REASONS TO BUY
Sturdy weather protection
Supple fabric
Lightweight
Breathable
REASONS TO AVOID
Short on pockets
Slim fit
Norrona Falketind Gore-Tex Review
A lightweight shell that boasts great weather protection but without the bells and whistles of other jackets
We love this jacket for climbing, and recommend it for alpine missions in the three warmer months, and even for casual winter adventures.
Credit: Sam Willits
RELATED: The Best Hardshell Jackets
Our Verdict
The Norrona Falketind Gore-Tex is a lightweight and breathable hard shell jacket with a tighter fit than other jackets, making it perfect for use in stormy weather during the warmer months of the year. It is also suitable for windy conditions and light precipitation in winter. With a Gore-Tex membrane, long wrist cuffs, and waterproof zippers, this jacket keeps water out. It has a contoured fit for active users, but it doesn't leave too much room for layering underneath. We love this jacket during spring, summer, and fall trips into the mountains. If you are looking for an even lighter jacket for alpine climbing, the Patagonia M10 Storm Jacket is more suited for hard climbing routes. To compare it to the competition, check out our review of hardshell jackets.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Norrona Falketind Gore-Tex | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Hardshell Jacket | Best for Harsh Conditions |  Best Lightweight Hardshell |  Best Budget for Weather Protection | |
| Price | $549 List $549.00 at Backcountry | $649 List $649.00 at Backcountry | $699 List | $379 List $227.40 at Backcountry | $449.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A quality hardshell that offers great weather protection, with a few minor flaws | A great hard shell for a variety of winter activities, with a steep price tag | A durable and protective jacket that is one of our favorites | An ultralight, packable shell that excels on tough climbs where weight matters | This hard shell is easy on the wallet, and provides as much protection as the best jackets, although it lacks refinement |
| Rating Categories | Norrona Falketind G... | Norrona Trollveggen... | Mammut Nordwand Adv... | Patagonia M10 Storm... | Patagonia Triolet |
| Weather Protection (30%) | |||||
| Weight (20%) | |||||
| Mobility and Fit (20%) | |||||
| Venting and Breathability (20%) | |||||
| Features and Design (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Norrona Falketind G... | Norrona Trollveggen... | Mammut Nordwand Adv... | Patagonia M10 Storm... | Patagonia Triolet |
| Pit Zips | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Measured Weight (size large) | 14.1 oz | 16.8 oz | 16.0 oz | 11.5 oz | 19.8 oz |
| Material | 30D Gore-Tex with C-Knit backer | 100% recycled 40D Gore-Tex Pro with 160D reinforcements on shoulder, forearm, and hood | 100% Polyamide 30D Gore-Tex Pro | 30D ECONYL 100% recycled nylon ripstop H2No | 100% recycled polyester 75D Gore-Tex |
| Pockets | 2 hand, 1 internal zippered | 2 front, 1 internal zippered chest, 1 zippered electronics pocket inside front chest pocket | 2 front, 1 internal zippered chest | 2 chest | 2 chest, 2 hand, 1 internal mesh |
| Helmet Compatible Hood | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hood Draw Cords | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Adjustable Cuffs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Two-Way Front Zipper | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Falketind excels in bad weather during the warmer seasons of the year, thanks to its low weight and excellent breathability.
Performance Comparison
The Falketind is on the thin side for serious alpine climbing, but it's great for casual winter days where your life doesn't depend on perfect weather resistance.
Credit: Sam Willits
Weather Protection
The Falketind features a 3-layer shell fabric with a Gore-Tex membrane that proved to be fully waterproof throughout all of our tests. Although the hood only incorporates a single drawcord, it is still easy to adjust and effective at sealing bad weather out. This effectiveness is principally due to some reinforcing material inside the brim that provides structure and directs falling moisture away from your face. All of the zippers are waterproof.
The hood fits easily over a helmeted head, adn cinches tight with a single pull cord in the back.
Credit: Sam Willits
The wrist cuffs are also especially long and form-fitting. Although this isn't exactly fashionable, it is extremely functional. By ensuring the sleeves stay tucked in beneath your gloves, snow is sealed out, and your hands stay warmer and drier. Our only complaint is the durable water repellent (DWR) finish. Initially, it was better than average at beading water, but after a couple of months, it began to wear off, and we observed some wetting out of the face fabric. This will happen to any jacket, of course, but it happened a little sooner to the Falketind than the burliest hardshells we tried. The sleeves and hood offer slightly less coverage than the looser-fitting hardshells.
Extra material on the wrist cuffs around the back of the hand help the jacket keep you covered up.
Credit: Sam Willits
Weight
At 14.1 ounces for a size large, the Falketind is lighter than most other shells on the market. This makes it a good choice for weight-conscious climbers, mountaineers, and hikers who need good weather resistance but aren't likely to encounter sustained, driving precipitation. Our testers keep this jacket in their packs during extended summer alpine climbing trips when rain or even some snow is possible but not expected. It has a thin 30-denier outer face fabric and a C-Knit inner lining fabric. It also has minimal features and a slimmer fit than most other hardshells, eliminating some fabric. The downside is that it is hard to fit thick winter layers underneath the shell, and there aren't as many pockets as you may be used to. For summer climbers and fair-weather skiers, this jacket is burly enough to provide protection, but serious winter enthusiasts will want a heavier jacket.
The inner lining of this jacket is softer than most of its kind.
Credit: Sam Willits
Mobility and Fit
The Falketind has great mobility and a tailored fit. The hood fits well while looking up or down, with or without a helmet. The extra-long sleeves also ensure the wrist cuffs don't ride even when the arms are fully extended overhead. These same sleeves, however, will probably feel less than stylish to many non-technical shoppers. On the other hand, the main hem is a little bit short. This may be more fashionable around town, but it's definitely a problem if you want the jacket to stay tucked into a climbing harness.
The hem is a bit short for extended alpine climbing in harsh conditions, as the waist of the jacket tends to suck up through the harness. The sleeves, however, stay put over gloves.
Credit: Sam Willits
The fabric feels slightly softer and stretchier than other Gore-Tex shells, thanks to a thin 30-denier face fabric and a C-Knit inner fabric, which gives the fabric a soft hand. The result is a jacket that isn't crinkly or stiff but rather soft and pliable.
Venting and Breathability
To shed excess heat and humidity, the Falketind has a pair of underarm vents. These vents are 18 inches (45 centimeters) long, which is longer than average for increased ventilation. The vents are easy to open with long pull tabs and no fabric flaps to get in the way of easily opening and closing the zippers with one hand. The thin, 30-denier outer face fabric allows air to pass through, and the soft inner lining fabric doesn't inhibit airflow. For spring ski tours, fair-weather ski mountaineering, and alpine climbing with afternoon thunderstorms in the forecast, this shell is the perfect blend of weather resistance, weight, and breathability.
Easy open pit vents help this jacket breathe.
Credit: Sam Willits
Features and Design
The Falketind is a well-made jacket constructed from high-quality materials. It has two external high hand pockets that can fit plenty of gear and one internal zippered chest pocket large enough for a phone, an energy bar, or smaller equipment. The hood has only one drawcord (instead of three), which helps shave weight. The hood has a stiff but flexible brim that sheds water and snow off to either side and not down the user's face. On the downside, the hem drawstring cords have small pull tabs that are difficult to manipulate with gloved hands, and the small release buttons for these drawstrings can be hard to find. Still, this is a well-designed jacket with enough features to get the job done, especially considering the low weight.
The Falketind has minimalist features.
Should You Buy the Norrona Falketind?
If you're looking for a lightweight hardshell to protect you from the occasional rainstorm or squall, this jacket is perfect. If you are looking for a seriously durable and thick hardshell for intense winter storms, this jacket won't provide enough protection. We like it for three-season use when big storms aren't in the forecast, but we want to be protected against light wind and precipitation.
What Other Hardshell Jackets Should You Consider?
If you are enticed by the great fit and solid protection of the Falketind but need more weather resistance for winter storms, the Norrona Trollveggen Gore-Tex Pro Light is an awesome heavy-duty hardshell that performs well across the board. If you need more protection but also want to keep weight to a minimum, the Mammut Nordwand Advanced is super protective in all weather and weighs less than other Gore-Tex Pro shells. If you're on a budget but still need protection in severe weather, the Patagonia Triolet is a less expensive option with great weather resistance.
—Jeff Dobronyi
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