The North Face Women’s Dryzzle Futurelight Jacket – Reviewed & Tested

The North Face has made staying dry and looking fly easy with a jacket that’ll never plaster itself to your back like clingwrap, no matter how sweaty you get.

A good raincoat is hard to find. First off, it needs to do the obvious and keep you dry – duh! But these multifunctional workhorses can do so much more than that. Some are windproof, some come with fleece linings, and others come with more pockets than varieties of milk in a coffee shop.

While all these features are great, brands often throw in more features than the jacket is capable of delivering. I tested out the Women’s Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT Jacket from the North Face to find out where this raincoat fits on the spectrum and if it’s worth the hefty $500 price tag.

Why am I the right person to do this review?

If there’s one thing that’s going to keep me from going outside, it’s being cold. I hate it. The last time I went hiking and encountered snow, I got slung the trail name ‘Jesskimo’ thanks to the frankly insane amount of layers I had to put on to stay toasty.

All this is to say that raincoats aren’t just an item of clothing for me, they’re the main tool in my arsenal that allows me to explore the outdoors with enjoyment when the sky decides to let loose. They keep me dry and warm, protect me from the wind, and if they’re a real keeper, they’ll include deep fleece-lined pockets. I’m a real sucker for those.

The Dryzzle makes an excellent fifth layer when the temperature drops at Mount Hotham

Quick Specifications

Weight: 387g
Waterproofing: Non-PFC DWR coating, 100% waterproof
Material: 100% recycled polyester & nylon, 75D
Colourway: Steel Blue or Black
RRP: $500

Performance

Fabric

The 100% recycled polyester and nylon Dryzzle utilises the trademarked FUTURELIGHT technology from The North Face that imbues ultralight fabric with breathable and waterproof properties, including a now-standard DWR (durable water repellant) finish. The fabric is what you’re paying for when you buy a raincoat and it’s where the Dryzzle really shines. 

And it looks good while it’s doing it

The non-PFC DWR (durable water repellent) coating stops the jacket from taking on water like a sponge, and is the reason water beads and runs off rather than soaking through. Your average raincoat will become waterlogged without this coating, and the micro pores that allow your jacket to ‘breathe’ will get clogged with water. Worse, some jackets still use a DWR with PFCs (Perfluorochemicals) that contaminate the environment and don’t break down.

The FUTURELIGHT technology from The North Face, utilises a nano-fibre structure resulting in many more tiny holes than some competitors. This increases the breathability, meaning that even if it’s raining, the FUTURELIGHT technology will prevent condensation from building up inside the jacket when you’re three-quarters of the way up a steep hill (and sweating up a storm!). Plus it’s been certified as 100% waterproof. 

Hiking for me has always involved a compromise between staying dry or staying comfortable, and often I’ll end up hiking in the rain because I’m a sweaty sticky mess inside my raincoat. Not anymore. I love this feature.

The only thing you need to remember here is that while the jacket is a killer shell, it doesn’t keep you warm. It keeps the wind off, but you’ll need to put layers on underneath if it’s chilly as its focus is breathability not insulation. The bonus of this is that it’s epic in warm rainy weather – ideal for adventures in high humidity. 

Thin, hardworking fabric means it’s light and packs up small

Durability

The Dryzzle is incredibly well-made. The seams are well-sealed, and every aspect of it screams quality. I haven’t had it long enough to use it in all seasons, but so far it’s been reliable and fit for purpose. 

It’s made with 75D recycled polyester fabric, which is at the higher end of the scale when it comes to resisting tears or punctures. I’ve bashed my way through a lot of scrub and sticks on an orienteering course in this and it didn’t snag or show any signs of wear.

My only complaint is that the reverse-coil front zipper has been made so durably that it’s borderline difficult to use. I’m all for industrial strength when it comes to zippers (nothing is more annoying than when they break) but this baby is stiff. I often want to open and close the zipper while on the move to adjust my temperature but I can’t do that with this jacket, especially if I’m using a hiking pole. You need one hand to hold the fabric taut, and the other to slowly drag the toggle up or down. Otherwise, you feel like you’re about to break it or it just doesn’t move. 

It doesn’t look like it’d be a problem child, but it is

Maybe the stiffness is a result of the intense weatherproofing? I’ve only encountered one other zip like it, and that was on a Sea to Summit Hyrdraulic Packing Cube. It was just as annoying on that product but it does imply there’s a reason for it rather than it being a design fault. If I find out, I’ll come back and update this.

Update from The North Face: I told you I’d come back if I got an answer, and I did! This is what The North Face said about the stiff zip situation: ‘The stiffness of the zipper is a result of the waterproofing built into this jacket. It uses a waterproof PU zipper. The zipper is not running on a zipper track, but on the PU coating that lines the zipper. So while you’ll have to use two hands to adjust your zip, you’ll be sure to stay dry’.

Comfort

Fabric

The inside of the jacket is quite cool to touch so I prefer to wear a long-sleeved top underneath where possible. In warmer weather, it feels lovely and smooth against your skin and doesn’t stick when you sweat. 

The outside of the fabric has that trademark raincoat swish – you will hear yourself while you walk, particularly if you’re an arm-swinger. 

Whoever chose the fabric colours needs a raise. I’ve gotten compliments every time I’ve worn it and it matches everything

When it rains, the DWR finish causes rain to bead on the surface and roll off. This works well in light to medium rain and I found myself staying relatively consistent in terms of temperature. But in a heavy downpour, the jacket does struggle a bit, holding onto more water and taking a good hour in the sun before it properly dried out. While you can mitigate this somewhat with a quality fleece underneath, this might not be the most comfortable jacket if you’re in the rain all day.

The Hood

If you’ve ever hiked in the rain – particularly with glasses – you’ll understand the frustration of a raincoat hood that’s either falling off the back of your head or drooping over your forehead creating a perfect waterfall down the inside of your shades. It’s a persistent bugbear of mine with raincoats but the hood on the Dryzzle renders it a non-issue. 

It does look a little funky when you make it tight but it performs

It took me a while to get the hang of adjusting it myself while wearing it, but the toggle at the back of the hood allows you to fit it more snugly around your noggin so there’s a reduced chance of it being caught by the wind. The peak is quite small so for those with glasses your best bet is to chuck a cap on underneath to prevent rain from obscuring your vision. Once you tighten the hood around your cap it’s a perfect setup. 

Craning my neck at odd angles to keep my hood on and the rain out? Never again

Design

Aesthetics

Aside from the beautiful light blue colour, this jacket doesn’t do anything new in regards to appearance. It looks like just about every other raincoat out there and includes the standard wrist cinch. The North Face describes it as a slim fit, but straight off the shelf it feels quite boxy and it’s only by using the cinch at the hem to pull it in that you can achieve a slimmer silhouette.

I’m usually a small if I want fitted clothes but I got this in a medium so that I can layer up underneath. It’s worked out perfectly so if you’re buying online, sizing up is a safe bet.

While fitted cuts are nicer, this is a technical item and aesthetics aren’t high on my list of requirements. In saying that, I quite like the logo placement on the back-right shoulder.

Shot by @jabjab01

Pockets

This jacket was my first experience with reverse-entry pockets, and even after a few months of throwing this jacket on every time I leave the house, I’m still not used to it. Every time I try to put my hands into my pockets, there’s a few seconds of kerfuffle required to get in there and navigate the awkward seam.

It doesn’t sound like much but it annoys me every single time. The reverse arrangement does make it hard for smaller items in your pockets to fall out accidentally when you remove your hand or just have the zips open, but I don’t think the feature is worth the inconvenience.

You have to negotiate that extra flap of fabric to get your hands in

If you get cold hands you’ll want to make sure you’re wearing fleece gloves on cool days because the inside of the pockets are not fleece-lined (sad face).

Storage

The Dryzzle can be packed away into its internal chest pocket for super compact storage. This is cool, but it isn’t the easiest to squeeze it up this small and it’s frankly a lot easier to do the standard roll up and tuck into the hood. This keeps it neat, and it’s still pretty small.

Officially too much work for me but it’d be useful if you’re tight on space

Sustainability

The North Face is working on multiple fronts to ensure that its products are good for the planet. They have a plan to eliminate single-use plastic packaging by 2025, they’re helping their suppliers cut their greenhouse gas emissions, and they’ve recently begun experimenting with bio-based materials. 

The Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT Jacket has been made with a non-PFC DWR finish, which is an awesome move for Mother Earth. If you’ve seen the documentaries The Devil We Know or How to Poison a Planet, you’ll be excited to hear that this jacket is exactly what you want in your wardrobe. 

Essentially PFCs are chemicals that are man-made and don’t break down. While they’re incredible for waterproofing products, they’re also toxic and don’t break down. Ever. Choosing products that are made with non-PFC coatings is a healthy choice not just for the environment but for your health as well. 

No PFCs and no uncomfortable breeze with the adjustable hip cinch

Price

The Dryzzle will set you back a hefty $500. For that price, you’ll want to make sure you’ll be using it often so that the price-per-wear is reasonable. If you hike three or four times a year, this jacket probably isn’t worth it. But if you’re out doing multis, hiking is your favourite pastime or you call somewhere humid home, I’d say the Dryzzle is a good investment.

This is the kind of piece you won’t need to replace, so make sure you consider if it’s right for you. If you run hot or sweat a lot, it’s a great choice. If you’re someone more prone to seek shelter and wait out the rain, you’re better off purchasing a jacket that’s fleece-lined or focuses on insulation rather than breathability.

For the price, I’d expect the zipper to be smoother, but I still get the feeling that I’m missing something there – despite my copious Googling revealing nothing. Can you weigh in on the zipper situation? Let me know in the comments!

Read more: How (and Why) to Wash Your Waterproof Jacket

Packing the whole jacket into this tiny pocket feels impossible until all of a sudden it’s done

Final Thoughts

Overall, I’m thoroughly impressed by the Women’s Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT Jacket. I’ve had plenty of jackets that have claimed to be breathable but if I’m honest, I’ve never actually noticed the feature at work. In the Dryzzle it’s an obvious asset. It’s so comfortable that I’m willing to overlook the irritation of the reverse entry pockets and stiff zip. Plus at only 387g it’s super light for the gram counters like me.

The Women’s Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT Jacket from The North Face is a keeper

FAQs The North Face Women’s Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT Jacket

Is the Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT Jacket unisex?

The Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT comes in both a women‘s and men’s fit.

What is the weight of the Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT Jacket?

The women’s Dryzzle weighs 387g. The men’s Dryzzle weighs 433g.

What’s the best way to store the Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT Jacket?

The most compact way to store the Dryzzle is by folding it up into the chest pocket storage pouch. You can also lay the jacket flat, tuck in the arms and roll it up from the bottom to the top before tucking it into the hood. This is my preferred way of storing all my raincoats.

How is the Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT jacket different from other rain jackets?

The Dryzzle utilises the FUTURELIGHT technology from The North Face. It’s both breathable and waterproof at the same time while most other raincoats can do one or the other, but not both.

Why is the Dryzzle FUTURELIGHT zip a bit stiff?

The stiffness of the zipper is a result of the waterproofing built into this jacket. It uses a waterproof PU zipper. The zipper is not running on a zipper track, but on the PU coating that lines the zipper. So while you’ll have to use two hands to adjust your zip, you’ll be sure to stay dry!

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