By:Michael Isaacs

The North Face Diad is probably the best 7 ounce rain jacket you can buy. It sells for $250 which seems like a premium price for similar technology to the $160 Venture jacket. The reality is the Diad weighs 40% less than the Venture. If weight and packability is what you are after then you need this jacket. For $250 you get a well designed very compressable jacket that will not weigh you down when the rain starts to fall. The North Face uses Torray's latest lightweight nylon with thier Hyvent waterproof breathable technolgy and welded seams throughout.

The catch is this jacket is not very breatheable, but that really depends on your activity level, and this jacket is not very durable. I have not ripped this jacket yet but the seam tape is starting to peel off. If you need a long term jacket get an Arc'Teryx Alpha LT.