Featured Review
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The first time I laid eyes on the Diad jacket from The North Face I knew buying it would be a no brainer. These were the basic specs:
7 oz total weight
Fully adjustable hood
Waterproof, seam-sealed, breathable
Designed for Ski Mountaineering
Sign me up!
I first had the chance to use the Diad in the Tetons last spring while ticking off a couple of ski descents from my list. With the temps on the warmer side this was the perfect call for a jacket that would easily stow in my pack for the climb up lines like the Middle Teton Glacier but would be ideal for keeping the wind at bay at the top and be essentially non existent on the descent. But I wondered how it would perform as a shell in the winter.
Given it’s super ultralight build and no frills construction (having shortened pits zips and a small Napoleon pocket) it is best suited for the short approaches and yo-yo descents. I’ve worn it while skinning up peaks over top of my softshell jacket and base layer and found that although it’s built with HyVent DT which is touted to be breathable I’d say that breathing is not it’s strong suit.
Unlike it’s other waterproof brethren, the Diad features North Face’s “skinny seam tape” which is 13mm wide compared to the standard 19mm to 22mm seam tape of the heavy weight jackets. Does this compromise waterproofness? Thankfully no. Does is save weight faster than the South Beach diet plan? Most certainly.
The best part about this...
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