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The North Face Freedom Insulated - Women's Review

A warm, stylish, and functional pant that comes at a great price
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The North Face Freedom Insulated - Women's Review
Credit: The North Face
Price:  $200 List
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Manufacturer:   The North Face
By Sarah Sherman ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 8, 2024
63
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#12 of 17
  • Weather Resistance - 25% 5.0
  • Fit and Comfort - 25% 6.0
  • Ventilation - 15% 6.0
  • Warmth - 15% 8.0
  • Features - 10% 6.0
  • Style - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

The North Face Freedom Insulated Pant is an insulated ski pant that offers solid performance at a reasonable price. For the vast majority of skiers at a resort, this pant is warm enough, while still providing some ventilation when things heat up. The waterproofing is sufficient in fair weather, but far from the best option for especially wet ski climates. It comes in a wide variety of lengths and colors and has a respectable style. This is a great option for someone who wants a reliable resort pant without breaking the bank.
REASONS TO BUY
Affordable
Warm
Stylish
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited use
Hard to size right

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Top Pick Award
Best Bargain Shell Pant
Best Buy Award
Best Bargain Ski Bib
Best Buy Award
Best Ski Pant Under $100
 
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Bottom Line Thanks to its warmth, style, and overall function, these ski pants offer great valueWith a Gore-Tex membrane, this pant is an excellent value for a weather-resistant bibFor those who prefer the fit and protection of a bib, this option is warm and functional at an affordable priceThe Arctix checks all of the boxes for an insulated ski pant, without a hefty price tag these are economically priced and very warmOffered at a low price tag, this pant is great for someone who isn't ready to commit to a more expensive pant
Rating Categories The North Face Free... REI Co-op First Cha... REI Co-op Powderbou... Arctix Insulated -... Columbia Bugaboo Om...
Weather Resistance (25%)
5.0
8.0
6.0
5.0
6.0
Fit and Comfort (25%)
6.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
Ventilation (15%)
6.0
7.0
9.0
1
1
Warmth (15%)
8.0
5.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
Features (10%)
6.0
7.0
5.0
5.0
4.0
Style (10%)
8.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
Specs The North Face Free... REI Co-op First Cha... REI Co-op Powderbou... Arctix Insulated -... Columbia Bugaboo Om...
Measured Weight 1.6 lbs 1.7 lbs 1.7 lbs 1.5 lbs 1.4 lbs
Waterproofing 2-layer DryVent 2-layer Gore-Tex 2-layer Peak ThermaLock coating Omni-Tech
Vents Inner thigh Thigh Inner thigh, outer thigh None None
Pockets 2 zippered hand, 1 velcro cargo 1 zippered chest, 2 zippered thigh 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest 2 zippered thigh 2 zippered hand
Main fabric 160D nylon 100% polyester Nylon 100% polyester 100% nylon
Insulation/Lining 60g Heatseeker Eco, 90% recycled polyester Recycled polyester 40g polyester 85g ThermaTech 60g Microtemp XF II polyester
Waistline construction Button and zip fly Bib Bib Button & zip fly Button & zip fly

Our Analysis and Test Results

The North Face Freedom Insulated Pant offers average performance across all metrics at an unbeatable price, making it a perfect option for someone who is unsure if they are ready to invest in a more technical and expensive pant. It is a great option for an average day at the resort, especially if you are someone who wants the additional warmth of an insulated pant. That being said, the fit of the pant can be tricky to nail down and they may not be suited for wetter climates.

Performance Comparison


the north face freedom insulated for women - the pants are ideal for in-bounds skiing on cold days.
The pants are ideal for in-bounds skiing on cold days.
Credit: Kolton Smith

Weather Resistance


To help this pant fight the elements, The North Face utilizes a 2-layer DryVent membrane which claims a waterproof rating of 25 pounds per square inch (PSI) minimum after 20 launderings. This means that the pants were designed to withstand water for at least 20 washes, and potentially longer.

The 2-minute shower test in action.
The 2-minute shower test in action.
Water began to seep through the material near the front zipper...
Water began to seep through the material near the front zipper during the 2-minute shower test.

While we remained largely dry after showering water directly onto the pants, we did notice water beginning to soak through around the front zipper and back seams. The outer material also got heavier as it absorbed water. Because of this, the pant scored lower in the weather resistance category.

Fit and Comfort


The fit of The North Face Freedom Pant seems to have been improved in the latest update, with a slightly roomier fit in the legs accompanied by the adjustable waistband. The waistband utilizes generous, adjustable waist tabs making it easier to adjust a larger pant to fit smaller than vice versa. This makes it more comfortable to wear both on and off the mountain.

Our testers did notice that while a phone easily fits in any of the pockets, leaving a phone in either of the upper zippered pockets can lead to discomfort when bending your legs during an aggressive ski turn, with the phone digging into one's hip.

Ventilation


The Freedom pant comes with what The North Face has dubbed Chimney Venting. Essentially, this means that this pant relies on the combination of two standard inner thigh vents, paired with each leg of the pant's mesh boot gaiter. This combination is meant to direct airflow from the boot, up the leg, and out through the vents, assisting in temperature regulation when things warm up on the hill. These vents run from below the crotch to just above the knee, offering just enough ventilation to keep one comfortable in a variety of temperatures.

the north face freedom insulated for women - the inner thigh vents allow heat to escape when temps warm up.
The inner thigh vents allow heat to escape when temps warm up.
Credit: Sarah Sherman

These vents are not highly effective for dumping large amounts of heat created during strenuous activity but can be useful when a cold morning turns to a pleasant afternoon and temperatures increase. The vents both have an inner mesh lining which helps keep snow out while skiing with them open, but these mesh linings also mean that the vents are less effective when it comes to dumping heat quickly. Because of this, we would not recommend this model for backcountry skiing, but rather for fun days at the resort.

Warmth


If keeping your legs toasty on the mountain is high on your list of priorities, then you definitely want to consider the Freedom Pant. The North Face implements Heatseeker insulation, aimed at providing exceptional warmth for the coldest among us. We found these to deliver upon that goal, keeping our legs warm when tested with cold temperatures and fresh snow. For those extra cold days, we would recommend pairing these pants with a base layer for optimal warmth. For the wallet-friendly price point, these pants met our expectations with ease.

That being said, the warmth generated by the Freedom Pant is not ideal for backcountry shredders who are performing more strenuous activities. This pant likes to stay warm and was built to do so.

Features


The Freedom Insulated Pant is fairly basic when it comes to features, keeping things simple with two zippered thigh pockets and one velcro cargo pocket. The cargo pocket is a nice touch and is just big enough to fit a phone, wallet, or small snacks. It comes with a velcro closure paired with fabric that folds down when closed to create a sold crease. While this provides a more secure closure than without the crease, it still doesn't have a zipper closure, meaning it may not be the best pocket for small valuables.

the north face freedom insulated for women - the fold down, velcro pocket.
The fold down, velcro pocket.
Credit: Sarah Sherman

The pant also comes with a mesh boot gaiter, which is part of its Chimney Venting system and was unique in the pants we tested. This allowed for ventilation from ski boots up, but also meant that if one is walking in deep powder in the pants, there is a chance snow might melt and get inside. Other than those features, the pant is fairly basic in its design.

Style


This pant comes in a large variety of vibrant colors and sizing options (short, regular, tall), providing the opportunity to find a color that fits one's personal style. This, paired with the stylish addition of the cargo pocket, make the pants stand out from other more basic styles around their price point.

the north face freedom insulated for women - we loved the pop of color these pants provided.
We loved the pop of color these pants provided.

We were impressed by the overall look of the pants and received multiple compliments from across the resort while putting them through testing.

Should You Buy The North Face Freedom Insulated Pant?


The combination of warmth, style, and impressive performance for the price make this pant a solid option for a resort skier who doesn't want to break the bank. While there are more technical pants available that perform at a higher level, they come at a much higher price. Comparatively, the Freedom Pant is priced right for what you get.

What Other Ski Pants Should You Consider?


The Arctix Insulated are inexpensive and warm. These insulated pants are great for those new to the sport or casual skiers. The Arc'teryx Sentinel Pants are another great option for those looking to upgrade their backcountry setup. However, the Sentinel is also an excellent option for skiing in bounds.

Sarah Sherman