North Face Catalyst Jacket - Women's Review

Name: North Face Catalyst Jacket - Women's
Brand: The North Face

North Face Catalyst Jacket - Women's Review (The Women's North Face Catalyst Jacket) — The Women's North Face Catalyst Jacket
Credit: The North Face

Price: $249 List

Manufacturer: The North Face

By McKenzie Long ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Nov 21, 2012

View at The North Face

Our Verdict

The Catalyst Jacket Has Been Discontinued as of November 2015

REASONS TO BUY

Lightweight

Durable and relatively water-resistant fabric

Pack compatibility

REASONS TO AVOID

Cinch on hood is hard to adjust with one hand

It has an excellent combination of features which work well while wearing a pack or harness. It has zippered hand pockets, conveniently stuffs into a hand pocket, and the Pertex Quantum fabric is slightly more durable and water resistant in comparison to other fabrics used on these jackets. However, this jacket is expensive, and others such as the MontBell Alpine Light Down Parka - Women's are more cost-effective.

This jacket was a tough competitor for a lightweight technical down layer. Looking almost exactly like the popular Patagonia Down Sweater - Women's and with 800 fill down and a renown lightweight but durable shell material, it scores higher than many of the other lightweight jackets such as the Mountain Hardwear Nitrous Jacket - Women's. The MontBell Frost Smoke, our Editors' Choice down jacket, is very similar but less expensive.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison

north face catalyst jacket for women - the catalyst jacket keeping mckenzie long warm on a chilly spring... — The Catalyst jacket keeping McKenzie Long warm on a chilly spring trip to Indian Creek, Utah. This jacket packs down small and is lightweight so it is easy to bring along, even in a pack stuffed to the brim with cams.
Credit: Luke Lydiard

Comfort & Coziness

This jacket is comfortable to wear but is mostly stripped down to provide a lightweight technical layer.

Compactness & Weight

For a lightweight down layer (12.9 oz.), the Catalyst is a comfortable, relatively durable jacket. It has no interior pockets, which saves some weight from an extra zipper, and stuffs into one of the hand pockets.

Warmth

With 800 fill down, this jacket provides adequate loft and warmth for its weight.

Durability

It is made out of a fabric called Pertex Quantum that is less likely to tear and more water resistant than the Nitrous Jacket or the recycled polyester that makes up the Down Sweater.

Style & Construction

Using sewn-through construction, The North Face classifies this jacket in its Summit Series meaning it is designed to work well while wearing a pack or a harness. The hand pockets are long, so the top opening is reachable with a pack waistband clipped, though it is still a little awkward to get into the pockets underneath a harness. The only complaint I have of this jacket is that the cinch on the hood is a bit difficult to adjust with one hand, but this is quite minor. It only has a cinch cord around the face and not one around the back to pull tight around the circumference of your head. Overall the jacket is well constructed and functional.

Water Resistance

The Pertex Quantum fabric that comprises this jacket is tightly woven, adding water resistance.

Best Application

Just like the Down Sweater, this versatile jacket can be used for just about anything from a long overnight trip to being clipped to your harness to everyday use. It is thin enough to be worn under a shell or can be used by itself as an outer layer.

Value

The price of the Catalyst is pretty average for a jacket of this type. The hooded version is the same price as the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody.

— McKenzie Long