Since our testing period, The North Face has released the Venture 2 pant. See below for more info.
August 2019The North Face Venture Half Zip Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
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The North Face Venture Half Zip | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ||||
Price | $80 List | $80 List $79.95 at Backcountry | $60 List $59.95 at REI | $99.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $38.49 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Durable, easy to put on without removing boots, one of the most versatile pants in our review | Compact, light, affordable | Inexpensive, lightweight, excellent packed size, reasonably weather-resistant, baggy cut makes it easy to wear over other layers, low profile waistband doesn't pinch under a backpack | Most breathable propriety fabric in our review, most breathable under $100, easy to pull on and remove over boots, full-length zippers | Best pant among $50 and under options, above average durability, excellent storm worthiness |
Cons | Breathability, packability, average comfort | Thin fabric prone to tearing, limited breathability | Not especially breathable, clammy with moderate aerobic activity, no front hand pockets, below average articulation | Velcro flaps on waist occasionally come undone, average weight | No pockets, breathability, ventilation, not easy to put on without removing footwear |
Bottom Line | A versatile pant that excels at everything from day hikes to downhill skiing and doesn't give up much in the way of weight and packability | Budget, lightweight pants totally suitable for occasional use | Perfect for those who want to bring a pair of rain pants but aren't likely to use them very often | A fully featured rain and storm worthy pant for hiking and backpacking; it's tough to beat for the price | A killer pant for the price, offering better than expected feel and weather resistance, but does not offer much in the way of features |
Rating Categories | The North Face Vent... | Marmot PreCip Pant | REI Co-op Essential | Marmot PreCip Full Zip | Columbia Rebel Roamer |
Water Resistance (25%) | |||||
Comfort and Mobility (18%) | |||||
Breathability and Venting (18%) | |||||
Weight (17%) | |||||
Packed Size (12%) | |||||
Features (5%) | |||||
Durability (5%) | |||||
Specs | The North Face Vent... | Marmot PreCip Pant | REI Co-op Essential | Marmot PreCip Full Zip | Columbia Rebel Roamer |
Measured Weight | 14.5 oz / 411g | 8 oz / 225g | 9.5 oz / 271g | 14 oz / 396g | 12.5 oz / 354g |
Waterproof Fabric Material | 2.5 Layer DryVent | Nano Pro | 2.5-layer REI Proprietary waterproof breathable fabric | 2.5 Layer PreCip NanoPro | Omni-Tech Waterproof/Breathable |
Face Fabric and Layer Construction | 40D 100% Recycled Nylon w/ Proprietary DryVent Polyurethane (PU) Coated Insert | NanoPro100% Nylon Ripstop 2.2 oz/ yd | 40-denier nylon ripstop | 50D 100% Recycled Nylon w/ Proprietary NanoPro Waterproof Breathable Coated Insert | 70D 100% Nylon |
Pockets | 2 pockets | 3 pockets | 1 pocket | 3 pockets | None |
Side Zips Length | 1/2-Length Side Zippers | 1/4 Length | 1/4 Length Ankle Zips | Full Length Zippers | None |
Put on Over Hiking or Mountaineering Boots | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Inseam Length, Size Medium | 30, 32, 34 in | 32 in | 31.5 inches | 30 or 32 in | 30 or 32 in |
Stows Into Pocket | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Waist band Style | Elastic + Drawcord | Elastic + shock cord | Elastic + Shock Cord | Elastic + Shock Cord | Elastic + Shock Cord |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Venture 2 Half Zip vs. Venture Half Zip
The North Face introduced the Venture 2 Half Zip pant. While this pant is largely similar to the version we tested fabric-wise, it is lighter weight by several ounces and appears to have an updated fit. Compare the Venture 2 (left) to the Venture we tested originally (right).
We're linking to the Venture 2 in this review, but until we can test a pair for ourselves, the review that follows tells of our experiences with the Venture.
Hands-On Review of the Venture Half Zip
The North Face Venture Venture Half Zip is an excellent value that works respectably well for a wide range of applications. While you can certainly find models that are lighter, more packable, and more storm resistant there aren't as many models that will perform as well as these that also work well for backpacking and feature the right features for occasional downhill skiing or snowboarding.
Weather Resistance
The Venture proved to be water resistant, taking home a 7 out of 10. They were above average in our side-by-side hose and shower tests, as well as in real-world use. We were impressed by how well these pants held their water resistance over time, especially considering their $80 price tag. These pants are equally as water resistant as the REI Talusphere Full Zip, or the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic.
Comfort and Mobility
The Venture pants offered decent mobility; due to satisfactory articulation and wider than average pant leg width, this contender performed slightly above average overall. They didn't offer the same freedom of movement as the REI Talusphere Full Zip or the Outdoor Research Foray but were more than adequate for scrambling up rocky sections of trail or battling downed logs. Overall, we thought they offered comparable mobility to the Marmot PreCip Full Zip and the Columbia Rebel Roamer.
The Venture's wide elastic waistband features two drawstrings, that when utilized, performed okay, as these pants slid down marginally less than other models. While the elastic waistband was wider than other models, it remained comfortable under a heavy pack's hip belt. In fact, after several weeks of field testing, our review team ended up liking the comfort of the Venture over other models like the REI Talusphere Full Zip which features bulkier Velcro closures on its waist; in the long run, these were less comfortable while backpacking.
Breathability & Ventilation
This competitor offered some of the poorest breathability among pants we tested, coming in with a 6 out of 10. These pants breathed better than the Columbia Rebel Roamer, but not quite as well as the Outdoor Research Helium Pants, REI Talusphere Full Zip, or Marmot Precip Pant. The Venture Pants feature half-length zippers but even then, these weren't able to offer much in the way of ventilation while it was raining. If our testers tried to unzip them on rainy day hikes, water drained into our boots, subsequently soaking our feet.
Features
This pair of rain pants features a Velcro piece, which helps to tightly and securely seal the cuff around a boot when used for snowier adventures. These Velcro flaps were occasionally annoying when worn with lower profile footwear, like trail runners, where they tended to come undone and flap around. They offered the best performance when worn over higher volume hiking boots or ski boots.
Packed Size
The Venture offer a slightly larger than average packed size among options in our review but are only slightly less compact than a majority of options we tested. They are not as packable as the Marmot PreCip Full Zip or the Columbia Rebel Roamer and are comparable in packed volume to the REI Talusphere Full Zip.
Weight
The Venture's durability does come at a price and that price is weight. At 14.5 ounces, (OutdoorGearLab's measured weight), it is nearly the heaviest in the review, with only the REI Talusphere Full Zip (at nearly 19.5 ounces) being heavier. In exchange for the weight penalty, solid durability and a fairly robust exterior, which is durable enough for downhill or backcountry skiing or snowboarding, is included. The Venture* is looser fitting than many pants we tested, with the extra fabric adding a slight amount of weight. While this contender is on the heavier side, it's only 2-4 ounces heavier than a majority of pants we tested. If low weight is what you're after, we'd recommend taking a peek at the Outdoor Research Helium Pant, which weighs a low 6.5 ounces.
Durability
These pants are easily one of the more durable contenders we tested. They would be among our top picks for off-trail travel or downhill skiing. We determined that they are slightly tougher than the Columbia Rebel Roamer, though not quite as tough as the Marmot Minimalist Pant, which both took home 9 out of 10s.
Ease of Use
Our testing team found these to be one of the easiest to pull on without having to remove nearly any lower to mid volume footwear like trail running shoes or light hiking boots. The half-length zipper and wide pant legs made this maneuver among the easiest of any model we tested.
Best Applications
This pant is versatile. It's light and packable enough for hiking, backpacking, and climbing, but also durable enough for occasional downhill skiing or snowboarding and equally at home while snowshoeing.
Value
At $80, this pair of rain pants is an incredible value. In fact, we think they are the best rain pant on the market in the $80 and under range. We like the slightly lighter, more compressible full-side zipped Marmot PreCip Pant a bit more in exchange for an extra $20 ($100 total), but think the Venture is more versatile overall and a better option for snow sports.
Conclusion
The Venture is a solid do-everything pant at a great price. This pair of rain pants is durable and storm worthy yet still respectable in weight and compressibility. You can spend a little more and get a lighter and more compressible pair of pants, but most options are only slightly lighter and slightly more compressible and may not be as versatile for as large a range of activities.
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