The North Face TKA 100 Glacier Overview
The North Face TKA 100 Glacier Pullover is a casual, lightweight fleece that is useful in just about any chilly situation (Disclaimer: untested in “chili” situations, though we imagine it’d be quite messy). It has a long name that we’re not thrilled with, so we’ll shorten it from here on out.
This soft pullover will stave off the brisk autumn air whether you’re at home or in camp, and layered with an outer shell the TKA 100 Glacier will help keep you warm on alpine nights.
Simple and effective, this do-it-all fleece comes with a lifetime warranty from The North Face. You might expect versatility and reliability to cost a pretty penny, but The North Face TKA 100 Glacier is reasonably priced and often on sale.
For its simplicity and cost we’ve awarded The North Face TKA 100 Glacier Zip our Budget Pick for the Wilderness Backpacker, Ultralight Backpacker, and Day Hiker.
The North Face TKA 100 Glacier Star Rating
- Comfort
- Durability
- Warmth
- Breathability
Summary
The North Face TKA 100 Glacier is a 1/4 zip fleece that’s about as basic as they come. There are no extra features, like pockets or cinches or reinforced areas. Just a single well-made zipper to let out air or increase heat retention, and Polartec 100 Classic fleece for fuzzy, breathable warmth. The perfect, relatively cheap mid-layer for hiking and backpacking.
Can you go cheaper? Sure, Target and Costco will get functional fleece in your hands for less. The main reason to go The North Face route is the warranty, and it’s easily found in outdoor stores. If those things don’t matter to you, by all means grab something in the $10-$20 range.
Dig in to our comprehensive guide to fleece jackets for an extensive breakdown of all things fleece, and read below for the full North Face TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip review.
The North Face TKA 100 Glacier Specifications
| Feature Type | Feature Specs | What This Means |
| Weight | 13 oz (370 g) | Fleece jackets in the lightweight variety generally weight 11-13 ounces. This one is a bit heavy, but not anything out of the ordinary. |
| Fabric Weight | 100-weight | Fleece comes in three main fabric weights, and 100 is the thinnest. It breathes better but doesn’t keep you as warm. More on fleece fabric weight in our Guide. |
| Fabric Material | 75D 190 g/m², 100% polyester | 75D thread is standard for the fabric weight. More on fleece material in our Guide. |
| Fit | Casual | The North Face either has baggy or casual fitting clothes, and this fleece is casual. Don’t expect it to hug your body tightly. |
| Number of Pockets | 0 | A bare-bones fleece means no pockets what-so-ever. |
| Thumb Holes | No | Again, no luxuries here. Hold onto the cuff with your fingers when layering. |
| Hood/Jacket Option | No | The TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip series isn’t offered with a hood. Most lightweight fleeces don’t use hoods because extreme warmth is not their primary purpose. |
| Zipper | 1/4 Zip, reverse-coil zipper | This fleece is a pullover with a 1/4 zip for ventilation. This saves weight, but makes it very specific in terms of functionality. |
| Adjustable Waist | No | No extras on this fleece, and it’s meant to be worn when you need a bit of warmth, not if you want to trap a bunch of warmth. |
| Gender(s) | Men’s and Women’s | We tested the men’s version. The women’s is the exact same except for fit, and it’s very popular. |
| Sizes Available | Men’s: S-3XL, Women’s: XS-XXL | The North Face tends to make clothes in many sizes, and that’s true here. Their skew is always towards larger people, as you can see in the 3XL and XXL sizes. |
| Manufacturer Warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty | The North Face offers most of its products, including this one, a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects and workmanship issues. The only real moving piece on this fleece is the zipper, so if that malfunctions you can get it repaired. |
| Retail Price | $55 | The low-end of name-brand fleece. Often on sale, too. This is a budget price for a product with a lifetime warranty. |
Gear Review of The North Face TKA 100 Glacier
Revelation: The Moment I Knew
I’ve been wearing the North Face TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip for months because it is such a convenient, easy layer to throw on in these (never actually warm) summer months on the Oregon Coast. It also served me well for over 100 miles of backpacking along the Pacific Crest Trail, mostly in the evenings as I ate dinner and set up camp.
A walk in the woods.
There was one afternoon on the trail when a thunderstorm rolled in, bringing strong winds which cooled the air. I took the TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip out of my pack and pulled it over my head — it kept the nippy breeze off my skin as I hustled across a ridge and tried to get downhill before the lightning caught up with me.
I dropped into a valley as the storm passed overhead. The Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 Jacket I carried for such an occasion slipped over the Glacier fleece with ease, and the two layers worked together to keep me dry and warm. I didn’t take the fleece off for the rest of that chilly evening and slept cozily in its embrace until sunrise.
The approaching storm.
Digging Deeper
Comfort
The North Face TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 zip is made of a 100-weight TKA microfiber fleece, which is soft on your skin and insulates well for how light it is. Fleeces are usually broken down by three weights — 100-weight is the thinnest of them all.
The TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip is 100-weight fleece, which is enough to keep warm while maintaining good breathability.
The Glacier has no elastic bands or drawstrings to rub you the wrong way –it’s like a teddy bear fur coat, but PETA won’t hate you for wearing it!
The cuffs are plain with no elastic. Budget means very few extras.
Durability
The synthetic fabric of the Glacier is designed to withstand rugged use, and after several backpacking trips with this fleece I know it holds up well. The seams have held together and the zipper is sturdy. It’s even machine washable. All of the dirt and stink that comes with backpacking just disappears into the soapy void.
The TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip cleans up nice.
Fit
I’m 5’10 at 180 pounds and the medium men’s Glacier fleece fit me well, holding close to my body without feeling too tight (Fleecy hugs!). The lack of cords and extra zippers makes this an ideal mid-layer that can comfortably fit under any outer layer.
Style
The Glacier is a casual jacket. You’ll look good in it at the park or in a grocery store, but keep it off Project Runway.
Trail suave, but not necessarily suave suave.
Grievances
By design this fleece is about as simple as it gets. It does everything it’s supposed to do, and doesn’t rankle anywhere.
That said, I’m a fan of pockets. When I’m wearing this as a stand alone jacket I find that I keep reaching for a hand hold that just isn’t there. It’s a mild frustration that irks me whenever my pocket-seeking muscle memory kicks in.
Hands looking for pockets that just aren’t there.
If pockets are your thing, know that the TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip doesn’t have any.
Final Word
The North Face TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip pullover is like the bass player in your favorite rock band: reliable, adaptable, and doesn’t try to be the star of the show. This fleece pulls together your entire backpacking ensemble.
Where to Buy The North Face TKA 100 Glacier
We tested the men’s TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip. There is also a women’s version, which is the exact same except for cut. The North Face has a whole line of Glacier TKA products, but we think this is the best bet for active people that want a lightweight, no-hassle fleece.
Compare The North Face TKA 100 Glacier 1/4 Zip prices below.
