The Papsura is part of The North Face’s Summit series, which is used to denote the brand’s brightest and best product lines. It’s billed as a highly breathable waterproof shell that’s also extremely lightweight, which – spoiler alert – is certainly a fair description. 

Named after the formidable peak in East Tosh Glacier of Indian Himalaya, the highlight feature of the Papsura jacket is that it’s made of TNF’s own Futurelight material, which blends a membrane and an outer and inner layers into a lightweight, waterproof yet (according to TNF) breathable shell. 

We’ve already reviewed the women’s Papsura jacket. This time, we’ve got our take on the men’s version.

The Top Line

In the main, the TNF Summit Papsura is a conventionally designed waterproof, with taped seams, two substantial hand pockets and an adjustable hood. The left hand pocket has an internal suspended mesh pocket too, which is useful for smaller items and valuables.

Arguably most important here is the weight question, which the Papsura answers impressively, coming in at 245 grams in a size large. For context, TNF’s running shell, the Futurelight Superior, weighs in at 253 grams in a large, and Rab’s ultralight Flashpoint jacket 196 grams, placing the Papsura well up the ranks in terms of a practical yet lightweight shell. 

Buy The North Face Summit Papsura: £360 at Ellis-brigham.com

Details to Expect on The North Face Papsura

The hand pockets are generously sized, with plenty of room for a folded map, and they sport neatly-garaged zips with storm flaps to boot. There’s no pretence of sealing the zippers, which allows much easier operation and a much more flexible aperture. The TNF Summit Papsura is designed to fold down into the right hand pocket, and the zip is double-sided to help facilitate this feat. When packed down, a small hanging loop provides some extra options, easily clipped to a harness or rucksack for example. 

The hood is a decent size, easily able to swallow a helmet, and has a lightly stiffened peak – less protective than a fully wired version, but much more useful than nothing at all. The adjuster bungee runs around the back of the head in use, which allows for surprisingly good adjustment, but not as positive as one with an over-the head component. The wrist closures really reveal the lightweight nature of this shell, being only elasticated not velcro, but with a stiffened and extended upper section that offers extra protection. 

Will The Papsura Keep Me Dry?

In use, the Futurelight material delivers very well indeed, remaining breathable in pretty hefty ascents, and needless to say there are no complaints with water dispersal and beading. The Papsura is perfectly windproof too, unlike some lightweight breathable waterproofs, so overall there’s a lot of protection here for very little weight. Inevitably, the weight saving does sacrifice some burliness, and heat does get stripped away in higher winds and more harrowing conditions, but not as noticeably as some light shells. The Futurelight material is also much more tactile and manageable than Gore-tex Paclite, making it a more pleasant experience to wear, and less rustly and crinkly in use, both minor points, but add to a sense of quality – fortunately, given the relatively robust RRP (£360) of the Papsura. 

Another key benefit is the underarm gussets, which add a real sense of roominess to a shell that’s a reasonably snug cut, without being so slimline as to inhibit layering beneath. Especially in mountaineering-style moments where you’re reaching above your head, the gussets come into their own, preventing the tail riding up and allowing unfettered movement. That movement is also aided by a lack of shoulder seams, which should in theory add to comfort levels, although with such a thin material it’s hard to say this made a major difference. However, it should help the longevity of the shell, keeping the delicate tape out of the major wear areas. 

Verdict

Overall we very much liked the (lack of) weight and build quality of the Papsura, and the level of protection it offers is very impressive. While it does come up short of a proper 4-season Gore-Tex Pro shell’s protection, it’s also a fraction of the weight, making it ideal for a summer ‘just in case’ backpacking shell that’ll see you right if conditions turn, but won’t crucify you with the weight penalty if it ends up staying packed in your backpack. 

Price: £360
Weight: 245g (large)
Best for: Summer hikes and fast-and-light hill expeditions
Key attributes: lightweight, protective

Buy The North Face Summit Papsura: £360 at Ellis-brigham.com