While visiting Alaska I boought a jacket from http://www.hellyhansen.com/products
These jackets stood the rain test of the rain forest trekking in Juneau and I have not looked back. well worth the money in my opinion.
Unlike my retired trusty N.F. jacket the outer layer did not get saturated. The water just simply beaded up and rolled off.
It is not the same company it was 9 years ago imo. Probably a perception issue but it fits into the same catagory as Patagucci lol!
I could not agree more with regard to their shoes. Our rep showed me the entire line last summer and I found all of 2 shoes I was willing to consider to purchase for the store. This out of 100+ models. Blah. I have never seen such an ugly line of low quality shoes.North Face dipped in quality in the mid 90's, but anything recent by them is good stuff. They are worth a look. Except their shoes. Their shoes are worthless.
I have a Grundens Rain jacket I picked up in Oregon last summer. So far I love it, great quality at a reasonable price, plus stellar performance.x2 for HH
Also check out Grundens - 10+ years in the timber and fishing industries in WA, OR, and AK and we always swore by those two brands of rain gear.
http://www.grundens.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=27