The North Face Men's Leonidas Jacket

Best rain jacket I've used
May 16, 2012

If you hate the feel of hard shell rain jackets but still want a lightweight waterproof jacket this is for you. The fabric has the stretch and feel of a soft shell but keeps you dry like a hard shell. It does fit a bit snugger in the torso because of the athletic, so be aware. This jacket is always in my daypack.

Good solid rain shell
May 11, 2012

I bought this jacket to use as my shell on backpacking trips. I have ended up using it more than I expected. It is comfortable, waterproof, and very packable. I was a little skeptical of getting a non gore shell, but so far it has been very waterproof. I have done a couple of long days in hard rain with a heavy pack without getting wet. It is not quite as breathable as I would like, but that's what you get with a mid price jacket. It is a more athletic fit than most North face jackets. Slimmer and longer in the torso and longer in the arms. This works great for me, but might be a problem for some body shapes. One thing I love about this jacket is the feel of the fabric. It is very soft and stretchy for a waterproof material and seems to be very durable so far. Overall, for the money, I have been satisfied with this jacket. If I had a little more to spend I would have stepped up to Mountain Hardware or even Arcteryx.