The North Face Ambition Long Sleeve Review
May 30, 2018
81 The Good
- Mesh ventilation in hot zones
- Suitable as standalone for colder temps
- High durability
The Bad
- Rather heavy
- Thick internal seams
- Short length of body & sleeves
The North Face Ambition Long Sleeve Tee is very durable but doesn’t quite have the same wicking and drying ability as some of the other tops tested. It is however the only top to have mesh ventilation strategically placed in high heat areas, allowing for excellent breathability in the back and underarms.
Comfort
Compared to others in the test, the Ambition Tee fell short in comfort. It felt quite heavy compared to others, especially when wet. The FlashDry polyester material isn’t very soft against the skin and feels much rougher than other polyester blends. Slight abrasion in the underarm region is also an issue due to the design of the seam stitching.
Fit
Despite being advertised as a regular fitting top, the Ambition Tee fits slim and small to the point one might even consider sizing up. The sleeves are long enough to cover the wrists when the arms rest by the waist, however once raised they inched back leaving exposed skin. The torso length was also a bit short and without gusseted arms, testers midsections were exposed when their arms were raised.
Wicking Ability
Featuring The North Face’s FlashDry Technology, which is designed to “accelerate the removal of moisture from the skin and speed up evaporative drying,” the FlashDry technology absorbed moisture well, but took a very long time to dry, compared to other shirts in this test. In addition to FlashDry, The North Face uses body-mapped ventilation in crucial areas such as the underarms and back, where breathability is a top priority. This body mapping ventilation did a much better job of wicking moisture in key areas.
Warmth
The Ambition Tee is one of the heaviest and thickest tops tested, making it a good option for cooler days. The body-mapped ventilation areas, which enhanced breathability, allowed heat to escape without greatly reducing the overall warmth of the top, with the exception of extremily windy days.
Features
Like most tops tested, The North Face outfitted the Ambition Tee with UPF 30 for sun protection. Other key features include The North Face’s FlashDry technology and mesh ventilation placed in areas of high heat production.
Durability
The North Face Ambition Tee is nearly indestructible, which earned it top honors in terms of durability among all the shirts tested. Constructed with heavier fabric, the Ambition Tee resisted abrasion and wear effectively.
Fabric: 100% polyester with FlashDry (Main Body), 97% recycled polyester, 3% polyester with FlashDry (Panels)
Cory is a Santa Barbara, CA based athlete, online running coach and freelance journalist specializing in running and climbing related content and gear review.
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