Facebook Twitter Instagram
    FeedTheHabit.com
    • Home
    • Gear Reviews
      • Mountain Biking
      • Road Biking
      • Bike Commuting
      • Trail Running
      • Skiing
      • Outdoors
      • Water Sports
      • Vehicles
    • News
    • Trip Reports
    • Videos
    FeedTheHabit.com
    Gear Reviews

    The North Face Verto Storm Jacket Review

    Kevin GloverBy Kevin GloverMay 19, 2014No Comments5 Mins Read

    Ultralight is as ultralight does – to sacrifice grams you have to cut out some features.  It’s a delicate balance but The North Face met it head-on with their Verto Storm ultralight jacket.

    The North Face Verto Storm Jacket Features:

    • Weight: 7.0oz
    • Ultra-lightweight HyVent® fabric is waterproof, windproof and very compressible
    • Harness- and pack-friendly alpine hand warmer pockets
    • Elastic-bound hem, cuff and hood
    • Stows into its own zippered pocket
    • MSRP: $199

    The North Face Verto Storm Jacket Review

    Verto delivers fast-and-light performance

    The Verto Storm packs a whole lot of punch into a tiny little package.  The North Face’s well-known HyVent fabric gets a 2.5L iteration to form the foundation of the jacket; throw in alpine-style pockets and a low drop tail and we’ve got a jacket that offers a lot of protection at a fairly scant weight.

    The jacket traverses a very tight ridge across the gap between minimalism and functionality; it’s definitely a gram counter but there are some big-mountain features here too.  For example, the Verto Storm doesn’t have a single centimeter of shock cord – most fully-featured alpine jackets have feet and feet of the stuff around the hood and the hems.  In stark contrast, TNF chose to carefully elasticize the hem, hood and cuff openings; the solution certainly cuts weight but there’s no doubt that some user customization is gone from the jacket.  For example, the size Medium that I’m testing (I’m 5’11” and 180 lbs) fits great at the waist and face opening, but I personally find the cuffs too baggy; they don’t stay secured around my wrists.

    The North Face Verto Storm Jacket
    The Verto Storm is, in theory, a climbing jacket

    We’ve already seen that the minimalist side of the Verto Storm is well-represented – but what about some of those big-mountain features I mentioned?  Case one: the alpine-style pockets.  TNF built the Verto with high-set mesh-lined front pockets that stay out of the way of a backpack or harness and act as supplemental ventilation.  The right pocket has a sewn-in stuff sack and the 2.5L HyVent packs down incredibly small – the whole jacket gets down to around the size of a Rubix Cube when squished.

    The jacket doesn’t have any sealed zippers since they’re both heavy and don’t compress well.  Instead, the main zip has an internal storm flap that fends off light rain but, in a real downpour, definitely isn’t adequate.  The pockets don’t have any water protection so water can enter through the pocket zippers and leak through the light mesh and into your baselayer.  TNF’s only real concession to comfort is a tiny little patch of microfleece at the chin.

    The North Face Verto Storm Jacket Review

    2.5L HyVent should be more breathable

    The foundation of the Verto Storm is its 2.5L laminate.  It’s basically a light 2 layer laminate with a polyurethane coating that helps it feel drier to the touch and maintain its performance longer.  I had mixed overall feelings about the fabric; on one hand, it’s very lightweight and packable despite being quite durable.  For instance, Sierra Design’s ethereal Cloud Airshell weighs less than half of the Verto Storm, but it’s also a very delicate fabric whereas the HyVent can take substantial abuse.

    On the other hand (perhaps more important), it doesn’t vent moisture very well.  As a matter of fact, the moisture buildup inside the Verto Storm is substantial when pushed hard. Sealed up during a mountain bike ride, this jacket completely soaked my baselayer while comparable fabric like Pertex Shield+ left me with just a few trouble spots.  If I were to assign the 2.5L HyVent a letter grade, I’d give it a C-; it’s below average for the field of 2.5L laminates as far as breathability is concerned.  Fortunately, it earns A’s in waterproofness, packability and durability.

    It seems strange to me that The North Face advertised this jacket as built for ‘climbing.’  You could certainly wear it climbing, but it’s not ideal. In my mind, a good climbing rain jacket will have a stretchy base fabric and careful seam construction to provide great range of motion.  The Verto Storm’s HyVent has virtually no inherent stretch and the fit of the jacket isn’t conducive to climbing.  What’s more, since the cuffs are only elasticized and lack a dedicated Velcro closure, the sleeves ride up your arms when you reach for a hold.  I only used the Verto Storm for climbing on one outing because I found it so unsuitable.  It’s ideal function is really a lightweight, durable backup shell for inclement weather.

    The hood's permanent grin offers excellent peripheral vision
    The hood’s permanent grin affords excellent peripheral vision

    The Good:

    • Lightweight and highly packable HyVent
    • 2.5L laminate does indeed feel dry to the touch during moderate exertion
    • Alpine-style pockets are a great technical touch
    • Mesh venting in the pockets is an added plus
    • Elasticized hood maintains good peripheral vision

    The Bad:

    • HyVent’s breathability is below par
    • Lack of sealed pockets coupled with mesh liner lets water leak in
    • Elasticized hem, cuff and hood don’t offer any adjustments

    The Bottom Line: Verto Storm Jacket

    The Verto Storm is a great lightweight option for when ounce-counting takes precedent over all else.  The fabric is highly durable and should take several seasons of abuse, but I found the jacket to be unsuitable for climbing (though that’s how it’s billed).  Still, the Verto remains a great emergency shell and performs well in moderate-exertion activities with excellent packability.

    Buy Now: Available at REI

    26
    SHARES
    ShareTweet
    jackets The North Face
    Previous Article2015 Norco Threshold SL ‘Cross Bike Raises the Bar
    Next Article SRAM Force 22 Groupset Review
    Kevin Glover
    • Website

    Kevin Glover lives, climbs and backpacks out of Spokane, WA. Originally from the Nevada high desert, he moved to the PNW ten years ago and has worked as a glacier and rock guide in the Washington Cascades. When not testing gear, he is a medical student at the University of Washington and will gladly check that rash out for you.

    You Might Also Like

    Velocio Concept Merino Long Sleeve Jersey Review

    March 22, 2023

    Arc’teryx Rush SK 16 Backpack Review

    March 20, 2023

    Giro Montaro MIPS II Helmet Review

    March 15, 2023

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Most Popular

    Wahoo ELEMNT Rival Multisport GPS Watch Review

    March 9, 2022

    Montec Fawk Ski Jacket and Bib Review

    February 28, 2022
    8.9

    Zipp 303 S Carbon Wheelset Review

    November 4, 2021
    9.2

    SRAM Rival XPLR eTap AXS Groupset Review

    August 12, 2022
    8.5

    Canyon Lux Trail CF 7 Review

    November 28, 2022

    SRAM Rival/GX AXS Mullet Gravel Kit Review

    September 17, 2021
    9.1

    Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 TLR Wheelset Review

    June 18, 2020
    9.4

    Roval CL 50 Disc Wheelset Review

    September 13, 2019
    9.1

    Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 TLR Wheelset Review

    September 9, 2021

    Review: SRAM Force XPLR eTap AXS for Road?

    October 5, 2022
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Advertisement
    Our Latest Posts
    • Fresh Goods: Redshift Arclight PRO Clipless and Flat Pedals
    • Velocio Concept Merino Long Sleeve Jersey Review
    • Arc’teryx Rush SK 16 Backpack Review
    • Giro Montaro MIPS II Helmet Review
    • Outdoor Vitals Vario Jacket Review
    • Santini Gravel Bib Tights Review
    • Sportneer K1 Massage Gun Review
    • Review: Giro Latch Mountain Bike Shoes
    • Rapha Pro Team Long Sleeve Gore-Tex Infinium Jersey Review
    • Rab Xenair Alpine Light Insulated Jacket Review
    About Us
    About Us

    Since 1999, we have delivered in-depth gear reviews, articles and content. We feature a small staff of savvy, experienced writers who love to review outdoor gear.

    External links to Amazon, REI, Backcountry and other retailers include affiliate codes that give us a small commission on each sale.

    To contact us or learn more, go to our About Us page.

    © FeedTheHabit.com 1999 - 2023. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.