Bottom Line

By far the most durable—and expensive—shell on our list of the best rain jackets, the Norrona trollveggen GORE-TEX Pro Light is made for pro-level adventurers who need the most rugged and reliable waterproofing.

While testing the trollveggen GORE-TEX Pro Light on some 13ers (13,000-foot mountains) and winter hikes in New Mexico, we appreciated the trollveggen’s weather resistance and extra-large ventilation zippers. The articulated fit accommodated our scrambling and upper-body movements. The athletic cut layered easily under our backpacks and over our down jacket midlayer. We could access the elevated pockets while wearing a hipbelt—another performance perk.

But this jacket’s truly differentiating feature is the second half of its name: GORE-TEX Pro Light. This new, PFAS-free waterproofing offers guide-grade durability but isn’t as stiff, heavy, or bulky as the standard GORE-TEX Pro. In our field tests, the Norrona trollveggen felt more like the Arc’teryx Beta Jacket than a traditional hardshell for severe weather, which is a good thing.

If you don’t need pro-grade durability, you won’t gain much by spending extra on the Norrona trollveggen GORE-TEX Pro Light. Its target users are mountain guides, ice climbers, and mountaineers. Even so, its “Pro” durability and “Light” mobility may pay off for backpacking guides and other senders who regularly subject their waterproof shells to sharp edges, straps, hipbelts, harnesses, and rough rocks that wear out normal jackets in a season.

Comfort & Mobility

The comfort and mobility of the Norrona trollveggen GORE-TEX Pro Light are either really good or exceptional, depending on whether you’re judging it against our list of the best rain jackets or its true peers: pro-grade waterproof shells.

Compared with the rain jackets we’ve tested and reviewed, the Norrona trollveggen is excellent in the comfort and mobility department. It’s Y-cut—broad in the shoulders and trimmer in the hips—layered comfortably over our puffy jackets and under our backpacks. When we started running hot while climbing Wheeler Peak (New Mexico’s tallest mountain), we opened the super-sized underarm vents to dump heat and minimize moisture under our jackets. When we scrambled, reached for handholds, and waved our arms to point out herds of bighorn sheep, the jacket’s articulated fit freed our arms to move comfortably.

But the trollveggen’s comfort and mobility stand out even more if you compare them with pro-grade shells for mountain guides. Its secret sauce is the new GORE-TEX Pro Light waterproofing.

GORE-TEX Pro, GORE’s most rugged waterproofing for severe alpine conditions, is normally much stiffer and heavier than GORE-TEX jackets made for hiking, backpacking, and everyday use. However, the new GORE-TEX Pro Light is lighter and much more supple while still delivering guide-grade durability for the toughest conditions.

We could tell in our field tests. Testing the trollveggen GORE-TEX Pro Light side-by-side with another favorite—the Arc’teryx Beta—we found that the jackets felt similar in comfort and mobility. Significantly, Arcteryx built the Beta for all-around use while Norrona designed the trollveggen to provide rugged waterproofing for serious alpine sends. The fact that the guide-grade Norrona jacket wore more like a premium, all-around rain jacket (Beta SL) than a GORE-TEX Pro hardshell is a big comfort and mobility win for the trollveggen.

Weather Resistance

The Norrona trollveggen’s GORE-TEX Pro Light waterproofing also provides superior weather protection. In both the field and shower tests, the Norrona trollveggen kept us dry when the snowflakes and raindrops were flying. We also faced 50 mph winds on multiple test hikes and didn’t feel them through the trollveggen’s robust material and windproof membrane.

Like all GORE-TEX variants, GORE-TEX Pro Light is reliably windproof and waterproof. With a minimum hydrostatic pressure rating of 28,000mm (meaning the membrane can withstand a column of water over 28 meters tall before allowing moisture in), GORE nearly triples EU recommendations for a waterproof jacket. This rating matches the other GORE-TEX jackets we tested and reviewed and exceeds the waterproof ratings of the non-GORE-TEX jackets on our list.

Based on our conversation with the GORE-TEX engineer who invented GORE-TEX Pro Light, we can confirm that Pro/Pro Light is not more waterproof than regular GORE-TEX. Instead, the “Pro” designates more durable face fabrics and backing materials around the waterproof membrane.

As for this jacket’s waterproof membrane, GORE-TEX Pro/Pro Light recently transitioned from GORE’s traditional ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, aka Teflon) to PFAS-free GORE-TEX ePE (expanded polyethylene) for environmental reasons.

Several additional weather-protection features stood out during our testing, including a storm hood and droptail hem for extra coverage. When we needed to layer up, the trollveggen slipped easily over our synthetic and down jackets, and the waterproof zippers were another nice touch.

You can tell that Norway-based Norrona—in conjunction with GORE-TEX—designed the trollveggen waterproof shell for more extreme weather.

Ventilation

The Norrona trollveggen GORE-TEX Pro Light Jacket features the biggest underarm vents we’ve ever seen. The ventilation zippers on our men’s large measure 19 inches long.

We really appreciated this jacket’s ventilation while hiking up a line of 13,000-foot peaks north of Taos, New Mexico. When we began to run warm, we unzipped those underarm vents to moderate our body heat and moisture levels.

Durability

As durability is the hallmark of GORE-TEX Pro, the Norrona trollveggen GORE-TEX Pro Light is built to last.

The jacket’s name alludes to this: Trollveggen is Europe’s tallest rock face. In contrast to the other waterproof jackets we’ve recommended, the trollveggen is made for big wall climbing, guiding, ice climbing, and mountaineering.

GORE-TEX Pro Light is made for outdoor professionals who need the most rugged waterproofing without the weight of traditional mountaineering shells. In other words, this is GORE-TEX with juiced-up backing and face fabric to protect the waterproof membrane from crampon and ski edges, rubbing harnesses and shoulder straps, and rocks. Norrona also reinforced high-wear areas with 70-denier x 160-denier nylon weave—more than triple the fabric weight of the relatively robust Patagonia Torrentshell.

While durability is the main reason to pull the trigger on this  $700 shell, few hikers and backpackers need Norrona’s most durable mountaineering shell for their adventures.

Weight

Not surprisingly, there’s a weight penalty for this level of weather protection and durability. Based on the manufacturer’s claimed weights, it was the heaviest waterproof jacket we tested and reviewed. If you’re hunting for a lightweight rain jacket, you should cross the trollveggen off your list. 

All things considered, though, this jacket’s weight – 15.2 ounces for a men’s large and 13.2 ounces for a woman’s medium – actually is light for a mountaineering jacket. For example, the trollveggen is an almost imperceptible half-ounce heavier than the Outdoor Research Foray and REI Trailmade – neither of which are made for mountain guides, mountaineers, or alpine climbing.

In the field, the Norrona trollveggen GORE-TEX Pro Light didn’t wear noticeably heavier than most rain jackets we tested. We mostly forgot we were wearing a mountaineering jacket instead of a hiking jacket, thanks to the GORE-TEX Pro Light being lighter and more supple than other pro-level waterproof shells.

The key to buying the best rain jacket is choosing the shell with the right recommended use and managing the trade-offs between different feature sets. The trollveggen makes a ton of sense if you prioritize weather protection and durability over weight savings to stay safer in extreme mountain environments.

Likewise, in spite of the weight score we gave it, the Norrona trollveggen is a legit lightweight shell if you’re comparing it to mountaineering jackets instead of rain jackets. This is the first pro-level waterproof jacket we’ve tested and reviewed that weighs less than a pound.

Should You Buy the norrona trollveggen gore-tex pro light?

Quality-wise, the Norrona trollveggen GORE-TEX Pro Light is the best waterproof shell we tested and reviewed, but you really need to be a serious outdoor adventurer to reap the benefits of its standout features. This jacket isn’t more waterproof than the other GORE-TEX rain jackets on our list, but it is more durable.

The main reason to pay this much for a technical shell is that you need a heavy-duty jacket for a job (e.g., mountain guiding) or alpine sport (e.g., big-wall climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering) that punishes gear. Those who don’t spend extensive time at high elevation doing hardcore mountain sports probably won’t appreciate GORE-TEX Pro Light’s milestone mix of durability and mobility. 

If you’re a guide or alpine climber who’s been saving up for a lighter, more mobile shell that can stand up to a season of abuse, you should send it with the Norrona trollveggen. However, for hiking, backpacking, or more casual uses, readers will be happier with one of the all-around rain jackets on our list that costs hundreds of dollars less.

What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?

The Norrona trollveggen GORE-TEX Pro Light dominates its specific niche, but many readers will be better off choosing one of the rain jackets in our guide that’s made for hiking, backpacking, or everyday wear:

Arc’teryx Beta SL Jacket Review: If you’re not a guide or mountaineer but want a pinnacle waterproof shell, the Arc’teryx Beta has lived near the top of our list for years. It’s a premium pick for hardcore hikers and backpackers who pony up for high-end gear and apparel.

Outdoor Research Foray/Aspire Review: The Foray (Men’s)/ Aspire (Women’s) is our value pick for hikers and backpackers who want a durable, reliable waterproof jacket that costs hundreds of dollars less than our favorite Arc’teryx and Norrona shells.

Patagonia Torrentshell Review: The Torrentshell isn’t as waterproof or durable as the trollveggen, but it is significantly more affordable. It’s a much better match for those wanting a more casual rain jacket that still performs well on hikes.