The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight women’s waterproof jacket review: an impressive winter and spring all-rounder

A great all-rounder for keen hikers, the North Face Dryzzle Futurelight matches good waterproofing with a great fit for all-day comfort

The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight Jacket
(Image: © The North Face)

Advnture Verdict

Great quality, performance, looks and comfort make the Dryzzle our highest-recommended all-rounder of a jacket for happy hiking if you aren’t getting too technical. Just pick a darker colorway to keep it looking fresh.

Pros

  • +

    Waterproof and windproof

  • +

    Recycled material

  • +

    Comfortable high neck

  • +

    Works well with a backpack

  • +

    Smart, flattering cut

Cons

  • -

    The light colorways can look dirty quickly

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North Face Dryzzle Futurelight: first impressions

The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight Jacket

Although you can’t see it here, the interior of The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight  is lined with a very comfortable soft fabric (Image credit: The North Face)

The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight sits nicely between a super lightweight, packable jacket and something heavy and bulky – at 300g, this jacket will easily pop into a smaller rucksack but is still stiff and sturdy enough to offer warmth and windproofing. 

The interior is lined with a soft fabric that makes this jacket far nicer to wear than most plasticky coats we tested out for our best women’s waterproof jackets buying guide. We like the look of the Dryzzle, which is flattering to wear and comes in smart, neutral shades, but we’d definitely recommend choosing one of the darker colorways, as the pale orange will show dirt quickly once you’ve been out on muddy adventures (see also: what to wear hiking). 

Specifications

RRP: $265 (US) / £200 (UK)
• Waterproofing: TNF Futurelight
• Weight: 300g / 10.6oz
• Sizes: XS / S / M / L / XL
• Colors: Emberglow Orange / Aviator Navy / TNF Dark Grey Heather / TNF Black
• Compatibility: A great all-rounder for hikers who sometimes venture into mountain ground

North Face Dryzzle Futurelight: on the trails

The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight Jacket

The high neck and adjustable hood help keep your face protected from the elements (Image credit: The North Face)

Drizzle won’t stop play if you’ve got the North Face Dryzzle Futurelight in your backpack. The two main factors we look for in a wet-weather jacket for late winter and spring are reliable rainproofing and good windproofing, and the Dryzzle really delivered on both when on test, even in heavy storms (see also: how to stay dry when hiking).

One of the standout features is the high neck, which offers good protection and is still comfortable to wear when fully zipped up – this and the adjustable hood go far to keep your face protected. The adjustable hem and cuffs further help to get a comfortable fit that will trap in body heat on colder days. That longer hem keeps your lower torso warm, and stops the jacket riding up when worn with a hiking backpack, too.

Sian Lewis

An award-winning travel and outdoors journalist, presenter and blogger, Sian regularly writes for The Independent, Evening Standard, BBC Countryfile, Coast, Outdoor Enthusiast and Sunday Times Travel. Life as a hiking, camping, wild-swimming adventure-writer has taken her around the world, exploring Bolivian jungles, kayaking in Greenland, diving with turtles in Australia, climbing mountains in Africa and, in Thailand, learning the hard way that peeing on a jellyfish sting doesn’t help. Her blog, thegirloutdoors.co.uk, champions accessible adventures.