This is a bit of a miss from The North Face, at least until they can solve the waterproofing issues that FUTURELIGHT seems to be having. For a $229 jacket, you do not want it to be wetting out really quickly. The material of the jacket is sturdy and the overall durability won’t be an issue, but if the waterproofing problem is not solved, then it could quickly become a very expensive windbreaker. The North Face Dryzzle has missed the mark for now, but it’s likely that The North Face will fix it soon.

Compare to Similar Products

See Our Best Rain Jacket Review 2021 Article HERE!

The North Face has been under fire recently from hardcore outdoor enthusiasts for their recent collaborations with other brands including Gucci. Purists believe that this is now bringing consumerism to the real forefront of the outdoor industry, when in fact it has been there the whole time. But I digress. Let’s talk about The North Face Dryzzle rain jacket, a 3L shell that features The North Face’s proprietary FUTURELIGHT technology.

Weather-Proofing

The North Face’s new FUTURELIGHT technology was seen as the next big thing in outdoor technology. Unfortunately, there seems to be a known issue with the material—it doesn’t shed water as effectively as hoped. Oops. The thing is, the material loses its waterproofing quickly, and it becomes saturated much quicker than other jackets on the market. Obviously, that is a major problem and, hopefully, The North Face is able to identify and rectify the problem with the FUTURELIGHT material.

Weight and Durability

The Dryzzle is three layers and uses a 50-denier 100% recycled polyester that has been woven with a tricot backer. In layman’s terms, it’s a very sturdy coat. At 340g (12oz), it is lighter than the Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid, which features 3L Gore-Tex. The durability issues remain with the waterproofing. If the fabric is not shedding water, it is not performing its main task, and the durability is compromised.

Features

The North Face Dryzzle is catered mainly to recreational outdoors people, and so the feature list does not accommodate high-exertion activities. There are no pit zips, and the collar could have been a little higher to protect the face from the elements. There are a chest pocket and two handwarmer pockets along with a hem cinch to bring the coat in if needed.

The Bottom Line

The North Face Dryzzle is stylish and has a great name. The five color options provide some excellent choices to perfect your outdoor outfit and even have some heather options. However, that seems to be where the good news stops. The FUTURELIGHT material has been under scrutiny for its waterproofing from reviewers and testers online. The breathability provided by the material is quite good, so if they can dial in the waterproofing, this jacket will be a real contender. The $229 price tag would make me hesitate on purchasing the jacket until the weather-resistance issues are sorted.

^ Back to Top ^