Dear BPL friends,
I returned a North Face shell jacket for warranty repair and received a $199 gift card in exchange. Finding nothing lightweight and in my size at the North Face outlet, I’m looking to get a replacement shell online. I’ve narrowed it down to the Dryzzle, which uses GTX Paclite and the Fuseform Dot Matrix that uses TNF’s Dryvent 2.5. Any experience with one or both of these jackets? Both seem to be about 13oz, although specs are questionable on TNF’s site. I saw last year’s Fuseform (size S and XL only) at the outlet. Unfortunately the next closest company store is not worth the drive and the local REI’s don’t seem to have either.
I know this isn’t the lightest shell out there, but I like how TNF stands by their warranty. My older jacket worked for years, but in a rare rainy day hike in SoCal I felt a leak around the next and realized afterwards the inside was delaminating – especially where the logo and size info were printed. I have a heavy 3-layer GTX parka from years ago, but no experience with Paclite. My goal is to use this for day hiking and backpacking. I’ll use it as a windshell as well as for the rain, but where I live it’s usually packed “just in case”
I’m not in need of insulation or other gear I’d go to TNF for, but always open to anything new and innovative if my $199 would be better spent on something else. For now I’m using a Frogg Toggs jacket, but would prefer something more durable.
Thanks for your feedback and advice.
-Bob (slbear)
