Columbia Watertight II vs The North Face Antora
Two waterproof shells for two different shoppers, and the fits differ: the Columbia Watertight II is cut for men, the Antora for women. The Columbia is $60, an Omni-Tech jacket with fully sealed seams and a storm hood that stuffs into its own hand pocket, rated 4.6 stars over 38,000 ratings. The North Face Antora is $130, a seam-sealed DryVent 2-layer shell in recycled ripstop with a three-piece hood and zip hand pockets that layers over a fleece, rated 4.7 stars but on only about 81 ratings so far. Asked as columbia watertight ii vs north face antora, the honest read is price and track record against a heavier-duty build for cold, wet weekends.
Choose the Columbia Watertight II if
You want the most-proven budget shell in the catalog at $60, sized for a man, and you are layering it over a fleece on wet fall weekends.
$60.00 · 4.6★ · 38,000 ratings
See the Columbia Watertight II →Choose the The North Face Antora if
You want a sturdier 2-layer women's coat with a three-piece hood for genuinely bad forecasts, and $130 for a shell you will keep for years is acceptable.
$130.00 · 4.7★ · 81 ratings
See the The North Face Antora →Columbia Watertight II vs The North Face Antora: side by side
| Spec | Columbia Watertight II | The North Face Antora |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $60.00 | $130.00 |
| Rating | 4.6★ from 38,000 ratings | 4.7★ from 81 ratings |
| Category | Clothing | Apparel & Footwear |
| Best for | Budget rain protection for family hikes, campground days, and everyday commutes | Best for the adult who wants one heavier-duty waterproof coat for cold, wet weekends at camp and rainy mornings at home |
| One thing it does well | Omni-Tech waterproof shell with fully sealed seams holds up in steady rain | Seam-sealed DryVent 2L shell is a sturdier, heavier-duty build than a 2.5-layer ultralight |
| One thing to know | No pit zips, so it runs warm during high-exertion hiking | Only about 81 reviews so far - a much thinner track record than the Columbia or the Venture 2 |
| Who should buy it | Families who want a packable rain shell that fits over fleece layers without emptying the wallet; Day hikers and campers who get caught in passing showers and need reliable, seam-sealed waterproofing | Campers who get rained on in shoulder seasons and want a coat, not a featherweight shell; Adults who layer a fleece underneath and need a cut roomy enough to fit over it |
Pros and cons, side by side
Columbia Watertight II
Pros
- Omni-Tech waterproof shell with fully sealed seams holds up in steady rain
- Packs into its own hand pocket for easy storage in a daypack or camp bag
- Adjustable storm hood and cuffs keep rain off during gusty hikes
- Breathable mesh lining releases heat during active use
Cons
- No pit zips, so it runs warm during high-exertion hiking
- Not insulated — needs a midlayer underneath in cool weather
- Sizing runs a bit generous; some buyers size down
The North Face Antora
Pros
- Seam-sealed DryVent 2L shell is a sturdier, heavier-duty build than a 2.5-layer ultralight
- Adjustable three-piece hood gives real face coverage in wind-driven rain
- Roomier cut layers over a fleece, so it works as a cold-weather camp shell
- Alpine-style zip hand pockets hold a phone and keys securely
Cons
- Only about 81 reviews so far - a much thinner track record than the Columbia or the Venture 2
- At $130 it is a premium pick, not the jacket you buy for the whole family
- Heavier and bulkier in a pack than a dedicated ultralight shell
What the numbers say
The Columbia Watertight II lists at $60.00 and the The North Face Antora at $130.00 — Columbia Watertight II is the cheaper of the two by $70.00. The Columbia Watertight II carries the larger review base (38,000 ratings at 4.6★ vs 81 at 4.7★), which usually means the failure modes are better documented. Price and ratings are read from the TrailMapz catalog and refreshed on every deploy — check the product pages for today's numbers before you buy.
The verdict
Neither product wins outright — the trip decides. Pick the Columbia Watertight II if this is your trip: You want the most-proven budget shell in the catalog at $60, sized for a man, and you are layering it over a fleece on wet fall weekends. Pick the The North Face Antora instead if this is your trip: You want a sturdier 2-layer women's coat with a three-piece hood for genuinely bad forecasts, and $130 for a shell you will keep for years is acceptable. Read the two lists against the trip you are actually taking, not the one in the marketing photos, and the decision usually makes itself.
Shopping the whole category? best clothing guide and best apparel & footwear guide put every pick in the category in context, and the side-by-side compare tool lets you put any two products in the catalog next to each other.
More head-to-head comparisons
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