The North Face Alta Vista Jacket Review

The North Face Alta Vista is a great option for those looking for an inexpensive rain jacket. It offers decent performance for its price, while being compact and light enough to carry in a backpack.

It features a 2.5L DryVent shell that keeps you warm and dry on your hikes. It can also be packed into its own pocket for easy storage and transport.

Waterproof

For a budget-friendly rain jacket that will keep you dry while you hike, check out The North Face Men’s Alta Vista. This 2.5L shell is easy to pack into your backpack and quick to deploy when the weather turns. Its adjustable hood helps block out the wind while its pit zip venting lets you dump excess heat without exposing your back to the elements.

This waterproof jacket effectively keeps out precipitation on light and moderate rainy days, but it’s not the best choice for backpacking or other backcountry trips. It also doesn’t breathe very well and can feel stuffy, especially when you start sweating.

To get the most out of your waterproof jacket, you need to reapply its DWR coating regularly. Otherwise, dirt will clog its pores and make it less breathable. You can find reapplication products at your local outdoors store. The North Face Alta Vista is one of the most affordable rain jackets we tested, but its performance is comparable to pricier models.

Breathable

The North Face Alta Vista Jacket is a good choice for hikers looking to stay dry on rainy days. It offers waterproof protection and features pit zip venting that allows for easy body temperature control. It also includes an adjustable three-piece hood that is shaped to fit the head and secures with a cord lock. The jacket is available in tall sizes and stows into its own pocket for easy storage.

This 2.5-layer shell has a good value for the money, effectively keeping out light and moderate rain. However, it lacks the breathability of more expensive models, such as the Patagonia Torrentshell. If you are looking for a more affordable option that can be used for car camping or casual weekend trips, consider the Helly Hansen Loke.

This jacket is made from DryVent fabric, which is designed to keep rain and snow off your back. It also features pit zip vents to help you regulate your body temperature during hot and humid rainy weather.

Lightweight

This lightweight jacket from The North Face is the perfect companion to your hiking adventures. It features DryVent fabric and a durable water-resistant finish that keep rain, snow, and sleet away from your body. It also has technical features such as an adjustable three-piece hood and pit zip venting to regulate your body temperature. It can even pack into its own pocket for easy storage and transportation on the trail.

While it doesn’t pack as compactly as our top picks, this jacket offers good value for the price. It keeps out precipitation in light to moderate rain and breathes well enough for a short hike without overheating. It’s a good option if you’re looking for an inexpensive rain jacket that you can use on car camping trips or casual weekend backpacking adventures. It’s not ideal for a thru-hike or long trek in heavy rain, though. The REI Co-op XeroDry GTX is an excellent lightweight contender that packs down more than this jacket.

Comfortable

With a hood that’s designed to fit around a helmet and pit zip venting, this jacket makes for the perfect hiking shell. It also has standard features like a secure-zip chest pocket and adjustable hook-and-loop cuffs. The fabric is not the most breathable, however it performs well enough to keep you dry even on long hikes in light rain. This model is also relatively inexpensive and has above-average durability.

The North Face Alta Vista is a good choice for anyone who wants a waterproof, breathable jacket for hiking. It’s lightweight, affordable and packs into its own pocket for easy storage. If you’re looking for a comparable product, check out the REI Co-Op XeroDry or the Outdoor Research Helium. All of these models come in a variety of colors and sizes, including tall options. The North Face Alta Vista is a great value for the price, but not quite our top pick. If you want to go up a price tier, the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic is a good option for a lightweight contender.