User Review: The North Face Mountain Light Parka

The North Face Mountain Light Parka
Above: The current Mountain Light Parka, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed February 14, 2000 by an anonymous hiker

Rating:
Fabric: 2 ply Gore-Tex Taffeta
Price Paid: $220 (sale)

TNF bashing has become a national sport on many web pages. Some of it is no doubt deserved; some of it comes from people who are simply disappointed that the brand has become so well-known and popular since the 'outdoors' has been mainstreamed -- they feel they can no longer look cool unless they buy MH or a smaller 'boutique' label.

I'll leave the fashion one-upmanship sweepstakes to others and just report on my experience with the Mountain Light.

Maybe I just got lucky with mine (made in Korea, not Bangladesh or Sri Lanka) but I have had no problems with this jacket. The DWR has held up well in the eighteen months or so I've had the Mountain Light and the jacket sheds rain without any problems. I have NEVER had a problem with the lining catching on the main zipper -- it hasn't even come close to doing that. The fit of the jacket is tremendous -- the North Face is one of the few manufacturers that makes a jacket where the sleeves do not ride up when my arm is extended overhead. Also, the cut of the jacket is great -- fairly trim through the torso, but ample enough to allow for layering.

I've found the breathability to be good for Gore-Tex: it handles moderate exertion well; full, sustained exertion will overwhelm this (as well as any other) Gore-Tex jacket.

Criticisms? Price is too high unless you buy it on sale (not hard to find with TNF these days). The hood is decent, but certainly not up to the best current designs (e.g., MH, Arc'Teryx). And yes, the logo is kind of obnoxious, but it has been this way for twenty years or so.

Overall, a good product for the money (assuming you buy it on sale).

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Where to Buy

Buy Online We found the Mountain Light Parka at 9 online stores:

Store

Product Description

Price

Campmor 2 purchase options:	Women's Mountain Light Parka	$139.96	Buy Now
Campmor 2 purchase options:	Women's Mountain Light Parka	$239.99	Buy Now

Backcountry.com 2 purchase options:	Mountain Light Parka - Women's	$119.58	Buy Now
Backcountry.com 2 purchase options:	Mountain Light Parka - Women's	$298.95	Buy Now