Norrona Falketind Dri1 Rain Jacket Review

Bottom Line

The Norrona Falketind Dri1 (men’s / women’s) is one of the lightest jackets in our lineup of the best rain jackets of the year. Weighing in under nine ounces, it’s the perfect jacket for lightweight adventures, doubling as a windbreaker. While most ultralight jackets sacrifice weather resistance for minimal weight, the Falketind Dri1 balances both. 

With its helmet-compatible hood, the Falketind Dri1 is great for technical alpine adventures. Worn on a climb of California’s Cathedral Peak, we loved the technical fit for moving across technical rock without feeling restricted. Extremely lightweight and breathable, we like to use this jacket as a windbreaker on days without precipitation. Although it has only one chest vent, the material still breathes well while hiking uphill.

Falketind Dri1 is the lightest jacket in Norrona’s lineup. For us, it is perfect when we want a light, yet protective jacket for alpine adventures. While paper-thin, it still provides excellent weather resistance and durability while packing down into a tight bundle.

How We Tested

Testing was conducted by Alaskan Gear Analyst, Miles Knotek. Primarily tested in his home of the coastal Chugach and Kenai ranges, the Falketind Dri1 was exposed to heavy fall rains and even some light snow. On a climbing and backpacking trip in California’s Sierra Mountains, he tested its abilities in windy and cold environments of late fall in the high alpine.

Comfort & Mobility

The Norrona Falketind Dri1 is built with incredibly soft and quiet material. It eschews the loud crinkling found in other high-end jackets and instead is whisper-quiet. It feels soft against the skin and is even comfortable to wear with just a t-shirt underneath.

The technical fit is trim yet still roomy enough to layer underneath. With either a base layer or a mid layer underneath, it does not feel restrictive. While scrambling high peaks in the Sierra, it never felt restrictive, even on long reaches up technical rock.

The only part of this jacket that feels awkward is the cuffs. They are oddly large, and we have to cinch in a lot of material to make them more weather-tight. Plus, the velcro adjustment tabs at the cuff are puzzlingly short, measuring just an inch. While the system still works to take in the excess material, it is a stretch with the short velcro tabs. If you’re a big-wristed person, this will be a dream jacket.

Weather Resistance

With a 2.5-layer construction, the Falketind Dri1 provides solid weather resistance for most wet-weather adventures. While not as rugged as other 3-layer options, it still provides enough weather resistance for most conditions.

The only times we felt it wasn’t quite enough were during the torrential downpours common in the Coastal Alaskan rainforest. Only then was it wetting through (but it took a few hours of exposure). But for prolonged exposure to less heavy rain, it provides more than enough protection. It is also completely windproof, making it a viable option for windy days even without precipitation.

Ventilation

The Falketind Dri1 is unique in our lineup because it is the only jacket with a single vent. The vertical zipper on the chest is the only ventilation zip on the jacket. This placement, directly next to the main zipper, is a bit redundant and not as efficient as pit vents. While the vent is perfect for opening and letting a little airflow in, we usually just unzip the main zipper if we need to cool down quickly. We typically prefer pit vents, but this chest zip is far better than having none.

The 2.5-layer construction balances weather resistance and breathability, leaning slightly toward breathability. We found that the Dri1 material didn’t accumulate perspiration as quickly as other fabrics. It quickly became a favorite for high-output activities while still needing weather resistance.

Durability

The Norrona Falketind Dri1 is noticeably paper-thin. However, this does not translate over to low durability. We are pleasantly surprised by this jacket’s durability. Wearing this jacket bushwhacking in Alaska’s notoriously thick alders, or scratching through scraggly alpine pines in California, it is still holding up without showing any weaknesses or scratches.

If you’re someone who prefers the peace of mind of a beefier jacket, there are other options out there. But if you’re dedicated to the fast and light and willing to trust an ultra-thin jacket, the Falketind Dri1 is an excellent choice.

Weight

At 8.74 ounces, the Falketind Dri1 is the third lightest jacket in our lineup. We used this on ultralight backpacking trips, alpine climbs, and even trail runs. It is hardly noticeable in a pack and is light and airy on the body. While it fits in the chest pocket, it forms a rather large bundle. 

It can be crunched down further if needed, but a slightly smaller chest pocket would help it be even more packable. It still packs down into a tight bundle and fits easily in a backpack or even a running vest.

Should You Buy the Norrona Falketind Dri1 Rain Jacket?

The Norrona Falketind Dri1 is a high-performance and premium-quality piece of equipment. As such, its price point is not as attainable as others, making it a less viable option for entry-level enthusiasts. But for those willing to spend the extra money, this jacket is the perfect blend of lightweight and weather resistance. 

While not as burly or thick as other jackets, this is perfect for anyone moving quickly in alpine terrain. If you count every ounce in your pack, but still expect the most out of your gear, check out the Falketind Dri1.

What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?

See how Norrona’s innovative design stacks up against our other favorites in our best rain jackets gear guide.

Montbell Versalite Review: Even lighter than the Falketind Dri1, the Versalite is perfect for running or ultra-light backpacking.

Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Review: Another jacket with soft and supple materials, the Stretch Ozonic comes at a lower price point.

Arc’teryx Beta SL Review: With some of the best weather resistance in our lineup, the Beta SL is built for extreme conditions in the wet and cold.