In the summer and milder shoulder seasons when venturing into the backcountry we need to be prepared for almost anything. From day hikes to backpacking and climbing I look for a jacket that is lightweight, packable, designed for any weather condition and that can handle rough wear and tear. Lets take a look at how the Norrona Falketind Gore-Tex jacket stands up to these demands.
First Impressions of the Falketind Gore-Tex Jacket from Norrona
When putting on the Falketind jacket the first thing I noticed was the different feel of the coat. Gore-tex did a little something on the material on this one and it has a softer brushed feel. Putting on the coat, which in my case was a medium as that is what I typically wear, I noticed the shorter length but with regular fit. The arms have a naturally articulated curve to them and the cuffs extend down at a cut angle to the outside of your hand longer than most coats.
Norrona targets this coat as a shell layer for the hiking and outdoor lifestyle crowd. I would agree 100% with this but add in with the crazy amount of technical features that the jacket is well suited for backpacking and mountaineering. For dryer and milder conditions I would feel that this would be great for ski touring as well.
The high pockets are a nice feature as I use shells most backpacking and want to be able to access pockets without being restricted by my waist belt or straps. The shorter cut of the coat and the high pockets also makes it a great choice for climbing or ski-touring where you will most likely be wearing a harness.
I personally wouldn’t consider a shell without large armpit heat dump zippers of which the Falketind comes equipped. The hood is helmet compatible with the usual adjustable zinch, semi-rigid visor and micro fleece lined face protection.
Norrona paid attention to the small details on the design of the coat as well. All the pull tabs on the zippers have their logo, the metal cinch guides have it stamped in and the logos on the fabric are all reflective.
An extra feature that the jacket had was the completely sealed internal chest pocket. This makes a good location for your inreach, smartphone or for some possibly avy beacon.
Norrona Offical Features and Specs : Falketind Gore-Tex Jacket
Falketind Jacket Technical Features
- 20D 3-Layer GORE-TEX® fabric
- 13mm GORE-TEX® seam tape
- Shorter cut above hip length, regular fit
- StormHood over helmet fit with cinch
- 2-Way YKK™ water-resistant zipper
- 2 external Hand pockets above harness
- 1 interior mesh phone pocket
- Asymmetric cuffs with Velcro adjusters
- Articulated elbows
- X-open underarm pit zips ventilation
- Y-sleeves™
- One-hand hem adjustment
Falketind Jacket Technical Specifications
- 20 Denier 3-Layer GORE-TEX®
- Taped seams with GORE-TEX® 13 mm seam tape
- jacket weight 460 grams
- 28,000mm min waterproof resistance
- breathable and 100% windproof
Retails for $579.99 at Altitude Sports.com
Final Impression on the Falketind Gtx Jacket
This jacket fits a perfect niche for me living on Vancouver Island and my primary activity of mountaineering. While I like the hard shell of my Patagonia Triolet or my ultralight packable Black Diamond Liquid Point soft shell, each of those was missing something as my all around go to jacket.
So with that being said my verdict on the Norrona Falketind Gore-tex Jacket is that I recommend this coat as a great buy for both fit and function. I liked that it was lightweight and packed down really well in my backpack when I didn’t need it. I’m a huge fan of the high pockets with the easy to pull tabs which are a life saver when wearing gloves. Loved the soft feel of the gore-tex and the articulated cut of the coat for ergonomics. Even though the jacket is packable and lightweight with that soft feel never did I worry about rubbing against rock when scrambling and climbing in the alpine or a solid bushwack.
My only criticisms on the coat was that I felt it was a bit baggy through the body being it was a relaxed fit and I prefer a more modern fitted cut. The sleeve length seemed a bit too long for my body shape, I feel I am a pretty average 5’8″ 155lb medium size. That arm length if you were buying specifically for climbing then I would say is actually a huge benefit when making those big outstretched grabs.
Buy this coat if you are into backpacking, trekking or general mountaineering. Well equipped, comfortable and versatile.
Gear Review Disclosure
I review and support companies that support my efforts to continue to bring you photos, stories and adventures of the Mindful Explorer. Altitude Sports and their partners recognizes my efforts (Thanks Guys!) and will occasionally provide me products to power my trips and future outdoor pursuits. I however will not take inferior product that I do not believe in or would not normally choose to use myself.
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