The North Face Antora Review

Name: The North Face Antora
Brand: The North Face

If you need water resistance on a tighter budget, put this jacket in your cart

Credit: Zach Lovell

Price: $130 List

Manufacturer: The North Face

By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ November 3, 2026

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#9 of 19

Water Resistance - 45% 7.5
Breathability - 20% 7.5
Comfort and Mobility - 15% 7.5
Weight - 10% 4.6
Construction Quality - 10% 7.5

RELATED: The Best Rain Jackets for Men

List Price: $130

Check Backcountry price

Our Verdict

We get it, rain gear is expensive. That's why we took the time to test more affordable models like The North Face Antora, which is more water-resistant than its modest price would suggest. This clean-looking rain layer was a great addition to the city wardrobe and kept our team dry on the trail. In colder seasons when rainy days chill you to the bone, we fit more insulation underneath the Antora without restricting mobility, letting us complain more about the weather than being cold. This is also a more durable layer, but it comes at the expense of being heavy. Why the Antora over another budget layer? It's slightly more abrasion- and water-resistant, looks better, but is slightly pricier.

REASONS TO BUY

Impressive weather resistance for a budget layer

Robust exterior

Fits over other layers

Great looks

REASONS TO AVOID

Quite heavy

Mesh interior can snag on Velcro

Smaller hood

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)

	This Product The North Face Antora	Rab Downpour	Helly Hansen Loke	L.L.Bean Trail Model	REI Co-op Rainier
Awards		Comfort on a Budget		Best Bang for the Buck
Price	$130 List Check Price at Backcountry	$140 List Check Price at Backcountry	$130 List Check REI (on sale!)	$100 List Check Price at Backcountry	$100 List Check Price at REI
Overall Score	72	74	71	67	64
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Bottom Line	Water resistance normally comes with a big price tag, but this layer’s an exception to the rule	Comfortable and quality rain jackets often come at a high price, but this layer offers a less expensive alternative to premium options	A well-made rain jacket that carries your dollar exceptionally far	For shorter storms, this budget layer might be all you need and will save you some cash	An all-arounder rain jacket that offers decent adjustability and weather resistance at a good price
Rating Categories	The North Face Antora	Rab Downpour	Helly Hansen Loke	L.L.Bean Trail Model	REI Co-op Rainier
Water Resistance (45%)	7.5	7.5	7.0	7.0	6.5
Breathability (20%)	7.5	7.5	7.5	6.0	6.0
Comfort and Mobility (15%)	7.5	8.0	7.0	7.0	6.5
Weight (10%)	4.6	6.2	8.6	6.3	6.8
Construction Quality (10%)	7.5	7.5	5.5	7.0	6.5
Specifications	The North Face Antora	Rab Downpour	Helly Hansen Loke	L.L.Bean Trail Model	REI Co-op Rainier
Material and Waterproof Membrane	2-layer DRYVENT shell with a fluorine-free DWR finish	2.5-layer Pertex Shield	2.5-layer Helly Tech Polyamide (proprietary material) with a PFC-free DWR finish	2.5-layer waterproof-breathable TEK shell	2.5-layer HydroWall recycled ripstop nylon with non-PFC DWR finish
Measured Weight	16.5 oz	13.3 oz	8.4 oz	13 oz	12 oz
Pockets	2 zippered hand	2 zippered hand	2 zippered hand	2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest	2 zippered hand, 2 interior drop-in
Pit Zips	No	Yes, 10 inches	Yes	No	Yes, 11 inches
Helmet Compatible Hood (Per Testing)	Yes, but snug fit with partial coverage	Yes, but snug fit with partial coverage	Yes, but snug fit with partial coverage	Yes, but snug fit with partial coverage	Yes, but snug fit with partial coverage
Stows Into Pocket	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Carabiner Loop in Stow Pocket	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Hipbelt Friendly Hand Pockets	Yes	No	No	No	No
Additional Features	Adjustable hood in front, front placket/storm flap, adjustable hem	Adjustable hood with stiff peak, dual sided rear hem adjustment, internal storm guards	Adjustable hood, front placket/storm flap, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem	Adjustable hood in front, front placket/storm flap, adjustable hem, velcro cuffs	Adjustable hood with visor, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem, windproof up to 60 mph, articulated elbows

Our Analysis and Test Results

the north face antora - the antora is a more trustworthy rain layer than many budget options. — The Antora is a more trustworthy rain layer than many budget options. Credit: Zach Lovell

Likes

We were pleasantly surprised by the water resistance of the Antora. It still isn't what we'd pick if visiting Asia in the monsoon season, but its 2-layer build kept us drier than some of the more minimalist competition.

In the midst of a historically wet season in the Utah desert, we loved the Antora for shorter hikes to gawk at ephemeral flash flood waterfalls and mad dashes from the car into the restaurant. Its slightly baggier cut offers great coverage, and on cool mornings, we fit a midlayer underneath it easily.

the north face antora - this is a relaxed-cut rain layer that was much appreciated on wet... — This is a relaxed-cut rain layer that was much appreciated on wet hikes and town strolls to the next food stop. Credit: Zach Lovell

Dislikes

This is a relatively heavy jacket. We measured the Antora at 16.5 ounces in a men's medium, and it took up more room in the backpack than some of its competition.

The Antora also has a smaller hood that naturally sits higher on the forehead. It was better with a hat on, but we would have liked to see The North Face use a larger hood that offered more coverage in a deluge. It also doesn't have a drawstring at the back of the hood for cinching it down.

In an otherwise well-designed jacket, the hood creeps back on the head, making a hat a necessity in harder rains. Credit: Zach Lovell

Should You Buy The North Face Antora?

If you don't care about weight (and as a town jacket, you likely don't), this is a decent buy for the price. It's a higher-performing jacket than some of the other budget layers, but only slightly. In our opinion, it looks better and has a bit better water resistance, but it's not the cheapest layer out there. Our main gripe is the small hood, though wearing a ball cap can help protect your face.

This is a reliable rain jacket for less, just don't use it for really rough weather in the backcountry. Credit: Zach Lovell

What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?

The L.L.Bean Trail Model is about 30% cheaper, weighs less, but isn't quite as protective as the Antora. Its hood is slightly bigger, which is a perk. If you want a heavier-duty rain layer, check out the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L, which is more protective and has a better hood. It's more expensive than the Antora, but Patagonia managed to keep costs down in a three-layer rain jacket that's a worthy storm adversary.

—Zach Lovell