REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Deep pockets
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Breathability
No stow pocket
Bulky
The North Face Antora - Women's Review
A simple rain jacket with decent water resistance that is cute enough for the city and functional enough for the woods
Credit: Jessica Albery
RELATED: Best Rain Jackets for Women of 2024
Our Verdict
Seeking a rain jacket stylish enough for your daily commute but still functional enough to take into the woods? The North Face Antora fills that niche. Its simple design helps keep the cost down, but we missed a few of the bells and whistles like adjustable cuffs and pit zips. It's affordable and a great budget jacket for light activity weather in the city or the mountains. To see which rain jackets topped the charts, check out our full best women's rain jacket article.
Editor's Note: We added this new review of The North Face Antora to our lineup on October 4, 2022.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
The North Face Antora - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Budget Water Resistance | Best on a Tight Budget | |||
| Price | $88.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $179.00 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $120.00 at Backcountry Compare at 5 sellers | $89.73 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $100 List $99.95 at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A straightforward, no-frills rain jacket with a stylish cut and decent water resistance | A quality rain jacket offering exceptional water resistance and performance that will hold up to the wildest weather | A breathable option with good mobility for vigorous activities in light to moderate precipitation | A reliable rain jacket that offers great value for good performance at a reasonable price | An easy-to-use rain jacket that combines functionality and value at a reasonable price point |
| Rating Categories | The North Face Anto... | Patagonia Torrentsh... | Rab Downpour - Women's | Marmot PreCip Eco -... | REI Rainier - Women's |
| Water Resistance (30%) | |||||
| Breathability (25%) | |||||
| Comfort and Mobility (20%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | The North Face Anto... | Patagonia Torrentsh... | Rab Downpour - Women's | Marmot PreCip Eco -... | REI Rainier - Women's |
| Measured Weight | 12.2 oz | 12.2 oz | 10.6 oz | 9.2 oz | 11.4 oz |
| Waterproof Fabric Material | 2-layer 70D DryVent (proprietary material) with non-PFC DWR finish | 3-layer 50D H2No Performance Standard ECONYL (propriatary material) with a PFC-free DWR finish | 2.5-layer 50D Pertex Shield Revolve with a PFC-free DWR finish | 2.5-layer PFC-free NanoPro (proprietary material) | 2.5-layer HydroWall (proprietary material) with non-PFC DWR finish |
| Pockets | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand, 2 interior drop-in |
| Pit Zips | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stows into Pocket | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Helmet Compatible Hood | No | No | No | No | No |
| Additional Features | Adjustable hood, elastic cuffs, front zipper storm flap, adjustable drawcord hem | Dual adjustable and stowable hood, microfleece-lined neck, external and internal zipper storm flaps, chin zipper guard, adjustable Velcro cuffs, drawcord hem, carabiner clip-in loop | Dual adjustable hood, brushed tricot chin guard, zipper storm guards, adjustable Velcro cuffs, drawcord hem | Adjustable stowable hood, DriClime-lined chin guard, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem | Adjustable hood, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem, brushed collar lining |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The North Face Antora is a good rain jacket that is just as at home commuting to work in the city as it is puttering around camp. The DryVent 2-layer shell is made from 100% recycled nylon with a non-PFC DWR finish, providing respectable water resistance, and though it lacks some of the features we appreciate, like adjustable cuffs and pit zips, it is still a pretty impressive option that won't break the bank.
Performance Comparison
The North Face Antora offers decent water resistance but minimal breathability, so it is best for more passive activities.
Credit: Jessica Albery
Water Resistance
The DryVent 2-layer nylon fabric performed well in field tests and in our shower test, keeping testers dry for a moderate amount of time. We were also impressed with the water resistance of the hand pocket and center zippers. However, the elastic wrist cuffs got wet, and moisture moved up the inner arm fabric around the wrist and forearm, leaving the inside feeling damp and uncomfortable. The hood offers minimal coverage, leaving the face fairly exposed to the elements.
The Antora offers adequate water resistance, and the large flaps protect the zippers underneath well.
Credit: Jessica Albery
Breathability
The Antora falls short when it comes to breathability. The jacket is lined with mesh on the back and shoulders and a polyester lining on the front, but we found these fabrics did very little to wick away and vent internal heat and moisture. On our set route test, this jacket was just too hot, leading to a sweaty interior on the short uphill walk. With no pit zips and less-than-ideal fabric breathability, we found the only way to drop excess heat was to undo the front zip, which isn't ideal when it's actually raining. The lack of breathability makes the Antora a better choice for casual wear as opposed to more sweat-inducing activities.
Testing The North Face Antora while camping.
Credit: Jessica Albery
Comfort and Mobility
The cut of the Antora offers a full range of motion with no restrictions through the arms, shoulders, and torso. The pocket flaps keep the contents of the pockets dry, but getting hands in and out is cumbersome. That being said, the hand pockets are quite deep and comfortable to have the hands in, and there is plenty of room for a cell phone and keys.
The pockets on the Antora are deep, but hard to access.
Credit: Jessica Albery
Weight
The Antora weighs in on the heavier side at 12.2 ounces — no big deal if weight is not a concern, but not our top choice for avoiding a heavy pack. This rain jacket is fairly bulky and does not stow into one of its pockets, again making it less than ideal for a travel jacket when space is limited.
The North Face Antora does not pack into a stow pocket but fits into its hood.
Credit: Jessica Albery
Durability
The outer fabric is sturdy, and held up well during testing, showing no signs of abrasion. We found the zippers ran smoothly and consistently. With the lower price tag comes a few concessions in components, such as elastic cuffs as opposed to adjustable velcro cuffs. The toggles on the drawcords are bulkier, but they function smoothly. The drawcord around the hood ends in two such toggles and is tied to a loop at the collar, which could be a weak spot over time with frequent use.
Our furry friends helped us with the testing process.
Credit: Jessica Albery
Should You Buy The North Face Antora?
The Antora offers adequate rain protection in a simplistic design with a reasonable price tag. We find it best suited for those looking for a more casual rain jacket for staying dry around camp, commuting to work, or running errands as opposed to hiking, biking, or being active in the rain, as its breathability is a little lacking.
What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?
The Marmot PreCip Eco offers better performance for those seeking a budget rain jacket that can hold up to rain in an active environment. The Outdoor Research Aspire II offers exceptional water resistance and breathability and is great for those looking to stay dry while exploring the outdoors.
The North Face Antora is a simplistic rain jacket with a reasonable price tag.
Credit: Jessica Albery
—Jessica Albery
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