The North Face continues to produce a variety of jackets well-suited for athletic activity. Introduced this Spring, the Refraxion Jacket is a wind jacket capable of shedding rain and wind while remaining extremely breathable and lightweight on the trail. It’s now been well-worn in a variety of conditions and the results have been outstanding.
Features of The North Face Refraxion Jacket
- Wind shell and soft shell hybrid construction with DWR treatment
- Reflective seam tape
- Roll-N-Tie stow system
- Shaped collar
- Napoleon stowpocket
- Weight: 9.1 oz
- MSRP: $99
The North Face Refraxion Jacket Review
It’s Spring and that means cool mornings and variable, but warming weather–perfect for the new North Face Refraxion Jacket. This athletic jacket will shed wind and inclement weather while maintaining excellent breathability for mountain biking, trail running, snowshoeing or other aerobic activity.
The fit of the Refraxion Jacket is listed as “peformance” fit, but the body of the jacket is still a tad baggy, I think. It leaves extra room for a vest underneath, but when worn alone, it could be trimmed down just a tad. The sleeves, however are just the right fit–not too slim and not too baggy.
I really appreciate the overall feel of this jacket and its ability to breathe under pressure. It sheds moisture very well (thanks to the DWR treatment) and keeps the chilly winds at bay. Single-pull drawcords at the hips quickly cinch the jacket at the waist for improved fit and weather protection on the go.
I ran with the Refraxion Jacket on cold, snowy days as well as windy days and found it to perform very well. The stretch side panels add to the overall comfort of the design and in a pinch, the simple Roll-N-Tie system really came in handy as I tied the jacket around my waist.
For travel, the Refraxion was also outstanding as I stuffed it into my carry-on and pulled it out as-needed during an evening stroll around the Mall in Washington DC. The overall styling of the jacket lends itself to the trail, road and around town — thus making this one of the more versatile wind jackets I’ve tested.
The Good
- Comfortable, capable running jacket
- Sheds wind and water very well
- Can even work in the snow with a fleece vest underneath
- Collar is the perfect diameter and height
- Stretch panels add to the comfort
- Zips into itself
- Simple Roll-N-Tie system does come in handy
The Bad
- Body fit could be a little more streamlined
- Stretchy underarm panels do tend to hold body odor
Bottom Line: The North Face Refraxion Jacket
The Refraxion is definitely a solid performer for running or other athletic pursuits when you want good wind protection and protection from inclement weather.
Buy Now: Find The North Face Running Jackets at Backcountry.com
2 Comments
seems heavy for a wind shell w/o a hood, no? maybe a good around town type jacket. i perfer the looks of the golite kings canyon.
Yes, it is a bit more substantial than the Kings Canyon jacket, but it is a little more durable as an all-around jacket. I dig them both and don’t mind the little extra weight of the Refraxion at all.