Discussion
I bought my other half a North Face jacket - one of the down-filled type. When it arrived, I was surprised to see that the logos are screen printed on, not embroidered, and there wasn't a holographic tag on it either, just a regular tag.
In the past, my TNF clothing has always had embroidered logos and hologram tags, but it's a while since I bought any of their stuff, have things changed? Or have I bought fake stuff!?
Oddly, I was in town with my younger, more fashion aware sister a couple of weeks back and asked her since when did JD Sports sell North Face stuff... and she seemed to think it was the Chav clothing of choice lately. Eyes to the left and right thereafter would suggest she is correct. Hell of a lot of Rab gear on display too, mostly middle aged couples in matchy matchy mode.
gazza285 said:
They were bought out years ago, and have slowly moved towards the more downmarket but bigger sales end of the market. The pace of decline seems to accelerating over the last five years though.
My last North Face jacket was used for about 8 years until it looked tired. Bought a new one two years ago, still strong. Bought a few other jackets recently as well. No issues with quality.What was funny whilst on an elevator a few years back two kids commenting on North Face, basically how everyone has one. Well I have one because for 300 quid, I get 3 in 1 jackets, they last year's and stop you getting wet or cold. I think too many dismiss them because they are popular, which is odd.
I have a North Face padded down jacket and the logo on mine is embroidered, bought from House of Fraser so i'm confident it's genuine, It does seem it's becoming a bit chav now and it's often hard to tell who is wearing fake and who is wearing the real thing.
All that being said it's bloody comfy and very warm so I don't really care.
All that being said it's bloody comfy and very warm so I don't really care.
Type in North Face into Facebook Marketplace and look at all the ads directing you to buy from websites for peanuts - that tells you that the market for counterfeit is huge. I was in a gift shop at the seaside yesterday and the place had loads of North Face/Helly Hansen/Etc beanies for £5 each. They were embroidered logos but very average looking and not sharp.
It's at least a decade since North Face was a credible choice for mountaineers and serious skiers buying their own clothing.
It's no longer innovative in design and cut to fit high street purchasers ie 'non athletic' to use a non perjorative term. Items are heavy for the protection they provide.
I think they've found a non-niche which is pretty successful. ie. reasonably performing protection for people who use it 90% for non athletic activities.
Mountain equipment and Rab make more athletically focussed walking/climbing kit. Arcteryx for climbing/ski mountaineering.
Other Euro brands such as Salomon, Dynafit, Haglofs, Mammut and North American such as Black Diamond, Outdoor Research all better than TNF in my experience.
Patagonia still do some good stuff but its going the same way as TNF ie fashion first and cut for the street.
Niche retailers don't stock TNF like they used to.
Many of these brands are Chinese owned so my Euro/North American refers to brand origin rather than ownership/production
It's no longer innovative in design and cut to fit high street purchasers ie 'non athletic' to use a non perjorative term. Items are heavy for the protection they provide.
I think they've found a non-niche which is pretty successful. ie. reasonably performing protection for people who use it 90% for non athletic activities.
Mountain equipment and Rab make more athletically focussed walking/climbing kit. Arcteryx for climbing/ski mountaineering.
Other Euro brands such as Salomon, Dynafit, Haglofs, Mammut and North American such as Black Diamond, Outdoor Research all better than TNF in my experience.
Patagonia still do some good stuff but its going the same way as TNF ie fashion first and cut for the street.
Niche retailers don't stock TNF like they used to.
Many of these brands are Chinese owned so my Euro/North American refers to brand origin rather than ownership/production
Odd isn't it.
My innit bruv 15 year old is so jealous of my black Nuptse down jacket that I bought in 2010 and is still going strong. Cost me £110 back then, and I thought it pretty expensive.
It has earned its price over and over again on hikes, working outdoors and general use. Plus it packs down very small.
Thought I'd buy him one for Christmas but...
£270
fek off!
Looked on eBay and old knackered ones like mine are fetching £170.
World's gone mad.
My innit bruv 15 year old is so jealous of my black Nuptse down jacket that I bought in 2010 and is still going strong. Cost me £110 back then, and I thought it pretty expensive.
It has earned its price over and over again on hikes, working outdoors and general use. Plus it packs down very small.
Thought I'd buy him one for Christmas but...
£270
fek off!Looked on eBay and old knackered ones like mine are fetching £170.
World's gone mad.
North Face are in the “standing still and keeping warm” category now. Years ago it would be the brand to wear in a bid to fool others into thinking you climbed mountains at the weekend, now even their “technical” stuff is borderline fashion but that’s in keeping with their owners business strategy which is working for them. There is a lot of fake stuff around though, or rather not even fake, just the logo slapped on cheap cotton tracksuits, hoodies etc. You should spot a fake jacket easy enough, feathers/synthetic feels a lot different to down for example and the outer fabric should be ripstop which is easy to see up close.
I worked in an outdoor shop in the late 90s/00s, outdoor stuff was trendy, people wore base layers to the pub!, you’d see a dozen of those garish yellow SprayWay mountain jackets in every gastropub going, I doesn’t care who I sold stuff too and we did really well. Now it’s a bit more discreet. I don’t think I’ve seen North Face stuff on the hills in years unless it’s older kit, now it’s Arcteryx, Haglofs etc. I’ve remained loyal to Berghaus for about twenty years, the kit is great, durable and they just seem to get all the little things like pockets and hoods right
I see a lot of Musto and Gill stuff around Bristol now, I guess pretending you sail is now preferred to pretending you climb mountains.
I worked in an outdoor shop in the late 90s/00s, outdoor stuff was trendy, people wore base layers to the pub!, you’d see a dozen of those garish yellow SprayWay mountain jackets in every gastropub going, I doesn’t care who I sold stuff too and we did really well. Now it’s a bit more discreet. I don’t think I’ve seen North Face stuff on the hills in years unless it’s older kit, now it’s Arcteryx, Haglofs etc. I’ve remained loyal to Berghaus for about twenty years, the kit is great, durable and they just seem to get all the little things like pockets and hoods right
I see a lot of Musto and Gill stuff around Bristol now, I guess pretending you sail is now preferred to pretending you climb mountains.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 29th December 09:20
oddman said:
It's at least a decade since North Face was a credible choice for mountaineers and serious skiers buying their own clothing.
It's no longer innovative in design and cut to fit high street purchasers ie 'non athletic' to use a non perjorative term. Items are heavy for the protection they provide.
I think they've found a non-niche which is pretty successful. ie. reasonably performing protection for people who use it 90% for non athletic activities.
Mountain equipment and Rab make more athletically focussed walking/climbing kit. Arcteryx for climbing/ski mountaineering.
Other Euro brands such as Salomon, Dynafit, Haglofs, Mammut and North American such as Black Diamond, Outdoor Research all better than TNF in my experience.
Patagonia still do some good stuff but its going the same way as TNF ie fashion first and cut for the street.
Niche retailers don't stock TNF like they used to.
Many of these brands are Chinese owned so my Euro/North American refers to brand origin rather than ownership/production
It's no longer innovative in design and cut to fit high street purchasers ie 'non athletic' to use a non perjorative term. Items are heavy for the protection they provide.
I think they've found a non-niche which is pretty successful. ie. reasonably performing protection for people who use it 90% for non athletic activities.
Mountain equipment and Rab make more athletically focussed walking/climbing kit. Arcteryx for climbing/ski mountaineering.
Other Euro brands such as Salomon, Dynafit, Haglofs, Mammut and North American such as Black Diamond, Outdoor Research all better than TNF in my experience.
Patagonia still do some good stuff but its going the same way as TNF ie fashion first and cut for the street.
Niche retailers don't stock TNF like they used to.
Many of these brands are Chinese owned so my Euro/North American refers to brand origin rather than ownership/production
Mountain Equipment was founded by Peter Hutchinson, he sold it on and started PHDesign which is all made in the UK by little old ladies in a shed [I kid not] - super lightweight, customisable and like wearing hot air. Tad pricey but one of mine is on its tenth year with no probs.
RAB - very good, rightly popular with hikers/runners, I'd add Montane as well - niche again but light/effective and popular on the hill rather than the street. [Look at the races they sponsor!]
Edited by andy_s on Wednesday 29th December 10:31
Ouroboros said:
Canada goose is worn by all the 'grammers along with all the other big brands, people spunk a grand in a coat they will struggle to wear in the coldest UK months, they may as well tell the world about it.
I've got a McMurdo North Face Parka. Cannot be worn in a UK winter if you are walking. Gets too hot. I wear it standing still for hours filming football matches for Telly. In fact I wear my Nuptse down jacket underneath.
Then strip it all off when derigging and carrying £100k lenses down ladders
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