The North Face Summit Altimetro Long Sleeve Top review: all-day comfort for race day and long runs

Meet the reviewer

Julia Clarke

Julia Clarke is a staff writer for Advnture.com and the author of the book Restorative Yoga for Beginners. She loves to explore mountains on foot, bike, skis and belay and then recover on the the yoga mat. Julia graduated with a degree in journalism in 2004 and spent eight years working as a radio presenter in Kansas City, Vermont, Boston and New York City before discovering the joys of the Rocky Mountains. She then detoured west to Colorado and enjoyed 11 years teaching yoga in Vail before returning to her hometown of Glasgow, Scotland in 2020 to focus on family and writing.

The North Face Summit Altimetro Long Sleeve Top: first impressions 

This highly technical and high-performing running top from The North Face is a pricey piece of kit, but it proved its value to serious runners on the back of Katie Schide who set a new record in it at this year's UTMB.

This long-sleeved top is built for cold weather runs and long-distance races where extra layers are required, and for that reason, it's specifically designed to meet the weight requirements of cold-weather mandatory race kits at less than 150 grams for a women's small.

The combination of DotKnit fleece in the lining, which absorbs sweat from your skin, and FlashDry Pro fabric, which sends it to the surface, means you stay warm and surprisingly dry even when you're working hard.

It's soft against the skin, and added stretch and body mapping mean it's always comfortable when you're on the go, and it has all the usual details you'd expect from a high-end running top such as thumb holes and reflective details. Made using recycled materials, it also has a smaller impact on the planet, but will make a huge impact on your running comfort this winter.

The North Face Summit Altimetro Long Sleeve Top: in the field

This year, I traveled to Chamonix to report live from the UTMB where Katie Schide made history by setting a new women's course record in beautiful Ives Klein Blue kit from The North Face.

After the race, I received a couple of pieces of the kit to test out myself. While I took the T-shirt on the trails straight away, I had to wait for the weather to cool off a bit before I could give the long sleeve a proper run for its money. I've now been wearing it for the past few weeks on chilly trail runs in Scotland.

Here’s how it performed:

Sizing, fit and comfort

I tested a small top, which is my normal size, and it's a perfect fit. It's not tight like a base layer, but that's because it's meant to be pulled on over a short sleeve when you meet with cold weather. That's not to say you can't wear it on its own of course, but the active fit combined with loads of stretch means I can move freely in it, and it's not so loose that I can't wear my Futurelight running jacket over the top, which I've done for a few wet sessions.

The sleeves are a little long, but again, this is intentional. Thanks to the thumb holes, it's meant that lately, I've been able to pull the sleeves over my hands for the first half of my run while I'm still warm and not have to wear running gloves.

This top is really comfortable, even worn next to my skin, thanks to the silky fabric and soft brushed fleece, and I'm not noticing any rubbing anywhere.

Warmth, breathability and moisture management

Now that the temperatures are dropping, I'm finding this top provides suitable warmth for cold runs. Yesterday was milder than I expected, and while I ended my run quite warm, I wasn't overheating, and that's thanks to brilliant breathability and the moisture-wicking system that dries in a literal flash, thanks to the FlashDry fabric.

To be clear, I'm not saying I'd wear this for warm weather – that's what the short sleeve is for – but it really excels at protecting me from the cold without baking me.

Weight, odor control and other details

At just shy of 150 grams, I'd think nothing of packing this top in my hydration vest for backup. It also doesn't hold onto moisture so doesn't grow heavy if it gets wet.

It's a synthetic top, so it's not one that you're going to be able to wear for a month straight without getting whiffy, but I've been able to get multiple uses out of it without having to launder it. There's no mention of it being treated with antimicrobial substances, so it might just be the fit, but I'm pleased with the odor-control.

It has reflective details on the front and back, so it's a good choice for road runners going into winter, and that's also a bonus for overnight races.

Finally, it's made using recycled materials, which is always a big bonus in my book.

The North Face Summit Altimetro Long Sleeve Top: the bottom line

This is a fantastic running top for cold weather and long-distance races. It's hard to argue with any of the design details when it performs so well against the cold without compromising breathability. The only flaw is really that it's pricey enough to make many runners think twice, but if you're looking for great quality top, you'll find it here.

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