Reviews You Can Rely On

The North Face Arrowood Triclimate - Women's Review

The Arrowood is a great three-in-one jacket for a mild climate
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The North Face Arrowood Triclimate - Women's Review
Credit: The North Face
Price:  $200 List
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Manufacturer:   The North Face
By Liz Williamson ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Feb 25, 2019
64
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Warmth - 30% 5.0
  • Weather Resistance - 25% 7.0
  • Comfort - 20% 7.0
  • Style - 20% 7.0
  • Durability - 5% 7.0

Our Verdict

The North Face Arrowood Triclimate is three jackets in one. The outer shell is DryVent. It's breathable, waterproof, and does a pretty good job in wet weather, but it isn't as bombproof as some of the other waterproof jackets we tested. The DWR finish doesn't bead water as well. The inner layer is a mid-weight fleece. This jacket is lightweight even when you wear both layers together. It can handle some wet weather but isn't meant for cold winters. If you live in a mild climate and want a versatile jacket to layer, this could be the right one for you.
REASONS TO BUY
Three-in-one
Water and windproof
Fleece liner
Sleek
Form-fitting
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Cold
Cold pockets
Thin insulation
Finicky zipper
Product Updates
The North Face made a few minor updates to this jacket. Read below to learn more! February 2019

Our Analysis and Test Results

Arrowood Triclimate Updates


Since our testing period, this jacket has been slightly modified. From what we can tell, the storm flaps have been removed from the outer hand pockets, and there are several new colors to choose from. Compare the new version (first photo, white) to the version we tested (second photo, maroon).


As we haven't tested this latest version, the text from here on out speaks only to last year's version of this jacket.

Hands-On Review of the Arrowood Triclimate - Women's


the north face arrowood triclimate for women - a great jacket for a mild climate, in-between seasons, or for...
A great jacket for a mild climate, in-between seasons, or for someone that is in the market for three jackets in one. Stylish, form-fitting and with an athletic touch, this jacket was great for fall hikes or rainy days.
Credit: Sarinah Davy Jones

Warmth


This isn't a jacket that you want to be wearing when you're unexpectedly caught in a snowstorm. The outer shell is DryVent, which means it's waterproof and breathable. Which is great, but it doesn't provide much warmth on its own. The interior fleece layer does a decent job of keeping us warm, but it doesn't compare to the superior warmth of down insulation. It does an okay job in mildly cold weather, but once temperatures started to drop, we were cold.

The hood and pockets have no insulation, so they don't hold any warmth. Luckily, there is enough room to fit a beanie underneath it. You can always wear gloves, but the outer pockets would be a lot warmer with fleece lining.

the north face arrowood triclimate for women - the hood doesn't detach, but we didn't find this to be a problem...
The hood doesn't detach, but we didn't find this to be a problem. There is no insulation in the hood. On cold days, we suggest to wear a beanie underneath.
Credit: Sarinah Davy Jones

Weather Resistance


Were are disappointed in this jacket's waterproofing. When we tested it in the shower, water initially beaded up and rolled off, but it eventually started to saturate the outer fabric. The waterproof and breathable membrane works, and the underlayer doesn't get wet, but the DWR (durable water repellent) finish does not shed water nearly as well as the Editors' Choice award winner the North Face Outer Boroughs Parka.

Because of how thin the insulation is, when we were caught outside in stormy weather, we could really feel the wind cut.

the north face arrowood triclimate for women - when we wore all the layers together, the fleece under-layer stuck...
When we wore all the layers together, the fleece under-layer stuck out a bit. It wasn't the biggest problem and we were able to shove it back into the sleeves, but it's something to keep in mind.
Credit: Sarinah Davy Jones

Comfort


We are impressed by how comfortable we are when we wear all these layers together. We had no issues with this jacket running small. When worn independently, each layer is comfortable. There's enough room underneath the outer shell to wear a sweater or thicker layer. The fleece liner doesn't offer as much room underneath it to wear a thick layer, but we didn't find that to be a problem.

Whether worn separately or together this jacket is extremely lightweight. The jacket weighs a total of 1.3 lbs. It would almost work well for someone that likes to hike or spend time outside hiking. It's easy to separate the layers and even tie the fleece around your waist if you get too hot.

The only issues we have with this jacket in terms of comfort is that the pockets are thin and have no insulation. There is also no fleece liner in the pockets, a feature that most jackets have that help keep your hands warm in cold weather. So, if you like this jacket, you may want to bring gloves when you go outside!

Front view of the outer shell. Athletic, sporty and form-fitting...
Front view of the outer shell. Athletic, sporty and form-fitting, this jacket is a great option for a mild-climate or in between seasons.
Back view of the outer shell. It's form-fitting, but not...
Back view of the outer shell. It's form-fitting, but not restricting. We liked how it fit and looked.
The fleece liner is lightweight, comfortable and looks great. We...
The fleece liner is lightweight, comfortable and looks great. We loved wearing this layer on mild fall mornings. We wouldn't recommend wearing it in the snow, but it is a nice under layer for the right environment.

Style


Simple, athletic, and sleek, the Triclimate is a sporty jacket. As such, it's great for running around town, going to the gym, or going for a walk.

The only issue we really had with this jacket in terms of style, was when we wore both layers together, the fleece liner poked out of the sleeves. It's not the biggest deal, just something to keep in mind.

the north face arrowood triclimate for women - the most obvious feature of this jacket would is its 3-in-1 option...
The most obvious feature of this jacket would is its 3-in-1 option. The outer shell and fleece underlayer zip together, creating a lightweight waterproof jacket perfect for a mild and wet climate.
Credit: Sarinah Davy Jones

Features


The Arrowood Triclimate Jacket's most important feature is its three-in-one construction. The outer shell is waterproof and breathable. The interior layer is a fleece zip up. They zip together to create a mildly warm winter jacket, but it's not a coat intended for below-freezing temperatures.

The outer shell has two exterior pockets. They aren't fleece lined. This small and subtle feature works wonders in cold weather.

The inner liner is a fleece zip up. It's a great layer for mild weather, but when worn by itself it doesn't compare to the warmth of the puffy down layer.

Both layers only have a normal main zipper, not a double-sided zipper. We didn't find this to be a problem because of the jacket's short length. If the jacket reached mid-thigh or above our knee, a double-sided zipper would come in handy.

the north face arrowood triclimate for women - the outer shell and fleece layer connect with a snap at the wrist...
The outer shell and fleece layer connect with a snap at the wrist. We did have a style issue with this because the fleece liner poked out from underneath the outer shell.
Credit: Sarinah Davy Jones

Durability


We didn't have any durability issues with this jacket during the months that we tested it. The thick and smooth outer shell did a reasonable job repelling water and handling the weather. The DWR coating isn't the best, so we recommend refinishing it early and often.

There is minimal stitching on the outer shell, so we don't foresee snags as a major issue. The same can be said of the inner fleece layer as well.

the north face arrowood triclimate for women - we had no problem wearing this jacket on a crisp fall day. the outer...
We had no problem wearing this jacket on a crisp fall day. The outer shell is stylish and waterproof. We weren't worried about getting caught in snow or light rain in this jacket!
Credit: Sarinah Davy Jones

Value


This jacket is a little expensive for what it offers. Yes, there is a waterproof shell, a fleece liner, and when worn together you have a warmer jacket, but it's not that warm. It may be a great value for someone that's in the market for a mild jacket, but if you are looking for a winter jacket, we recommend that you keep looking.

Conclusion


Overall, the Arrowood Triclimate is a good option for someone in the market for a mild winter jacket. This jacket isn't intended for heavy rain or snow storms, but for the right environment, it's great. The waterproof outer shell blocks wind, rain, and is breathable. The inner fleece liner does a great job keeping us snug when temperatures stay above freezing and is also nice to wear by itself.

Liz Williamson