clothing, they engineered two different sides on the same jacket.

Construction and Insulation
Before we dive into how the two sides are different, let's look at the overall construction. The exterior is constructed out of 100% ripstop nylon with durable water repellent coating (DWR). This makes the jacket windproof and highly water-resistant. The jacket is insulated with 100g of PrimaLoft, a light-weight, compressible, and breathable insulation material. The overall result is a ultra light jacket that still keeps you warm.

The Dark Side
The "outside" surface of the jacket is smooth and black in color. Not only does this construction retain heat well, the dark color significantly increase the thermal effects of the sun, in which sunlight is absorbed by the surface and converted into body-warming heat.

The Inside
The inner surface of the Mercurial Jacket is even more intricate. The nylon surface is coated with aluminum, which helps reflect sunlight to prevent unwanted heat absorption. The uniquely quilted baffles, or squares of insulating bodies, bend outwards when you wear the jacket inside out. The exposed crevices help allows extra body heat to escape, thus regulating the warmth level. On the other hand, when the jacket is worn black side out, the baffles close the crevices to preserve thermal energy.

Temperature Range and Lifestyles

The Reversible Mercurial Jacket is a cold-climate jacket and is suitable for backpacking, climbing, and other backcountry activities. When the aluminum side is out, the jacket can keep you comfortable around 30-40ºF. When the conditions get rough, wear it black side out down to 0 degrees. Also, the jacket leaves you with some room for layering, so sub-zero is definitely possible.

Summary on Men's Reversible Mercurial Jacket

This technical jacket is meant to please any outdoor geek's heart. It is lightweight, functional, and versatile. However, at $350, it is an significant investment for an insulated down jacket. If you are embarking on a mission-critical journey where every ounce and degree counts, the Mercurial Jacket may make all the difference.

Users' Ratings on Men's Reversible Mercurial Jacket

Comfort & Warmth:

Style & Fit:

Versatility:

Overall: