Disappointing jacket
of Andrew, 16.10.2023
I've owned many ski/snowboard jackets and this is the most disappointing one I've had.
The good points are that it looks smart and fits well (apart from the sleeves...) and is light and easy to pack away in a bag etc.
The bad points are:
- not very waterproof at all, and not particularly breathable. Nearly all proper outdoor clothing has published figures for waterproofing and breathability but North Face don't really seem to release this. I expected for the price it to be equivalent to GoreTex or at least 20k/20k but having worn it in medium rain for 20 minutes and ended up wet through I'd be surprised if it's even 5k waterproof and as it's pretty sweaty around 5 - 10k breathable.
- the main pockets are tiny and awkwardly positioned, meaning it's impossible to comfortably fit your hands in them. A winter jacket that you can't keep your hands in to keep warm is a terrible lack of basic design.
- The size and position of the plastic hook on the snow skirt (for attaching to trousers) means it is positioned exactly in the middle of your lower back. Whenever you sit down this digs in and is beyond annoying. Whether in a car, on a bus, on a chairlift etc it's incredibly uncomfortable to sit in this jacket. Again, it's like it's been designed by someone who's never worn a jacket.
- Sleeves are too long. The jacket generally fits very well. I'm normally proportioned and went for a small (I'm normally a medium) as I wanted a snug fit. Even with a small the arms are too long and are a real pain flapping right over your hands.
- The price. This jacket is on the higher end of pricing but due to the above problems is worse than nearly every outdoor coat I've ever owned. Many of them were much much cheaper and are better specced and much better thought out. North Face nowadays seems to be about the name and not about the performance.
The good points are that it looks smart and fits well (apart from the sleeves...) and is light and easy to pack away in a bag etc.
The bad points are:
- not very waterproof at all, and not particularly breathable. Nearly all proper outdoor clothing has published figures for waterproofing and breathability but North Face don't really seem to release this. I expected for the price it to be equivalent to GoreTex or at least 20k/20k but having worn it in medium rain for 20 minutes and ended up wet through I'd be surprised if it's even 5k waterproof and as it's pretty sweaty around 5 - 10k breathable.
- the main pockets are tiny and awkwardly positioned, meaning it's impossible to comfortably fit your hands in them. A winter jacket that you can't keep your hands in to keep warm is a terrible lack of basic design.
- The size and position of the plastic hook on the snow skirt (for attaching to trousers) means it is positioned exactly in the middle of your lower back. Whenever you sit down this digs in and is beyond annoying. Whether in a car, on a bus, on a chairlift etc it's incredibly uncomfortable to sit in this jacket. Again, it's like it's been designed by someone who's never worn a jacket.
- Sleeves are too long. The jacket generally fits very well. I'm normally proportioned and went for a small (I'm normally a medium) as I wanted a snug fit. Even with a small the arms are too long and are a real pain flapping right over your hands.
- The price. This jacket is on the higher end of pricing but due to the above problems is worse than nearly every outdoor coat I've ever owned. Many of them were much much cheaper and are better specced and much better thought out. North Face nowadays seems to be about the name and not about the performance.
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