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The North Face Resolve Review

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The North Face Resolve Review
Credit: The North Face
Price:  $90 List
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Manufacturer:   The North Face
By Brandon Lampley ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 3, 2016
51
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Water Resistance - 30% 5.0
  • Breathability - 25% 5.0
  • Comfort and Mobility - 20% 6.0
  • Weight - 15% 4.0
  • Durability - 5% 6.0
  • Packed Size - 5% 4.0

Our Verdict

The North Face Resolve Jacket is a good entry-level rain jacket for casual use and the occasional hiking adventure. Its rugged fabric and overall bulk also make it a nice cool weather top layer. Folks looking for a more versatile jacket that can handle high energy activity should consider our Best Buy winner, the Marmot PreCip. Meanwhile, our Editors' Choice winner, the Marmot Essence, represents the cutting edge in ultralight rain protection and breathability.
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Durable
Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Not very breathable

Our Analysis and Test Results

Hands-on Review


The North Face Resolve Jacket is a well-built entry-level rain jacket with a comfortable, full fleece-lined collar. Like the Columbia Watertight II and Helly Hansen Seven J, it features two-layer construction and a mesh lining.

Performance Comparison


the north face resolve - this model is a great choice for low energy activities around town...
This model is a great choice for low energy activities around town, or exploring a little around camp in the rain.
Credit: Brandon Lampley

Water Resistance


The Resolve kept out the water in our shower test and the DWR beads water just fine. The hood tightens enough around the face with a single elastic perimeter cord well enough to stop blowing rain. However, the elastic wrist cuffs are a weak spot for water; with no adjustment to tighten them, water will run down your wrist if you're working overhead in the rain.

For folks that like to wear a rain hat, this jacket has the best stowable hood.

Breathability and Ventilation


The North Face uses its proprietary Hyvent two-layer coating for this model's fabric. This is an entry-level technology and doesn't breathe as well as more advanced fabrics. The mesh lining makes this jacket feel bulkier than competitors. While it does not have pit zips, the mesh-lined hand pockets offer some ventilation when open.

Comfort & Mobility


This jacket received an average score for comfort and mobility. The fleece-lined collar feels great and the taffeta-lined hood fits snugly and moves well with or without a helmet. String pull tabs on the pocket zippers make them easy to use with or without gloves and the hood and hem cord locks operate easily.

the north face resolve - this jacket scores high in our comfort metric. the hood fits snugly...
This jacket scores high in our comfort metric. The hood fits snugly, and moves well with or without a helmet. The full fleece-lined collar is a cushy addition.
Credit: Brandon Lampley

Weight


This is one of the heaviest jacket we tested at 16.2 ounces, and a lot of this weight resides in the nice fleece collar. The similarly featured 2-layer model — the Watertight II — weighs three ounces less. Two jackets in our review weigh more, and both use a heavier polyester face fabric. The REI Crestrail Jacket is the heaviest 2.5-layer model we tested, and the burly Helly Hansen Seven J also uses a tough polyester in its 2-layer shell.

Durability


The 70D nylon ripstop face fabric is super burly compared to the other jackets' nylon face fabrics and will stand up to some rough abuse. If you're after a super durable face fabric, look to the products in this review with a polyester face fabric.

Packed Size


This is one of the models which does not stuff into one of its pockets for convenience. Or, more accurately, you could stuff it into one of its hand pockets, but there is no double tabbed zipper pull to keep it there. This jacket stows best rolled into its own hood.

the north face resolve - this is the bulkiest jacket we tested, but it rolls up and stows in...
This is the bulkiest jacket we tested, but it rolls up and stows in its hood well.
Credit: Brandon Lampley

Features


The hood on this rain jacket is taffeta lined and a single elastic cinch provides the adjustment. The cord lock placement is unique; it is completely hidden inside fabric sleeves. Additionally, this rain jacket has a complete fleece-lined collar, into which the hood rolls and stores. The fleece is very comfortable all the way around, especially at the chin. There are also two hang loops at the back of the collar. The Resolve does not have pit zips, but the mesh lined hand pockets can be opened for ventilation. Surprisingly, this jacket does not stuff into one of the hand pockets. The wrist cuffs are not adjustable, but do have elastic all the way around the wrist. The elastic hem cinch has cord locks on both sides.

the north face resolve - this jacket incorporate a 2-layer fabric with a mesh liner. there...
This jacket incorporate a 2-layer fabric with a mesh liner. There are no pit zips for ventilation and the wrist cuffs feature non-adjustable elastic all the way around.
Credit: Brandon Lampley

Best Applications


This is a very comfortable jacket for around-town use and will work well for short hikes and beach strolls. It is rugged enough for gardening and projects around the yard and the 2-layer construction makes this one of the warmer jackets we tested for cool weather use.

Value


At $90, this is one of the least expensive jackets we tested. For around town and low energy activities, its comfort and ruggedness are a good deal.

Folks looking for a lighter and more breathable jacket more suited for hiking and backpacking should consider the Marmot PreCip, which is just $10 more.

Conclusion


The North Face Resolve is a very comfortable jacket for casual days around town in rainy weather. This jacket isn't designed to be light or practical for strenuous activities, but makes up for its bulk with attention to comfort and rugged design.

the north face resolve - this jacket's hood would benefit from another adjustment that to...
This jacket's hood would benefit from another adjustment that to change where the brim falls. Brandon can barely see the camera.
Credit: Brandon Lampley

Brandon Lampley