The North Face (738 articles)
The North Face® - The Outdoor Specialist
The logo is almost iconic: three curved stripes, plus the brand name The North Face. This alludes to two things: The North Face is usually the side of the mountain that is the most difficult to climb. But there is also a concrete model: Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. The striking rock formation has the shape of a huge sphere to the southeast - and breaks off over 600 metres to the northwest. This wall has long been the benchmark for climbing in North America. This also makes the claim clear: to produce clothing and hard goods for the most extreme demands and to inspire people to discover a life full of adventure. This claim has guided the brand for over 50 years and is the basis for the corporate culture.
Equipment for extreme demands
From the very beginning, The North Face supported numerous expeditions, including famous expeditions such as the first women's expedition on Annapurna in 1978 or the Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1989/90. Clothing and hard goods were thus in extreme use from the very beginning - and were tested and successively improved in these requirements. In 1975, The North Face was one of the first manufacturers to bring a geodesic tent onto the market. This tent shape, which was new at the time, can withstand heavier loads (such as snow) and stronger winds and is now widely used, especially for expedition tents. This means that from the very beginning, the slogan was introduced in 1997: Never stop exploring. Every year, courageous The North Face athletes set off on new, undiscovered expeditions. In 2016, Simone Moro, Alex Txikon and Tamara Lunger successfully conquered the winter expedition to Nanga Parbat.
The North Face® Clothing - Lab Tested, Expedition Proven
The North Face does not only produce clothing for expeditions in the Himalayas or wild alpine actions. After all, The North Face is the world market leader in outdoor clothing. This does not come from expedition clothing - but from products for the most diverse demands. Of course, there are jackets and trousers made of softshell and hardshell as well as down jackets. The North Face has been working with Gore-Tex for thirty years.
A classic among winter jackets is now the Parker McMurdo, named after the research and logistics station in Antarctica. Perfect for the city or short hikes, but not suitable for a high-altitude tour. But The North Face also has jackets for different requirements between city walks and high-altitude tours. A classic among the backpacks is the Borealis. This is a classic all-round backpack in which a laptop including laptop bag can be stowed just as well as a hydration system for hiking.
But of course, as in the company's early days, the range also includes expedition tents and mountain boots. Even though the North Face duffel bags are suitable for expeditions, they are also good companions for a normal camping holiday (for example, if the tent suddenly finds itself in the middle of a lake after a Sardinian shower ...).
The Summit Series
Every year, the core of The North Face® collection is revised and launched. The collection is considered one of the highest quality and most sophisticated on the market. Tested and co-developed by top The North Face® athletes.
Who is the Summit Series for?
For all alpinists and climbers who roam in inhospitable regions and who value clothing that allows them to push their limits. The slogan makes you sit up and take notice - "The Other Way", but what exactly does that mean? On the one hand, it means the intensive cooperation with the athletes in the development. On the other hand, it also refers to the manageable target group. "Because the products are unique and were only produced for a special target group and athletes, it was clear to us that the line would only be shown in the corresponding specialised shops. There, the collection can be presented specifically and on a personal level to the core target group of outdoor athletes", says Tony Erlick of The North Face. "Whether it's the new Summit Series itself, or the limited delivery to specific retailers, everything we've done to bring it to market, we've done differently".
What products are available in the Summit Series?
- Summit L1 - Baselayer: ensure perfect heat and moisture management.
- Summit L2 - Midlayer: This jacket made of Polartec® Thermal Pro® fleece with Hardface® technology in the back combines robustness with functionality.
- Summit L3 - Down midlayer: Perfect for cold weather use thanks to its 800 cuin down filling.
- Summit L4 - Midlayer with Thermoball insulation; this synthetic insulation still works when wet.
- Summit L5 - Shell jacket and shell pants: Here the 3-layer DryVentTM membrane provides breathability and moisture protection. Thanks to the FuseFormTM, a special weaving process, the jacket and trousers are made in one piece and are therefore particularly robust.
- Summit L6 - Belay down jacket: This down jacket with its 800 cuin filling provides warmth, and not only when belaying!
Sustainability
For The North Face®, sustainability is the basis for design, production and employee management. The bluesign® standard is now common for this. By 2015, 65 percent of production is to be certified accordingly. This is the company's contribution to environmental protection.
Brand check: The North Face:
- The North Face, founded in 1966 in the North Beach district of San Francisco; part of the Finnish VF Corporation group.
- Mainly known for ... tents, hardshell jackets and trousers, fleece and softshell jackets, sleeping bags, hiking, climbing and mountaineering clothing.
- A well-known athlete of this brand is ... Some: Among climbers Alex Honold and Daniel Woods and "old" champion Yuji Hirayama, among mountaineers David Göttler and Simone Moro.
- A "classic" is ... For example, the Parker McMurdo or the Base Camp Duffel bags.
- Sustainability: Bluesign Standard®; co-development of the new "Responsible Down Standard" (RDS)