Size: 5'10, 160lbs. Small fits tight around armpits but everything else fine.

I switch this around with my "Arc'teryx Firee Softshell Jacket". Both are similar. Water resistant shell with high loft fleece on the inside. Warmth wise both jackets are similar, with TNF coming in at almost $200 cheaper than the Arcteryx.

Back to this jacket... Tapered wrists and forearms for a nice close fit. It fits snug all around. Does not have seamless shoulders like the Arc Firee. No internal pocket. No wrist gaiters. Collar fits close to neck, may chaff your chin/neck in dry/cold conditions. Quite snug around the armholes. Jacket length is longer than other jackets. Cinch cord pulls from inside handwarmers. This jacket is extremely warm yet breathable. Fairly stretchable. The handwarmer pockets flair out when open. Roomy in the gut area makes you look pudgy when sitting down. However, I find my self wearing this a lot. Looks great too.

Highly recommended especially at this price.

My wife loves to steal this from me. I love wearing my Patty R1 hoodies, but when I found this polartec hoody I had to try it out. It layers very well under jackets, weighs nothing, and the hood is generous and functional. This one has media hole inside the marsupial pouch.
A great alternative to the standard hoodies, or technical hoodies like the R1 when you feel like looking "baggy" for a change.

I usually wear small in TNF for a fitted look, but as far as hoodies go I size up. Medium is a bit baggy but very comfortable (5'9 155lbs).

Extremely warm jacket, I wear this over a t-shirt, which is exactly what I wanted.
Anything over 40F and you will overheat with minimal activity.

This is a pretty minimalistic stylish jacket, so I can also wear it casually around town.

Pros:
Comfortable, semi-casual fit
Vampire collar doubles as neck gaiter if you duck into it
Wrist liners seal the cuffs completely (same cuff style as kappa series)
Pockets are lined with solid fleecy material, not mesh
Inside chest pocket
Powershield is soft and malleable
Hem cinch cords have been relocated to the hips (not inside the pockets like Hyllus)
VERY warm, just grab and go (think Patagonia R4 caliber with added water resistance)

Cons:
Too warm for heavy activity when above 40F
Too warm to wear indoors

Sizing: 5'9 165lbs, Small fits perfectly like it was tailor made

I purchased several of these, friend, myself, and dad. Unfortunately, mine tends to stay in the closet, and father seems to like the R4 (pre-SP10 version) better, and my buddy prefers a wind-resistant less bulky fleece... Here's why:

Pros: The Denali is a high quality, well constructed, thick and durable fleece jacket. It also fits well, is nice and roomy, and looks rather sharp. Pretty good for indoor/outdoor/indoor transitions, as you won't overheat when indoors.

Cons: Extremely permeable to cold winds, will give you the chills. Excess material on arms, not fitted at all. Some people may argue that you need to layer it, but I found this to be sub-par as well, because the excess material on upper arms combined with the pitzips can dig into your armpits when layering w/ a shell (that also has pitzips).

I would say, for urban pursuits, the great styling/comfort and limited time spent exposed to winds, makes this a great jacket. For technical use, any polartec 200-300 weight fleece will do the same job at lower costs.

If you are looking for the benefits of this jacket with added protection from winds, there is an upgraded version of this: search for Denali Wind Pro.

As for sizing: up to 5'10, 165lbs, slim range, the small will fit. If you are beefy, Medium.

Starting on a positive note, this new version (SP10) of R4 looks better in appearance, and has functional handwarmer pockets.

However...
The mighty R4 has unfortunately lost it's phenomenal ability to "trap/contain heat". No cinch on hem (waist), and no wrist elastic bands.

I have to be fair in this review and rate this jacket against all other similar windproof jackets for men (there aren't many), but if I were rating this purely against last season's version (which was 5 stars all the way), it'd be much lower.

In my opinion, the R4 used to be great due to the combination of thicker fabric, windproofness, and cinch cords that allowed maximum heat trapping. Without cinching and open wrists, the new R4 is no warmer than say a lighter/less bulky jacket that is cinched and tight on wrists. So why go up in weight and bulk for no gain in warmth.

Although, you may get lucky and fit perfectly into one of their sizes, nice and tight around the waist line. If so, I say keep the jacket! There aren't many other options for a windproof fleece of this caliber.

Wanted something different from the usual cotton/poly hoodies I have.
The Apex Aerobic is really soft, not a bit of stiffness like the regular Apex Bionic material.
Fleece is lined throughout the jacket. There is a hidden zippered inside chest pocket, which was a pleasant surprise.

Lastly, this thing weighs practically nothing compared to cotton hoodies.

5'9 165lbs, I usually wear small, but went Medium for a loose comfy fit.
It is wind/water resistant.

5'9 ~165lbs, slim build. The small was a little tight in the chest, but length was fine all around.. arms.. torso.. all good. The medium was very roomy, especially in mid-section.

Feels extremely durable, I compared this side by side w/ the Sentinel Windstopper (similar to this jacket but with Gore windstopper), and the Apex has a thicker outer shell.

If you're new to the Apex series, this is a cross between an affordable durable outdoor activity shell, as well as a really warm water resistant casual jacket (when layered w/ midlayer). Unlike some comparable technical Gore-tex / Gore windstopper softshells, the hand warming pockets on the Apex are placed at casual locations.

Great beat around jacket, or a nice gift as casual wear for those still in high-school or college.

Here are some warmer versions from TNF: Apex Bionic Thermal, Sentinel Thermal, Chromium Thermal

And some similar but more technical softshells you may consider for more money: Patagonia Windproof Talus, Marmot Sharp point, MHW Alchemy, Arcteryx Venta AR

Maybe not as tough and durable as the apex, but clearly more comfy and warmer with the rachel fleece backer. the pocket angle is an improvement over last seasons, doesnt flair out when open. Fit is pretty much identical to last seasons, it's a trim fit.
My only gripe would be the unlined handwarmer pockets, they deserve fleece lining. Also, the pockets are not mesh like many softshells, the softshell material continues throughout the pocket. Windstopper is awesome material as usual.

It's hard to explain the texture of the outer surface, I'll just say that the Apex feels like a hardshell compared to this. Elastic cuffs, and cinch cords pull from inside the pocket simlar to many arcteryx jackets.

Lastly, fit: im 5'9, 165lbs, slim build. this being a summit series, I fall right between SM and MD. Medium was a loose fit, but length was great all around. Small fit nice and close, but was too short in length. I love the jacket, but due to sizing I went with the Arcteryx Firee jacket.

My wife tried this on at the store the other day. It fits better than last season's version (which is getting a bit matted now).

If you are looking at this jacket, you probably know it's reputation as the warmest windproof fleece you can get.

With the redesign: 1) no cinch cord on hem, the waist line is very "drafty". 2) no elastic on cuffs, also drafty. 3) overall she feels the jacket seems thinner than last season, less loft.

Not as functional as last seasons, but she mentioned it looks much better than before and I thought so too. Loses stars on warmth, but gained a few in the looks department.

I have the last version of windwall 2, checked this new version at local REI.
It is thicker, and much warmer. The grid pattern fleece on the inside is similar to patagonia R1/R2 grids.

Only reason I don't give this version 5 stars is because it is stiffer.
Excellent casual jacket, much warmer than Apex.

I've tried the following for use as midlayer under a windproof Gore barrier:
TNF Scythe, Denali, Denali Wind Pro, Pumori/Khumbu, Patty R4/R2, Arcteryx Hercules.

The Monkey Man I have is the SP10 version, (SP 2009 or newer) features Polartec Thermal Pro high loft Monkey Phur with Polartech Powerstretch in key areas. No matting! This one tops all others I've tried as a mid layer, or indoor sweater.

Sizing is very fitted, I usually wear Small in all other brands, but the Medium fits perfectly.
It's also worth noting that the monkey phur on the inside is even softer than the outside, by far the softest highest loft Polartec thermal pro yet. Outside phur is very soft, but tough enough to resist wear/matting.
Do not hesitate, purchase this now.

Here's the list of gear I have experience with for those who like to relate:
Arcteryx Hercules, Arcteryx Easyrider, Arcteryx Kappa SV (love this one), Venta AR and of course the Kappa AR, which remains to be my favorite. I love fleece, but the Kappa AR is more comfortable and lighter than my fleeces: Patty R4 and Denali Wind pro, Windwall2.

I don't go ice climbing, so I haven't ventured into the glory of Arcteryx technical shells (alpha/beta etc.) so I can't comment on combined function with those, but the Kappa AR zips right into my TNF Mountain Light Gortex shell for really cold days. The mountain light has a lot of zippers making it pretty heavy, so the light weight Kappa AR is a welcome combo.

Compared to the Kappa SV, the only difference is Primaloft weight and hood. The gore windstopper shells on both the SV and AR are wonderfully soft, comfortable and weather resistant. Men's get shoulder reinforcements with thicker nylon.

I own jackets from Arcteryx, Patagonia, and MHW, everything from the fanciest to the most technical... and yet, THIS is the everyday fleece I grab wherever I go.This is comfortable, lightweight, and almost windproof. It is very warm and soft, actually just as warm as the Denali Wind Pro from what I can tell. I grab this every day for the fall, good quality.No it is not water resistant, but it doesn't rain much here. I just keep a light weight shell in the back in case it rains. For those who are torn between this and the Apex Bionic, let me tell you this is more comfortable, and warmer. Apex only gets the edge with water resistance.You have to remember that softshells conduct the cold outside in.

Also, the windwall 2 is slim enough as a great mid layer if sized correctly.

Warmest most versatile base layer EVER. I own two, just to alternate between washes, that's how good it is. Take any jacket you have and add another -10*C to it's capabilities by combining with the R1 Flash. When winds pick up, the hood protects. Thumb loops lock in the heat. Grid pattern polartec fleece traps heat like crazy. Jersey feel on the outside make for easy slide into jackets, and pill resistance. Like I said, if you are enthusiastic about your other gear, augment it with the R1 hoody. 5'9 155lbs, Small fits perfectly. Hood doubles as neck gaiter.One of my favorite weightless heater combo is the R1 flash + Arcteryx Kappa AR, really extends the temperature range of the AR without the need to go SV. Backcountry rocks as always.

Zip-in compatible with Denali Wind Pro, and it is really warm and comfortable. Ordered both jackets in same size, this is designed to accommodate a heavy layer. Compared to a generic TNF Hyvvent shell that swooshes around, the material on this jacket feels much like the Gore Windstopper material on my Arcteryx Kappa Ar. Yes its soft, but do not fear, the shoulders and upper arms are reinforced with thicker stiffer "hard shell" polyester for durability. Hood is removable, pockets are fleece lined, and the inside of the jacket is also fleece-like mesh lined in the torso areas, thus increasing warmth as well as comfort when liners not zipped in. This feels more like a substantial jacket rather than just a thin light shell, so buy it for what it is, it is heavier than the average technical shell due to all the extra zippers.I love the fact that it is clean and inconspicuous enough for around town wear. I'm detail oriented, there is a "Goretex" logo on the left wrist that color matches the fabric; at least in my black one the logo was also black, which is classy (I wish they'd color matched the TNF logo as well). Although I didn't purchase this particular one here (due to unbeatable sale), all my other jackets are from Backcountry, their service, shipping speed, and return guarantee are all unbeatable.Size: 155lbs, 5'9. Small in both Denali Wind Pro and Mtn Light fit comfortably.

You can't beat the price, got this one for a friend who's not as much of a gear junkie as myself. A windproof highly water resistant shell with brushed fleece lining on inside for half the price of comparable Gore Windstopper / Polartec Power Shield soft shells. This seems to be just as trendy as the Denali these days, making it a great gift for those in college!

Don't forget to check out the Apex Bionic Thermal version. It has high loft soft shag fleece on the inside to get you past the actual winter season without having to layer a hoody/sweatshirt under this one.

Also if you want a truly "soft and malleable" softshell, invest in a jacket made from Gore or Polartec. Backcountry.com search bar is really sophisticated, you can search jackets by material! Search for "gore windstopper" or "polartec power shield" for some of the best softshells out there.. Arcteryx and Patagonia are more pricey but usually worth it...

Search for Denali Wind Pro... for all the reasons you want this guy, but with actual warmth!
You'll look like the next guy, only YOU don't have to be cold to look the part.

I've returned the regular denali in the past as this jacket was not out at the time. I've since moved onto Arcteryx jackets despite their higher price tags due to their fit, construction and choice of only top notch fabrics from Polartec. When I recently discovered a wind resistant version of the Denali stitched from Wind pro and Power shield fabrics, I decided to test it out as casual wear around town when I don't want to look too overly technical with the Arcteryx pieces.Power shield is awesome, its highly water resistant, it blocks ALL wind, and has high loft shag fleece on the inside while remaining soft and malleable. So you've got this as panels.Wind Pro is the most breathable wind resistant fleece from polartec, which has a inconspicuous grid pattern on the outside, and medium loft shaggy fleece on inside. It will let in strong wind gusts, but will keep everyday around town/campus wind chills out, thus you can wear this as a standalone piece unlike the regular Denali which is completely useless outside IMO. So you put these two top notch fabrics together and you have a FUNCTIONAL denali. Fits identical to the reg denali loose and comfy, this is slightly less bulky in thickness and does NOT have elbow panels. Lastly, unlike the regular denali which is classic piling fleece with nylon panels stitch on top, this Wind Pro version is actually made of two different fabrics stitched together, both featuring soft high/med shag fleece on the inside. Highly recommended.

This is one of the best jackets I own, one of my favorite pieces... And I've tried them ALL. This thing weighs nothing, packs down to the size of a rain shell, totally windproof, water resistant, and extremely warm once the primaloft has expanded to full capacity. When it gets really cold, I layer my Arcteryx Hercules jacket under the Kappa Ar and it shields me down to the negatives. It has Gore windstopper shell, fits/looks like a regular soft shell jacket (quite slim), and dosn't swish and swoosh like down jackets with nylon shells. The fact that the insulation is bonded directly onto the shell means this is not quilted, so you don't have to look like the Micheline marsh mellow man. I can't say much more, this has retired many other shell/fleece combo jackets i have... What more can you ask for... an insulated gore windstopper shell that fits like a fleece jacket and weighs a little more than air. My very next jacket is going to be the Kappa SV from arcteryx.

This jacket fits and performs wonderfully.
Lightweight, extremely breathable (you can even wear it indoors), form fitting, and stylish to boot. Warmth level and wind resistance wise, with mild activity (even normal walking), this jacket kept me warm in 40 deg weather with 15mph windchill with a T-shirt underneath. I would advise wearing a windproof shell if just sitting around base camp in such conditions, but paired with any level of aerobic activity you will be warm and not overheating.
A warmer, more windproof (less breathable) alternative would be the Arcteryx Easyrider... But its also bulkier.
5'9, athletic/slim.. Small fits perfectly, sleeves long enough, torso long enough.
Versatility, as it works well as a standalone softshell, but also works as insulating mid layer.

This jacket preferred over the likes of: TNF Summit Series Windstopper Thermal, MHW Alchemy, Patagonia R4.

It looks really good in person, with a good athletic fit. Not designed to be worn without a shell of some wind blocking ability in my opinion, but neither is the Denali which everyone wears anyway. This provides excellent warmth indoors, and it provides the best insulation you could ask for when paired with a shell (heaviest weight grade Polartec Thermal Pro). I purchased this jacket to layer with one of TNF flight series shells for the fall, and the Sentinel Windstopper for insulation during cold rainy days.

The selling points of this fleece jacket are the Fit and Water resistance. This jacket is NOT windproof nor is it designed for deluges (look for Windstopper Tech by MHW, Patagonia R4, NTF Windwalls or Sentinel jackets if you don't already own a highly technical fleece jacket for windy/blistering cold). You can't have one jacket that does it all, and this Nemesis jacket is designed to give you warmth and water-shedding abilities during those unexpected light showers (NanoSphere shell on shoulders and arms where rain hits with most impact) in the ~50 degree range. It is also a great jacket for around the town, as it looks great, and the fit is perfect. Other technical fleeces I own are windproof/waterproof but they also have long monkey arms, high placed pockets, looser fit for layering (which are all essential in their own rights). I'd highly recommend this Nemesis for the everyday use around town / short hikes, because did I mention that it is the best looking/fitting fleece jacket I own.

This jacket is by far the warmest, softest, most windproof fleece jacket you can own. It won't "do it all" because it's too warm for heavy activity, but when it is blistering cold outside, this is the one to grab. Considering that there are only a handful of truly windproof fleeces out there for Men, this is the only jacket that uses a windbloc laminate sandwiched between two layers of R2 high loft fleece (MHW has the Lynx/Mynx for Women which is similar to the R4). As for sheer warmth, nothing from TNF or MHW will match this jacket. Just keep in mind that like many technical fleeces, this one also comes with pockets placed higher (for backpacking), and it has long monkey arms. Another note is that this jacket is waterproof in a sense that it'll keep water out, but the outer fleece will get wet, so an outer shell is recommended. It fits normal, with room to layer, and I wouldn't recommend sizing down for more technical fit because the torso gets considerably shorter too.

First some specs to help you shop:
For 5'10 150lbs frame, Medium is a bit loose fit, perfect for wearing baselayers underneath
TKA 100 like fleece on outer face, grid lock pattern lining on inside (including arms); this jacket will not cling onto any fabric worn as inner layer, which is good.

So, This is the jacket I grab all the time. Here is why:
It is light in weight, but warm. When worn with just T-shirt, you will never overheat in 50-60 degree+ mild days.
When in 40-50 degree range, I wear this with a thermal shirt/light fleece and it keeps me warm.
Not recommended for below 40, unless you wear heavier fleece under it, which can get a bit bulky (defeating the purpose of light weight jackets).
Side note: if you want something for below 40, I suggest the Patagonia R4, which is Windproof and Ultra Warm.

The pocket openings are regular size, but you can fit a 2 liter bottle in it, as the lining is huge.

A bit stiff when new, but will soften up with more wear, and wash.

About 5'10 150 lbs, lean build here. Ordered a black Medium, was too large on me, gave it to dad. Ordered a small in charcoal grey, fits me perfectly. Both colors are beautiful, and as you may have seen, the Denali is played out, and the reason is that they are GREAT looking jackets. You want this to fit snuggly b/c of the nylon panels, they are stiff, and you don't want to look like a football player with shoulder pads sticking out. Also, this jacket is BULKY, which means you can only layer with a large shell. As a standalone jacket, it is really a fashion piece, a slight gust of wind and I freeze. Bottom line, looks "A+", usability "C-".