The North Face decagon jacket....

Hi guy's, i probably should have asked before i bought this but it was a now or never deal, i have just bought one for a very very good price as I'm after some new kit and tk maxx had sold anything nice in my size.

Basically is this jacket any good? I just want something warm, waterproof and breathable that's going to last. I currently have a wedze jacket which cost £100, it was really good last season for boarding, very warm and kept me dry in some nasty snow storms!
I hope you can give me a good report on what i have bought as i struggled to find reviews beforehand.

Thanks-Hugh

hugh_b wrote:Hi guy's, i probably should have asked before i bought this but it was a now or never deal, i have just bought one for a very very good price as I'm after some new kit and tk maxx had sold anything nice in my size.

Basically is this jacket any good? I just want something warm, waterproof and breathable that's going to last. I currently have a wedze jacket which cost £100, it was really good last season for boarding, very warm and kept me dry in some nasty snow storms!
I hope you can give me a good report on what i have bought as i struggled to find reviews beforehand.

Thanks-Hugh

According to this it's waterproof and breathable.

http://www.cmmonline.co.uk/items/default.asp?id=01119000&ref=Froogle

Here's a bit more info .......

The Decagon Jacket is a fully waterproof ski and snowboard jacket prefect for anyone who prefers a lighter weight jacket with no insulation. This means it's also a very versatile piece as you can layer up underneath on colder days and just wear it over a baselayer on warmer ones. Two Layer Hyvent is 100% waterproof and very breathable, four outer pockets provide plenty of storage options and a protective collar, excellent hood, and a snowskirt seal out powder.

A touch more from Amazon.......

Product Description
The North face Decagon Jacket for women is a versatile and comfortable waterproof, breathable jacket that's a popular choice for powder days. Keeping you warm whilst on the chairlift, the Decagon will also help prevents overheating on warmer days on the mountain. The Decagon is also fully seam sealed, has an adjustable drop hood, and is fitted with a range of purpose built pockets. This jacket features Hyvent fabric - a superior waterproof, breathable technology utilising a PU coating that consists of a tri-component multilayer formula for waterproof protection, moisture permeability, and durability. It has been lab and athlete tested to ensure the best possible function, whilst also maintaining a comfortable level of breathability.

It seems a light weight jacket which is ok just buy it big enough to allow for some layers 8)

Ian Wickham wrote:

According to this it's waterproof and breathable.

It's hyvent which is the North Face fabric, really most claims for waterproof and breathable are overblown, at the very least it never lasts more than a few days, so some manufacturers have lines using non-Goretex fabrics which often work as well and work out cheaper.

ise wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:

According to this it's waterproof and breathable.

It's hyvent which is the North Face fabric, really most claims for waterproof and breathable are overblown, at the very least it never lasts more than a few days, so some manufacturers have lines using non-Goretex fabrics which often work as well and work out cheaper.

I have some North Face Hyvent trousers. They seem fine so far. I also have a Columbia Jacket which seems waterproof, but I think the breathability is less than I would have expected. It's not much of a problem, mostly it's cold weather, and I run cold.

Do take care when choosing a jacket with welded pit zips. My Columbia jacket outer(list price @£300) is fraying at these points :roll:

ise wrote:

Ian Wickham wrote:

According to this it's waterproof and breathable.

It's hyvent which is the North Face fabric, really most claims for waterproof and breathable are overblown, at the very least it never lasts more than a few days, so some manufacturers have lines using non-Goretex fabrics which often work as well and work out cheaper.

ise you got me going again, have been on to the NFace web site for this.....

http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-brand/hyvent-technologies.html

What recommendation would you make for this jacket, as to me it sounds ok for a light weight jacket ??? 8)

Ian Wickham wrote:
ise you got me going again, have been on to the NFace web site for this.....

http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-brand/hyvent-technologies.html

What recommendation would you make for this jacket, as to me it sounds ok for a light weight jacket ??? 8)

Most of this stuff is pretty good nowadays, it's just some of the claims for Goretex are overdone and it's my opinion the presence of Gore in the market has distorted the market and stifled innovation. I heard a couple of guys in North Wales last year buying a jacket, one fancied himself the expert and was sagely telling his friend not to get the eVent garment and to get proper Goretex as though eVent was some sort of cheap knock off. Gore seem to have done some really quite dodgy deals at times, some manufacturers had perfectly good garments in other fabrics which mysteriously got dropped as soon as they started using Goretex in the range.

If the claims for Goretex are overdone then what's also overblown is just how much people need breathable clothes in cold weather, personally I take my shell layer off when I'm working hard. I'd not want to go back to the impermeable membranes of years ago but I'll sacrifice some breathability for waterproof or windproof any day.

Mrs Ise has just got a really nice Patagonia Element jacket, it's not Goretex either but it's pretty nice and just way cheaper than Goretex, it's light as well, about 500g which is pretty much as low as it gets. And I know people with the TNF Razor which seems pretty good.

I'd be more focussed on quality of seams, fit and features than the fabric personally.

I realised years ago, and have saved a few bob in the process, that buying branded clothing was pretty stupid.I have had my share of North Face, Berghaus, Helly Hansen, but my jacket of choice at the moment is .......... D2B!!!
For a fraction of the price and A1 functionality, this has seen me through around 15 weeks skiing in all conditions without any complaint from me.
I think they call their Goretex Isotex 8000. Well, works for me!!!

thanks for the help guy's, this seems suitable for what i need then as i always have my base layer and fleece then jacket, does it sound like i should carry an extra fleece just incase?
I've never really looked for kit that boasts goretex as my wedze jacket had their own novadry technology/treatment and that worked great, bear in mind i was boarding last year so most of the time was spent on my back side and back!
This year i'm skiing which i find much more enjoyable! I'm taking both the north face and the wedze jacket anyway so hopefully it'll be great!