The North Face, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, today announced The North Face Animagi Jacket has been awarded the prestigious Top Ten Gear Pick by Gear Junkie. The Animagi, an ultralight insulated full-zip jacket, is new for Fall 2009 and has taken the outerwear industry by storm. The Gear Junkie Top Ten Gear Picks debuted in 2003, annually naming the best ten products of the respective year out of hundreds of products tested and reviewed.

“The Animagi has become the must-have product from The North Face for anyone being active,” said Liz Braund, Performance Product Director for The North Face. “We are honored to be awarded this recognition from Gear Junkie. This is a great tribute to the jacket’s technologies and high demand.”

The North Face Animagi is the first insulated performance jacket from the company designed specifically for extended high-aerobic activity in dry, cold weather. The Primaloft Eco 40g insulated body is complemented with stretch, breathable panels on the torso sides and sleeves for body-mapped thermal protection and extreme ease of movement and comfort.  The silhouette features thumb loops, hand pockets, reflective logos, a drop-tail hem and UPF 30

“The unique design of the Animagi Jacket was a winner during my nightly neighborhood training runs to longer endurance fests where I ran for two hours or more in the cold,” said Stephen Regenold, Gear Junkie editor and founder. “It works for winter running where many other tops fail. It breathes where it needs to. It insulates the core.”

The North Face Ultrarunning Athlete Team worked closely with the company’s Research, Design & Development team to create and perfect the ultralight Animagi. Wanting a piece that was warm but allowed for breathability and range of motion, the Animagi was born. The Animagi has performed worldwide in China, Japan, Europe, Canada, South America, the United States, the Himalaya region and more.

For more than 40 years The North Face athlete team has defined the limits of what is humanly possible, and continually works with RD&D, creating innovative designs that push new technologies and inspire cutting-edge products.