The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight Rain Jacket Review

The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket is a lightweight shell with above-average breathability that also gives good protection from wind and rain.

THE NORTH FACE Dryzzle Futurelight Parka Tnf Black LG

Please note: This rain jacket is suitable for all genders.

See our overall review of 10 best waterproof rain jackets here.

Table of Contents

Pros / Reasons to Buy

Very good breathability
Comfortable against skin

Cons / Reasons to Avoid

DWR isn’t as good as some other products in our reviews
The hood doesn’t protect much of your face

The breathability of the North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket is outstanding. There is no need for pit zips to cool you down when you are wearing this jacket. The DWR could be improved, but it will keep you dry and comfortable. The Futurelight fabric is light and thin, giving you plenty of mobility, and it looks good. This jacket is an excellent weatherproof top layer at a reasonable price.

Compare alongside other rain jackets:

	Arc'teryx Beta LT	Black Diamond StormLine	Outdoor Research Helium Rain	Marmot PreCip Eco	Arc’teryx Beta	Marmot Minimalist	Rab Downpour Plus 2.0	The North Face Venture 2	Columbia Watertight II	The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight

Buying Options
Our Awards	Best Women's Performance	Best Stretchy	Best Ultralight		Best Men's Performance	Best Womens	Best Mens		Best Budget

Weight	13.9 oz.	11.3 oz.	6.3 oz.	10.6 oz.	10.6 oz.	13 oz.	13.2 oz.	11.6 oz.	13 oz.	12 oz.
Waterproof	3L Gore-Tex	2.5L BD.dry	2.4L Pertex	2.5L NanoPro	3L Gore-Tex	2.5L Gore-Tex	2.5L Pertex	2.5L Dryvent	2L Omni-Tech	3L Futurelight
Pockets	2 zippered hand	2 zippered hand	2 zippered hand	2 Zippered Hand	2 Zippered Hand	2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest	2 zippered chest	2 zippered hand	2 zippered hand pockets; 2 internal drop-in pockets	2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest

Analysis and Test Results

At first glance, The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket isn’t very impressive. The material feels a little flimsy, and the lack of pit zips always raises concerns about breathability. However, the Futurelight fabric performs as advertised, delivering above-average breathability while also keeping you dry. Even when you are exerting, the jacket has no build-up of moisture inside, and the material feels comfortable against your skin with no clamminess. Unusually for a lightweight rain shell, this raincoat has three zipped pockets – one internal chest pocket that doubles up as a bag to pack the jacket into and two hand pockets with flaps to protect the zips from the elements. The hood is adjustable, but it focuses more on closing tight around your head than on keeping the rain off your face. The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket is a good all-rounder, but it would particularly suit someone looking for a rain shell with high breathability.

See The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket in detail:

Performance Comparison

Type and Style

North Face recommended the Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket for hiking, but it would be excellent for any activity where you will work up a sweat but want to keep dry. It is a slim-fit cut, so you might want to go up a size if you want to add layers underneath.

Water Resistance

North Face doesn’t give a waterproof rating for their Futurelight fabric, but when tested by others, it seems to have a waterproof rating of 15000 mm. The Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket also has a Non-PFC DWR (durable water repellent) coating. Whilst this is better for the environment, the DWR does not work very well with numerous users reporting that water does not bead up on this jacket. Effective flaps protect the pocket zips, and the reverse-coil central zipper is water-resistant. The seams are all taped, and the sleeves have Velcro adjusters to improve waterproofing.

Breathability

The breathability of the North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket is its main selling point. At 75,000 g/m2/24hrs, it is much more breathable than similar Gore-Tex material. There are no pit zips but the superior breathability means you don’t miss them. The lining material doesn’t get clammy and stick to your skin. The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket has the best breathability of any of the jackets we looked at.

Comfort and Mobility

The Futurelight material North Face uses to make the Dryzzle rain jacket is light and thin. The thinness of the fabric can be disconcerting at first, but it gives just as good protection from wind and rain as thicker material. The thinness means that the jacket has a good range of movement and doesn’t ride up when you raise your arms.

The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket is longer than average, with the sleeves coming down over your wrists. The lining of the jacket is soft and comfortable against your skin. However, the slim-cut design of the jacket means you may struggle to fit more than one layer underneath it without going up a size.

Materials

North Face’s Futurelight material is composed of 3 layers. The face is 20D x 25D recycled polyester with a non-PFC DWR. The central layer is a nanospun polyurethane fiber structure. It’s lined with a 100% recycled nylon tricot backer. The pockets are made of 100% polyester.

Appearance

The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket is smart enough for everyday use as well as looking smart on the hills. The North Face logo is on the chest and shoulder, and the word ‘Futurelight’ is printed near the cuff of one sleeve. The logos are primarily white, but on the women’s Taupe Green version, the logo is the same color as the jacket. The slim fit design and longer length give this jacket a nice silhouette, and the flaps concealing the pocket zippers help give it a stylish, modern look.

When it comes to colors, men can choose between Fiery Red, Optic Blue and TNF Black, Shady Blue, or TNF Black, while the women’s model is available in Taupe Green, Boysenberry, and TNF Black.

Durability

The thinness of the Futurelight material can initially cause concerns about the durability of this rain shell. However, the nano-spinning technology used to make this fabric is very durable. The zips are high-quality, and the seams are well-finished. However, the DWR is not very effective and will probably need to be renewed very quickly.

The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket has a Limited Lifetime Warranty against manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the product’s lifetime. If there is a problem, they will repair your coat without charge or replace it at their discretion. Even if the warranty does not cover your issue, it is worth contacting them as they have a repair service.

Weight and Packability

The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket is a lightweight coat. It packs down easily and is designed to be tucked away into the internal pocket to make a neat parcel. The average weight of this rain shell is:

Men

433 g / 15.3 oz

Women

387 g / 13.5 oz

Features

There are three pockets on the North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket. There are two at waist height with zips protected by flaps. These are well designed so you can put your hands in the pockets without getting very wet, and the pocket’s contents tend to stay dry. There is also an internal pocket on the chest.

The hood is a good size and is adjusted by a toggle on the back. The brim isn’t stiffened to keep the rain off your face. Instead, the hood tightens around your head to stop rain and cold from getting inside. While some users might prefer a brim, the hood does not interfere with your peripheral vision, and you can easily move your head when the hood is up.

The sleeves are a good length, and they aren’t too tight. The cuffs are secured with Velcro to help keep your arms warm and dry. There is a drawcord in the hem to adjust and tighten the hem if desired.

Sustainability

North Face says that “nature is at the heart of what we do”, and they are trying to make their products as sustainable as possible. The polyester and nylon used to make the Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket are 100% recycled, and the DWR is non-PFC. They are also actively working to reduce their supply chain’s greenhouse-gas emissions.

North Face also has a ‘Renewed’ service where they refurbish used products to be resold for a new life on the trails. Anything that can’t be repaired will be recycled or donated.

Conclusion

The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket is a lightweight rain shell with excellent breathability. It offers decent waterproofing, although the DWR could be more effective. It has intelligent features, including three pockets and an adjustable hood. If you want to stay active even when it is raining without getting sweaty and uncomfortable, then the North Face Dryzzle Futurelight rain jacket would be the perfect rain shell for you.

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