The North Face Antora Jacket Review | Is This The Best Travel Rain Jacket?
If you’re searching for an inexpensive, lightweight and versatile rain jacket that you can easily pack with you for your travel adventures, then keep reading to learn more about The North Face Antora Jacket.
The North Face Antora Jacket is my go-to rain jacket for travel and everyday use. The stylish yet functional design blends well in the city while also providing enough protection when my day calls for some adventure.
However, the TNF Antora Jacket does lack a few features that are essential for hiking. In this post, you’ll find detailed explanations and my honest thoughts on every component of The North Face Antora Rain Jacket so that you can easily decide whether this is the rain jacket for you.

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Table of Contents
ToggleMy Honest Review Of The North Face Antora Jacket
Quick Info On The North Face Antora Rain Jacket
Price: $230 AUD
Material: 2-layer DryVent with 70D 100% recycled polyester ripstop with PFC-free DWR
Waterproofing / Breathability: 15K/15K
Weight: 345g
Vents: None
Pockets: Two zippered handwarmer pockets
Colours: Men’s: black, black/brown | Women’s: black, dark sage, navy blue
Sustainability: 100% recycled material, PFC-free DWR
Warranty / Return: Warranty Policy
Activity: Hiking / Everyday / Travel

Positives:
- Sustainably made
- Lightweight
- Stylish for everyday wear
- Comfortable mesh liner that doesn’t feel sticky
Negatives:
- Lacks essential features for hiking
- The pocket placement is too high for an everyday jacket, this is more suited to a true hiking rain jacket
- Not very breathable
The North Face Antora Jacket is a 2-layer rain jacket equipped with The North Face’s DryVent technology. This technology, similar to Gore-Tex, offers a fully seam-sealed waterproof and windproof shell. The durable shell includes an adjustable hood, deep handwarmer pockets, and a cinch hem to keep out cold drafts.
Who Is The North Face Antora Jacket For?
The North Face Antora Jacket is a great all-round travel companion for those who divide their time between the city and the mountains. Its lightweight design allows you to easily stuff it into any sized pack, ensuring you’re prepared for any adventure.
However, the TNF Antora Jacket lacks some key features – such as pit zips and velcro cuffs – that make it more suitable for everyday use rather than as a hiking rain jacket.
Size and Fit Of The Antora

The fit of the Antora Rain Jacket is flattering while still allowing enough room underneath for layering on cold days. It is tapered just enough to offer some shape and features a drop-tail hem for extra protection at your back.
I found that the TNF Antora Rain Jacket fits true to size, falling to just below my hips and allowing plenty of room for my Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody underneath. With that said, the sleeves are slightly too short and loose. This was problematic when I wore a backpack and any time I lifted my hands while it was raining.
How Much Does The North Face Antora Rain Jacket Weigh?

The North Face Antora Jacket weighs 345 g for a women’s size small. Despite being a 2-layer rain jacket, which is usually heavier than the more common 2.5-layer shells, it is surprisingly lightweight. Often you’ll gain a few extra grams for the lower price tag that the 2-layer rain jackets offer, but that’s not the case this time.
In comparison to other rain jackets I have owned, the Antora is slightly heavier. However, the extra weight is hardly noticed and on many occasions, I have been thankful for the thicker shell that blocks out the wind better than my lighter 2.5-layer XTM Takayna Rain Jacket.
Packability
There is no stash pocket on the TNF Antora Rain Jacket, which helps to reduce the size of the jacket when you pack it away. However, in all honesty, I hardly ever use that feature on my other rain jackets and instead, choose to roll it into the hood – a quicker and easier method to keep a jacket compact.
For the style of use that I recommend for the TNF Antora Jacket – everyday and travel, I find that it is adequately small and compact enough to easily fit in my Osprey Mira 32 daypack. Furthermore, I doubt I would have a problem fitting it into a smaller pack either.
Comfort

While a 2-layer rain jacket falls short on several factors compared to a 2.5-layer design, there is no denying that the hanging mesh liner is far more comfortable than the printed or sprayed-on liner found in 2.5-layer rain jackets.
The hanging mesh liner on the inside of the Antora Rain Jacket offers a more comfortable feeling against the skin. You won’t feel that uncomfortable sticky, plastic sensation that you receive from most 2.5-layer rain jackets at the same price point.
Breathability Of The North Face Antora

This is where The North Face Antora Jacket falls short. The lack of pit zips (zippered vents found under the arms) coupled with a thick mesh lining proves to be the recipe for sweat the moment the gradient increases. This is the main reason why I don’t recommend this jacket for hiking. However, for everyday use, the extra warmth is often welcomed.
While my Antora Rain Jacket doesn’t come on many hiking trips with me, it’s my favourite lightweight jacket for everyday wear as it offers more warmth and comfort compared to my other more breathable 2.5-layer rain jackets.
If you’re searching for the ultimate rain jacket for breathability, then check out our review on The North Face Dryzzle Futurelight Jacket.
Is The North Face Antora Rain Jacket Waterproof?

The North Face uses their own in-house waterproof technology, DryVent, for the Antora Rain Jacket. This technology has had a history of being questioned for its level of waterproof capabilities, however, I have stayed dry throughout every rain storm that I’ve worn the Antora Jacket in.
Furthermore, the PFC-free DWR coating works well, allowing the rain droplets to bead up and roll straight off. You’ll also find large storm flaps on the centre zip and pockets, which help keep moisture from seeping through the zips.

The only issue I have faced with the waterproofing capabilities of the Antora Jacket is due to the cuffs, which are loose and allow water to seep into the sleeves.
Is The North Face Antora Durable?
The North Face Antora Jacket is constructed with 70D polyester ripstop fabric that offers a high level of durability. This is a typical denier count found in rain jackets and allows you to confidently push through thick scrub without worrying about rips and tears.
I have by no means been careful with my Antora Jacket and have yet to see even the slightest abrasion on its outer material.
Features Of The North Face Antora Jacket
Hood

The hood on the TNF Antora Jacket has two adjustable cord locks on each side to tighten it securely around your head. However, it doesn’t have an in-built peak like you’ll find on most hiking rain jackets, which prevents it from shielding your face from the rain. Although the hood extends slightly further at the front, it’s not enough to provide much protection.
Pockets

The Antora Rain Jacket features two zippered handwarmer waist pockets with large storm flaps to keep water out. However, the pockets are positioned higher than usual and coupled with the large reverse storm flaps, they are slightly awkward to use – especially if you’re in a rush.
The intention behind the higher placement of the pockets is to ensure usability while wearing a backpack with a hipbelt. While I am all for this design for technical rain jackets, I find it unnecessary for the Antora and it doesn’t work as well with storm flaps as it does with waterproof zippers.
Hem and Cuff Adjustments


The hem has a cinch cord on one side so you can pull the jacket tight around your hips. However, most jackets usually have two cinch cords to prevent the hem from bunching on one side. The single cinch cord makes the jacket sit weirdly and is rather uncomfortable.
There are no cuff adjustments, instead, you’ll find elasticated cuffs. This isn’t ideal for heavy rainfall as the water can enter your sleeves. For me, the cuffs weren’t tight whatsoever and I have average-sized wrists.
Sustainability
The North Face Antora Jacket is constructed with 100% recycled polyester ripstop and features a PFC-free DWR coating. Unfortunately, the waterproof technology, DryVent, is still made of raw materials but this is a good start.
Furthermore, The North Face has been working hard on their sustainability commitments over the recent years and is striving to do better with their packaging and greenhouse gas emissions. They still have a ways to go but we appreciate their transparency about their progress and their goals that you can find on their website.

Value
For its weight, durability and waterproof capabilities, the TNF Antora Jacket is quite reasonably priced in my opinion. Of course, you’ll find cheaper 2-layer options out there, but most will be far heavier and bulkier.
Other rain jackets that rival the Antora on price and performance are the XTM 2.5-layer Takayna Rain Jacket and the Patagonia 3-layer Torrentshell Rain Jacket. These are both surprisingly cheap for what they offer and are more suited to hiking and other high-intensity activities.
My Experience With The North Face Antora Rain Jacket
Why I Chose The North Face Antora Jacket
I chose The North Face Antora Jacket as I was searching for a casual everyday rain jacket and a backup for my travels. My top priorities were lightweight, comfortable, warm and inexpensive as I didn’t plan on using it as a technical jacket.
How It Performs
I am pleased to say that The North Face Antora Jacket exceeded my expectations. I had heard rumours that the waterproof capabilities of the DryVent were lacklustre but that is not what I experienced.
I have found the Antora to be super comfortable, warm and stylish. It serves well as a windbreaker on cold and grey days and has never missed a beat when the rain starts to fall.
Where Do I Wear My TNF Antora Rain Jacket?

The North Face Antora Jacket is my go-to for city trips and casual everyday use. I also find myself reaching for my Antora Jacket on short hikes when I know it’s going to be cold. It has served me well while exploring the streets of Wanaka in New Zealand and also while visiting waterfalls at Arthurs Pass.
While it’s not my top choice for hiking, there are still plenty of situations where this jacket excels. Plus, if you hike as much as we do, it’s not a bad idea to have a different rain jacket for casual wear so you don’t overuse your more expensive technical hiking rain jacket.
Final Thoughts
The North Face Antora Jacket exceeded my expectations in its performance as a durable and comfortable rain jacket for everyday use. While it doesn’t offer enough breathability for long ascents or big missions, it’s a fantastic option for travel and the occasional short walk.
The thing I like most about the Antora Jacket is its comfort when you need to throw it on over a singlet or t-shirt. Unlike a 2.5-layer rain jacket of the same price point, there is no sticky, plastic feel when you wear the Antora over bare skin.
I hope that this review on The North Face Antora Jacket has helped you make your decision. If you need any further assistance or have a review of your own, please feel free to leave a comment below or reach out to us via Instagram.
Happy Adventuring 🙂
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