The North Face Men's Kichatna Jacket

I have only owned this jacket for barely over a month but i definitely have to say that it has passed all the tests i've put it through. First off, i would NOT pay $425 dollars for it, being a firm believer that if you look around hard enough you can find whatever you want at a reasonable price. (not saying that $318 wasn't a pretty penny for the jacket, but still..you get my point) The reason i was able to drop it to $318 is because of the friendly people at Moosejaw Online...they basically said that they would match and beat any price of any store that would happen to have the same model, color, and size in stock as they do. (i.e. no special orders, just what they have in stock)

So back to the jacket...while skiing in what some may call snow, with not only wet flakes mixed in with sleet, but having to put up with those annoying snow blowers, the jacket, along with keeping me perfectly dry, shielded my mouth with its high rise zipper (i do advise goggles however) from the cold blast of the snow blowers. it may "splotch" or spot when it gets wet, but come on guys, what are we trying to go for here...the look or the function of the jacket...

I have had this jacket for about 7 months. I was walking to work with a pack as part of my work out regime in the heart of Seattle Winter. So yes Wet! There is no doubt this jacket keeps you dry. However, as with some other comments I have read, it did not take long before the water started soaking through the outer nylon fabric. This is a little disappointing and I guess I will have to look at re-waterproofing the outer shell. I have not done this yet as I was wondering if this would affect the breathability of the Jacket. But I cannot see the jacket being too breathable if the nylon outer fabric is totally soaked.

Anyways, I cannot complain too much. For those of you that can make it to one of the North Face Outlet Stores, watch for their big 30% off sale, which is usually accompanied with a 10% coupon. This jacket was on on sale for $375US in Bend, Oregon, with a further $45% off sooo for around $168

Last year, while ice climbing at night with Dan Osman above Emerald Bay in South Lake Tahoe, we swapped his Baltoro, affectionately tagged "The Sleeping Bag," as a belay jacket.

While belaying in the Baltoro, you could sit perfectly still in the biting wind for a long pitch, the air temp plummeting as midnight approached, and you might as well have been in the tropics. Toasty. I've got a Himalayan Parka coming in the mail-- I'll see how it performs this winter. A little longer than the Baltoro, the Himalayan promises to be a furnace.

I've also got nothing but good to say about my Kichatna Jacket, worn over two seasons in conditions varying from vertical ice to an ascent of Shasta via the Hotlum Glacier. Make sure with any of these coats that you get them roomy enough, with layers, to allow complete arm rotation without binding.

Climb safe.

After two years of use, the Kichatna has been a great jacket. Relatively tough jacket, great for offtrail brush busting and rock scrambling. This jacket has protected me well in some pretty violent weather above the tree line. For a Bangledesh made jacket it is surprisingly well made. No technical problems so far. So far even the DWR has held up, although I'm sure I will have to re-do it sometime do to the relativly large denier.

If I was paying full price, I would prefer the Arcterx Alpha SV or Theta AR. The SV is one great jacket with superior fit. However, I was not as impressed with the Theta LT for my uses as I feel it is well made but a little light weight for such rough treatment. Overall, the Kichatna is one tough customer and a jacket that will last you many adventures.

The NORTH FACE CHIKATNA was bought as a Christmas gift by my wife, knowing I would get great use out of this type of jacket. On April 6-10 five of my friends and I climbed Mt. Washington through Tuckermans Ravine. The weather was typical White Mtn. weather wet overcast and winds close to 100 mph. the Chikatna Jacket was unbelievably dry and comfortable. I have owned other name brand shells but nothing seemed to be this well made, from the great location of the pit zips to the pockets THE NORTH FACE definitaly put together a jacket that anybody would feel confortable taking on their next out of bounds trip. Enjoy and keep climbing...

Very waterproof and ergonomic. This jacket has kept me dry in severe thunderstorms and in snow travel. The front pockets are huge and there are 4 pockets inside the jacket for water bottles and other goodies. The two internal zippered pockets are made of a fine mesh to let things dry (I'm assuming. Why you would want to put wet items in a waterproof jacket confuses me though.) The hood fits like a suction cup to your head. You can look any direction and it won't get in your way. The jacket also has excellent butt coverage. With a god pair of boots and the Kichatna bib, I am totally waterproof.

Quite simply, a bombproof shell with its vault-like construction. The jacket is completely water proof and seems to defy wear and tear. I have taken a couple of long nasty slides down iced ski runs and the jacket comes out no worst for wear and tear. Don't try this in your Marmot Thunderlight or TNF Middle Triple Jacket. I have compared wear and tear with a skiing buddy who purchased a Thunderlight at the same time as my Kichatna, and although the Tlight is a little lighter, it has showed its age. Don't get caught up in this stupid my jacket is 4oz lighter than your jacket competition.

One of the best qualities about the coat has yet to be mentioned. Because it is 3-ply it has no liner and therefore is much cooler when working hard. (climbing, skiing, etc... For those times when huffin and puffin in the rain or snow, no liner lets the air really flow. (With the pit zips open, of course.)

This jacket has held up great. I have had it for about 1 year.

It needs to be rewaterproofed though because water soaks into the outerlayer of ripstop nylon, but the gore tex stops it from reaching your body. It packs away fairly small, and has 5 pockets and 2 internal water bottle holders.

Fantastic. Best waterproof I've ever used. Not bothered by the fact that the hood doesn't fit in the collar as I bought it primarily to stay dry. Managed to get it for £199.99 in the Lake District store - Snow & Run. Not many left.

The Kitchatna is a good all around jacket. It is the toughest jacket I have ever worn. I think that it is 100% rip proof, the price is a little bit steep though.