It’s not the first waterproof technical apparel in the market. We see dozens of products, in fact, that use them every year. This year, North Face introduced their own proprietary material, which they’ve already debuted in several rain-ready apparel. With the North Face FutureLight Brigandine Jacket, the outdoor brand is looking to outfit you for the onslaught of winter season.
To the unfamiliar, FutureLight is a waterproof yet breathable material that seeks to keep the wearer dry both inside and out. That is, it will shrug water off like the best waterproof layers, all while being so breathable that you won’t be sweating underneath even through the most rigorous physical activities. It achieves this through the nanospinning process, which draws liquid polymer through over 200,000 nano-sized nozzles to create extremely thin threads that are layered in a mesh-like pattern. What sets their manufacturing apart, however, is the ability to tune the process to create more or fewer gaps in the pattern, allowing them to tailor a fabric’s breathability at specific sections, making it possible to customize garments for their intended activities.
Designed for backcountry skiing and snowboarding, the North Face FutureLight Brigandine Jacket is cut with a hyper-articulated fit that delivers outstanding freedom of movement for those specific activities. Paired with the FutureLight membrane, the garment will keep your body temperature regulated, whether you’re heli-skiing around Alaska, powering through the Alps, or skiing hut-to-hut through the Colorado backcountry. If you ever wanted to go adventuring in powder without ending up with a soaked base layer at the end of the day, this may well be your best bet.
Aside from the FutureLight membrane, the jacket is made with 100 percent recycled polyester with a tricot backer and a DWR finish for even more water-repellence. All zippers are YKK Aquagard to ensure no water seeps through, as well, whether through the layer under the coat or the jacket’s multiple pockets.
The North Face FutureLight Brigandine Jacket has a fixed, helmet-compatible drop hood to cover your head in inclement weather, complete with a riveted cord-lock adjustment, so you can cinch it in tight when needed. There’s a bonded and articulated four-way stretch powder skirt to keep cold air from coming up the jacket, as well as bonded and adjustable cuffs secured using pieced-in Velcro. An integrated wrist gusset and elastic thumb loop cuffs ensure you can work those ski poles with maximum ease, while the drop hem includes a riveted cord-lock adjustment system. Suffice to say, they paid attention to every element to make sure it aids in all the intended activities.
Two collar pockets allow you to hold a radio mic or provide extra venting, while the pack-friendly chest pockets get a radio loop, external bellows, and direct access from the jacket’s liner. Hand pockets on the side get gear loops and bonded bellows, with an integrated zipper garage providing room for expansion. There’s also two internal pockets, one sized to hold a goggle and another for random small items, as well as a wrist pocket sized to hold a wipe cloth for your goggles.
The North Face FutureLight Brigandine Jacket is available now, priced at $749.