Description of The North Face: Men's Mountain Light Jacket 32580
"The Mountain Light Jacket is a classic, all-around jacket, suited for skiing, hiking, and everyday use."
- Fabric: [body] Fabric: 40D x Fabric: 40D 85 g/m2 nylon Gore-Tex® Pro Shell 2L
- Classic, all-around waterproof, breathable jacket suited for skiing, climbing, hiking, and travel.
- Seam sealed
- Standard fit
- Zip-in compatible
- Fully adjustable, removable drop hood with lower face protection
- Brushed neck and chinguard lining
- Two core vent Alpine pockets with wind flaps
- Right internal zip pocket
- Left internal stretch waterbottle pocket
- Pit-zips with two-way zippers
- Two hand pockets
- Elastic and Velcro® adjustable cuffs
- Hem cinchcord
- Abrasion: 70D x 70D 155 g/m2 nylon Gore-Tex® Performance Shell 2L"
Customer Reviews (46)
The North Face: Men's Mountain Light Jacket 32580 -
46 Reviews
John - 2006-02-21
AWESOME JACKET I purchased this jacket last year and I am extremely pleased with it and since have been an advocate for it. You can ball it up to nearly nothing and then pull it out, and it its as though you never did so. When it rains, I walk several hundred yards with the hood on and as I enter a buikding, people are standing around waiting for the rain to stop (its that bad!!!) and I pull my coat off, and Im DRY AS A BONE. They look at my jacket with amazement!!! When its chilly out, I can wear this jacket without the liner, zip it up all of the way and when breathing into the jacket, I stay very comfortable. I own the lighter fleece liner for the jacket and its too warm...
In extreme conditions, rain, snow, 40+ mph winds, wind chill nearing 0 degrees... when the jacket is sealed off at the waist and hooded up... with good gloves... I was extremely confortable. BUY IT!!!
Only complaint... Ive worn it so much since Ive had it the past year, I wonder how long it will last for the money I paid. Its in excellent shape, but I look at it and wonder.
Was this North Face Mountain Light Jacket 32580 Review Helpful? - Yes - No
2006-02-19
Mountain Light Jacket great jacket and customer service. only complaint is that it was very wrinnkled when recived and its hard to get them out on a jacket like this
Is this Handy? - Yes - No
2006-02-12
Northface Mens Light Jacket This was a gift for my husband. He loves it! Thank you for the excellent customer service. Fast shipping,too.
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Read all 46 reviews...
2006-01-24
THE BEST !!! I've lived in the northwest all my life and i've never seen a jacket that could stand up to the harsh weather that we have here. Plus it's a really good looking jacket.
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RL Applegate - 2006-01-20
This is the One! I've tried them all and this one is the one I reach for. I'll buy another as soon as they get some better colors.
Is this Handy? - Yes - No
2006-01-19
Men's mountain light jacket I love the jacket! It's proving everything that I expected it to be. It's light, warm, wind and water proof. Great quality and looks great as well.
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2007-02-06
Super Jacket Works well with the North Face inserts. Know when you put in the insert it won't fit as snug as it does by itself. Colors? Industrial Blue...isn't blue, but grey. Other than that it is a great jacket with or without a shell. Worked great in Tahoe skiing.
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Beatriz - 2006-01-12
Fabulous! I purchased the Northface Mountain Light Jacket as a x-mas gift for my boyfriend. He loved it! Alrec's service was incredible! The jacket was sold out everywhere. Just when I was about to give up I found it on Altrec. I received the jacket within 5 days! I'm so impressed with the service I am referring this company to all my friends.
Is this Handy? - Yes - No
Customer - 2006-01-10
Great Jacket I purchased this jacket as a shell of my Denali. The combination is perfect in both function and color. They keep me warm in super cold condition here in Syracuse and gray/red(shell/denali) look nice. If you are looking for a shell of your denali, I highly recommend this product.
Is this Useful? - Yes - No ( 2 of 2 thought this was useful.)
Jiaxing Huang - 2006-07-26
Great Jacket It is a great jacket. I have been searching for an all weather Gore-Tex shell. I wad it up in a bag everyday and it still looks presentable.
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2005-02-24
Jacket Function Love the jacket. The jacket is very technical and functionable. The elbows and arms are designed for better mobility. Vents work, but would be better if it was under the pits. This jacket can take a pounding. I wiped out hard a few time on the slopes and the jackets just has little scuff here and there. The hood works well at extreme conditions. The more you pull it the more it covers, expecially with goggles. Velcro flaps gotta go. Would be nice with Arc zippers.
Is this Handy? - Yes - No
Michael Chou - 2005-02-06
Great jacket for wet and windy conditions This jacket fits great and performs increadibly well in wet and windy conditions. I've owned Mountain Light jackets for the past 10 years and I have never had any problems with them. Though I think the quality of NorthFace jackets have diminished over the years slightly, the quality is still very good.
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Todd - 2005-02-03
Amazing jacket for all around outdoors A wonderful jacket, and great service from Altrec! I used it skiing this weekend and didn't find the zippers annoying at all, its better that flaps going in the wind. It fits like a glove, and Altrec was the only place that had it in the lovely red. I like it so much I think I will shower in it for now on. A+
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2007-10-17
only lasted 13 yrs I finally had to retire my Mountain Light. I'm very disappointed because it only lasted 13 years. ;) It's still functional and waterproof but it was starting to look its age. Some fading, a failed stitch in the liner, and a failed stitch in the waist "powder" drawstring (which isn't a feature anymore). I live in New England and have worn this thing hiking, biking, skiing, and every time it rains. I have literally worn it almost every day of every winter for the past 13 years. It's been crammed in packs and has absorbed some nasty falls while skiing. The best thing about it is that it is useful year round. It's not too heavy to wear in a summer rainstorm and it's waterproof/windproof enough to be used as an external layer in temps well below zero F. I just bought another one. I hope it lasts as long as the first.
Is this Handy? - Yes - No ( 3 of 4 found this review helpful.)
2005-01-19
Great Shell I got this for my boyfriend as a shell for his fleece (the zip-in compatible feature is great!), and as a raincoat. The material is light, buttery soft and impressively breathable. he loves the fact that he could go hiking and climbing in it, very flexible.
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2005-01-03
Fabulous Gift! The coat's quality is great. It is exactly like the one's I have seen in the stores.
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2007-10-13
Great jacket but didn't feel true to size The only issue with this jacket was that it was a little loose on me even though I bought the jacket in my size. However with that aside I love how its waterproof(gore-tex), zip in compatible, and is very stylish. This is a great jacket to take skiing and is very durable and mobile.
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Gabriel Toledo - 2007-05-19
exellent jacket these jacket it's other level. an exellent jacket.
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2006-01-06
Great versatility and fit I have been searching for an all weather Gore-Tex shell. I commute by bike to work everyday and needed a shell that would keep me dry, fit well (not to long or baggy) and be zip-in compatible with warmer fleece inserts. The North Face Mountain Light Jacket was the solution. Rain, snow and sleet just bead and roll off keeping me dry and warm from the nasty New England elements.
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- 2005-12-31
Great Jacket... but a few key issues I'm going to do my best to write a comprehensive review based on my recent search for the perfect shell and experience with a bunch of different models. I live in New York City and don't do a great deal of hiking/mountaineering. I ride my bike (road and moutain) in the city and occasionally on trails, but really my primary use of the shell is primarily for kicking around urban environments. The reason I need a new shell is that the North Face Mountain Light I purchased in 1997 finally kicked the bucket. In the last two months, I've owned and tried the Arcteryx Theta AR, the Patagonia Stretch Element, the Patagonia Dimension, the North Face Inconceivable, and the North Face Mountain Light. I have too much time on my hands.
The jackets:
Arcteryx Theta AR: Arcteryx gets tons of positive press for this coat, and I really like it. The shoulders were cut really wide, but overall the fit was nice and the jacket seemed well made. The issue I had was that it didn't have ANY insulation at all -- so if you're looking for a shell that blocks the wind but doesn't provide much in the way of warmth, this is a great jacket. The hood is really amazing -- extremely flexible and easy to adjust and keeps the rain out, and the jacket is very sturdy. Has pit zips and the zippers are pretty cool and work great, water tighet, etc. Pockets are nice and dont have the troubleseome Velcro of the new Mountain Light (more later), though the chest pocket could be a little larger, and the lack of an inside pocket is kind of irritating. The pocket on the upper arm is hard to open and almost useless in my experience. The reason this wasnt right for me is that it doesnt have any insulating properties living in the north I pretty much always needed to wear a sweater or second coat underneath, and with the mountain light that wasnt the case. The jacket also doesnt have a two-way zipper, which seems like a no-brainer for a jacket that costs over $400.
Patagonia Stretch Element: This is Patagonias top of the line shell, and had the best pocket feeling material (INCREDIBLY soft) and pocket configuration of any jacket Ive tried. Two inside pockets, four external pockets, and no Velcro (yes!!). The jacket also has a great hood very flexible and easy to adjust. Unfortunately, the coat had a few problems. One is that the cut of the jacket results in the front of the coat covering your chin or needing to be tucked underneath against your neck. This is great for keeping in warm air, but really uncomfortable, especially because the material in that section of the coat is surprising stiff. This was really a big deal for me. The jacket is an even worse insulator than the Arcteryx Theta this is great if breathability is your main concern, but if warmth is something you want from a shell (even a little), this isnt your coat. It does have pit zips, which would be nice if the coat were warmer. This jacket also doesnt have a two-way zipper, or a cinch cord for your mid-section -- again these seem like a no-brainers for a jacket that costs just under $400.
Patagonia Dimension: This was actually the first Patagonia Shell I tried. Didnt seem like it was as well made as the Stretch Element and ultimately didnt provide enough wind-resistance or warmth. I didnt use the coat for very long, so I cant offer as much feedback on it but it seemed like a decent option for a fall coat or something for mild winters like the pacific northwest. Pockets were fine, no pit zips though you use the mesh pockets to vent. But it seemed awfully pricey for a coat that isnt totally waterproof and isnt totally windproof and isnt really warm enough for a cold day, even though it was substantially less expensive than the most of the other coats I tried ($260).
North Face Inconceivable: This jacket was really confusing for me. I love the way it looks, but its too short, and because of that didnt keep the wind out. In addition, the hood isnt fully adjustable (in spite of what is described in all the literature on the coat) there is only one cord that adjusts the hood, and it doesnt work very well. There is no inside pocket, and pretty standard three external pockets (no Velcro, at least). The salesmen told me the coat was short to accommodate a harness, but it defeats the purpose of wearing the coat if it isnt long enough to keep the wind from whipping in over your pants. The coat also wasnt cut loose enough to easily layer, and wasnt as warm without layering as advertised. Basically, it provides about the same amount of insulation as the mountain light, but is heavier and doesnt offer the same versatility. At $430, its an expensive coat, and some of the North Face Apex fleeces seemed like they were almost the same jacket, sans pit zips and hood and for $300 less. But its a cool looking coat, so if youre loaded and need a waterproof fleece, go for it.
North Face Mountain Light: In spite of its flaws, the new Mountain Light is still the most versatile winter coat Ive found. Its warm enough to wear without a heavy sweater or liner in temperatures into the mid-teens, and breathable enough to be worn in 50+ degree weather for protection from the rain. The Velcro flaps over all the zippers have to go, and I wish that they hadnt gotten rid of the pit zips (the core vents dont work very well). But the jacket has a really nice mix of being lightweight but still providing some insulation on cold days. The pockets are spacious, the hood is nice and removable, the soft area on the chin is comfy, the jacket is roomy enough to layer underneath and long enough to cover your bum and keep the wind out, and has adjustable drawstrings in all the right spots. It also accommodates zip-in liners, which is a nice option for colder days and easier to manage than two separate coats. Its waterproof and windproof, and overall I thought was the best coat (but NOT as good as the 1997 version which had pit-zips and no Velcro!!). I also got this on sale at EMS for $239 and even at full price the jacket is at the more reasonable $300 mark.
I just hope TNF ditches the Velcro and brings back the pit zips next year
by the way, they kep the pit zips and didnt use velcro on some of their less expensive models does that make any sense to anyone? Also the
Is this Handy? - Yes - No ( 6 of 7 found this review helpful.)
Andrew - 2005-12-13
Oh so Warm Haven't had the jacket long. Baught it for mostly wet and cold conditions. I needed something for my Fleece to zip into, and this has kept me dry and warm. Can't wait to try it out on the slopes in two weeks. The only thing I wish it had that the Varius Guide has is the Powder Guard, but for the amount of skiing I do I thought this was the better match for me. Highly recomend
Is this Useful? - Yes - No
J. Lukoskie - 2007-01-14
This is a great jacket with or without the fleece liner. I have had both liner and jacket for about 10 years and loved it so much I finely bought one for my husband and son.
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Joyce Ramirez - 2005-10-22
Terrific service I received my Northface Summit series jacket promptly. Tracking my package was very easy on your site. Congratulations on running an excellent on-line store.
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shop2world - 2005-09-05
Great gear Optimized for mountaineering but suitable for a range of outdoor activities, The North Face Mountain Light Jacket combines the best in durable waterproof and breathable technology with a lightweight profile that's equally at home backpacking, traveling and skiing. This practical design saves nearly 300 grams of weight over The North Face Mountain Guide Jacket without sacrificing key backcountry features. Up top is a fully adjustable hood that accommodates a helmet and also detaches on sunny afternoons. Along the chest area are core vent pockets that can be opened or zippered shut depending on your internal thermostat. While The North Face Mountain Light Jacket doesn't offer the stretch performance of top shells and parkas, it keeps you covered without pushing outdoor budgets beyond your grasp.
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2008-02-10
Great Fit and Function Jacket has an excellent fit and performs well is many weather conditions. Well worth the money for what it provides.
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Darryl Yip - 2007-12-03
awesome. This jacket is unbelievable. It is extremely thin and lightweight yet does an excellent job keeping you dry and warm from the elements. This will be my first winter in Chicago and armed with my denali and this jacket, I'm sure I will get by just fine. If you're looking for a versatile/lightweight jacket that can be used in cool and extreme conditions, look no further. The North Face Denali fleece is the perfect complement to this jacket and will keep you warm in freezing temperatures.
Is this Handy? - Yes - No
2004-12-27
Extremely Nice Jacket This is my sixth piece of NorthFace Raingear. All are great! The only drawback, and it's common to them all, is that the zippers are a bit difficult to get engaged in the field. The velcro zipper guards are also a pain under field conditions.
Northface also stands behind its products as well as the best.
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2004-12-22
Great Coat This jacket is very warm and element proof. I have only two minor complaints. The first is that my NF Denali fleece (circa 1997-98) doesn't zip in easily to the new Mountain Light. One side zips right in, the other side is a struggle. I guess it's time for a new Denali fleece...it's kind of beat up anyway. The second issue is with the outside chest pocket. I like to keep my cell phone there but it is impossible to get it out quickly because of the stiff waterproof zipper. I've missed so many calls because of this. All in all the jacket does it's job and looks great.
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2004-12-21
TNF Mountain Light Jacket Great jacket for the price. The Gore-Tex XCR membrane seems to work well and the jacket is very adaptable. Handles cool weather without the liner and frigid weather with a good fleece. The jacket is very light but does an excellent job of keeping me warm. We'll see how it holds up quality wise but initially anyway I'm happy with the jacket.
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2004-12-17
great product This is a great jacket. It is light, warm, and especially breathable.
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2004-11-21
Great but Expensive Jacket Provides excellent combination of warmth and comfort. It keeps the cold air out while still allowing for a good range of movement. The only downside to this jacket is the high cost
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Gary - 2007-04-15
Meets all expectations I've been looking for a nice lightweight jacket for sometime now, one that will provide some warmth plus is water resistant or water proof. Finding one that is GoreTex at a reasonable price makes things even better! Bought the jacket on sale (which makes it even nicer), and wore it for the first time on a ski trip to Park City. The jacket packs nicely and doesn't take up a lot of room. On the mountain, I was very pleased with the jacket. Mobility during skiing was good. Very happy with the jacket so far.
Is this Handy? - Yes - No
2005-06-09
The Truth Friends, If you only purchase one piece of gear besides boots buy a nice waterproof shell. This jacket is a must have if you choose northface.
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John Hutchinson - 2005-06-02
Great Jacket! Have not had a chance to truly field test, but did wear for a week of rain and drizzle in North Dakota during the Spring. The jacket is extremely comfortable, light and is well ventilated. Looking forward to testing it under more stressful extremes.
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Jason - 2005-05-28
Wear it at altitude I wore this on Kili hike from 12-15K without liner. Later added a Denali and was comfortable all the way to the top. This jacket was great, and was very comfortable. It did a fair job of protecting me from wind. Without a liner you may start to feel it at winds over 30 kts. It's very light weight compared to many other shells. I carried it everday in my pack bundled up and it unwrinkles nicely after a few minutes wear. Here at home I've used it on rainy days and it kept me dry as expected.
Is this Handy? - Yes - No
2005-05-24
Great Jacket! I love it
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Juan Velasquez - 2005-04-02
Great Jacket Great Jacket !! Lightweight , perfect fit, great feeling, Gore Tex and most of all an excleent price here @ Altrec. I definietly would buy another one if offered at discounted prices like Atrec.
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Seve M. - 2006-04-23
Extreme functionality,warmth and protection. I love TNF mtn. light jacket. Recently hit the slopes for some last minute action and was not disappointed. The gore-tex was unbelievable through the wind and wet snow I experienced.W as warm and dry , w/o a heavy layer into the low 20s,and with a fleece as a mid-layer into the single digits. Drawstringed hood and hem give super tight and comfy fit. Everything I expected it to be. The added bonus was Altrecs price of 25% off list.
Is this Handy? - Yes - No
Gregory - 2006-02-23
Great jacket at a great price I wore it mountain biking recently, and it performed well in rainy conditions. I would prefer larger pit zips for ventilation, but in all, a great jacket.
Is this Useful? - Yes - No
2004-08-30
Great Jacket. Nice jacket. I wad it up in a bag everyday and it still looks presentable. I can tell it will require a liner so I went ahead and purchased one for winter. So far I would purchase again. Only complaint is the zipper cover. Gets in the way when zipping up. Would be nice to have the Arc type zippers.
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Jim - 2005-03-23
Outstanding protection Just got back from a week out on the trail and my TNF Mountain Light Jacket gave me awesome protection from the elements. It was a pleasure to wear and kept me dry and out of the wind. When it got colder, out came the zip in fleece and I was smiling again!
Is this Handy? - Yes - No
2005-03-15
Nice Jacket Great shell to use by itself or with a zip-in fleece. The price is the only thing that drops it from 5 stars to 4 stars in my assessment.
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Blair - 2005-03-14
Lightweight and stormproof! The Mountain Light Jacket is truly stormproof and the XCR Gortex is noticably lighter than my other Gortex garbs. There is only one feature I wish TNF had included... a stow away hood. It zips off, but what a hassle if being used in the backcountry. However, the sale price more than made up for this missing feature. Ventilation is good for moderate aerobic activities.
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2008-03-26
Northface Mens Mountain light jacket fantastic in all respects This jacket is the answer to what I was looking for. Light, comfortable, wind and water proof. When the temp is above zero and I am moving about and I have a fleece vest on it is warm enough for me. I also bought a denali fleece jacket that zips into this jacket and really won't need it until it is below zero here in Minnesota. Too warm. So I need to buy a light fleece for most of the winter months. So now I can throw away most of what is in my closet as this one outer shell, vests and fleece liners provide all that I need all year long.
Is this Handy? - Yes - No
Mauro Ficarelli - 2005-03-07
All perfect. I ordered The North Face jacket from Ecuador (South America). It's a wonderful jacket, and it arrived very fast. I'm very happy with my Mountain Light jacket, and the service offered by Altrec.com is perfect.
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Fred Schmidt - 2005-03-06
Meets my every need North Face products are very well made - worth the extra price. This particular jacket is just what I need for my walk on the Appalachian Trail.
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