We wondered: Why couldn’t we wear a shell all day, never taking it off?” Mellin recalled. “Andres pushed me to think outside the current paradigm, and I then challenged our internal teams with the same theme.” Is Nanospinning Really New? To be sure, it can’t handle high exertion in warm temps. But nothing we’ve tested in this category can. At the end of the day, my base layer top — a long-sleeve FlashDry synthetic by The North Face — was wet with sweat.

Naturally, it feels like a big claim when brands shout about how waterproof and breathable their product is. After all, how waterproof can something be if there’s holes in it that allow air to pass through. Ever since FutureLight first appeared at the ISPO trade show in 2019, there’s been much discussion about just how effective such a technology can realistically be in the long term. Ever since we first became aware of FutureLight’s shift into footwear, we’ve been intrigued to see how the technology would be implemented in the world of walking boots.

The North Face FUTURELIGHT Review

The resulting product, the FUTURELIGHT membrane, looks like a white, stretchy film. It is so porous as to be actually 85 percent air. FUTURELIGHT vs. NeoShell or AscentShell

The lacing system allows you to tighten the ankle of the boot to give fairly good support. These are mid-height boots so they will not be suitable for very rough terrain and winter wear. And the entire time, I had the FUTURELIGHT shell on and zipped up. The North Face FUTURELIGHT Review In short, I put FUTURELIGHT through its paces for 2 days. It performed better than anything similar I’ve worn in this kind of scenario. Getting ready for a steep descent off Hayden, via the Northwest Couloir As we noted in an initial article on FUTURELIGHT, the moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) is 75,000 g/m²/day. For context, the highly breathable eVent fabric has a top MVTR of 30,000 g/m²/day. It’s a boot that is best suited to tarmac and trails, rather than mountains. I know that the brand believes it will cope with a wide range of terrain but unless you were heading into the mountains in summer on a high quality path that is not too steep, I can’t recommend the boots for high altitude wear. In Scotland, these boots would not be suitable for anything more than easy hill walking on defined trails and paths.Hitting up a number of hilly park areas around south east London, on some very warm days, I was genuinely impressed by how comfortable my feet felt while wearing them. Even after a number of hours strolling about, I never felt that urge I’ve felt with some other waterproof shoes to take them off and get some air between my toes.

We had climbed Hayden and then skied the Northwest Couloir. The classic line had been little-skied this season because of avalanche danger.If it works anywhere near as well as the hype would have you believe, it’s potentially an absolute game changer in the world of hiking boots. Conclusion

Seeing the technology implemented in footwear is a fascinating development. The Activist FutureLight claims to have an advanced level of waterproofing, while also being breathable enough to regulate temperature and keep you comfortable. We’re yet to take these things out on a proper adventure but so far, so good. We’re looking forward to getting out there, with them on our feet, and seeing what they’re really made of. Buy the North Face Activist FutureLight here You May Also Like These boots are comfortable straight out of the box. These days, if a shoe or boot is not immediately comfortable I would reject it so the North Face The North Face Activist Futurelight mid walking boot passes the first test. But Mellin confirmed to GearJunkie that FUTURELIGHT, though born of a process similar to other competing waterproof-breathable membranes, is a new, unique format. It’s manufactured in Korea outside of Seoul. TNF worked with a factory that makes insulating elements for electronics. It created new machines to develop a new kind of membrane that would slip into the fabric workflow. Beyond the membrane, other components make FUTURELIGHT unique, Mellin said. First is a new kind of seam tape that is smaller, thinner, and more stretchy. The North Face also developed its own yarn and weaving processes, as well as new lamination and finishing techniques.The Activist’s Mid’s main draw is FUTURELIGHT, an electrospun, air-permeable waterproof/breathable membrane. During a rainy trip in Arizona’s Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness, the tech kept our feet dry but ensured they never got too sweaty with temps in the 80s. An extra-soft collar and cushier-than-average EVA midsole sweeten the deal even more. FUTURELIGHT is a harbinger to what TNF notes is a massive move “outside the supply chain.” The company spent millions to veer away from the available options and toward proprietary materials that could better distinguish the brand. The resulting grid has holes small enough for air permeability and breathability, though sized to keep moisture (rain, sleet) from seeping through. This is the same general premise Gore-Tex has used since the 1970s. But FUTURELIGHT is (as the name says) lighter, and it’s also more breathable in the mountains or the lab, Mellin promises.