Current North Face Quality

[StillMoving]

Is the current quality of North Face products worth the money?

I've read at least one comment here that in recent years the quality has dropped.

I have 2 older NF fleece jackets. While I don't use them for backpacking I just use one for (to keep it short) around town, the other for sitting around the campfire, truck camping, etc.

My dad is in his 80s and wanted one, so I ordered him one. 3 things immediately stood out:

1. The fleece seemed thinner and cheesier - tough to qualify that one.
2. The nylon abrasion patches were thinner.
3. The new one has a ribbed nylon-elastic cuff ...Boo hiss...while mine has a small rope-elastic deal.

Over the years I've had 2 NF bags and they were great. My last backpacking trip most everything I had was stolen, so I'm in the market to replace things.

Guess the reality is I'm mostly interested in current bag quality but all info is welcome.

Thanks.

And I'm hoping since I can't edit my posts that I have the paragraph thing figured out. In Preview mode it looks good, but in the past the paragraphs disappear when I hit Submit.

[martinb]

From what I've heard it hit or miss. Depends on which foreign plant made it.

[OutdoorsygirlNH]

Got a replacement jacket for my old NF fleece that I have had for years and finally zipper could not be repaired. It was not as good as quality as my old one. Fleece was skimpy and it just is not as warm as my old one.

[scrabbler]

Its kind of a tricky question. Materials and technology have changed over the years too. The one that seems lighter today might actually be warmer than the thicker one from years ago, just based on materials and advances. Zippers may be thinner. Comparing NF to competitors is more relevant.

[StillMoving]

Got a replacement jacket for my old NF fleece that I have had for years and finally zipper could not be repaired. It was not as good as quality as my old one. Fleece was skimpy and it just is not as warm as my old one.

Bummer. I always hate when good products change their manufacturing plan to quantity-over-quality.

I just checked all zips old vs. new:

The locking teeth may be a tiny bit smaller on the new, all the metal zip pulls are different shaped but not necessarily worse - who knows?, the metal thing that locks the teeth together on the main closure seems to be a bit smaller on the new also.

Thanks.

[StillMoving]

Its kind of a tricky question. Materials and technology have changed over the years too. The one that seems lighter today might actually be warmer than the thicker one from years ago, just based on materials and advances. Zippers may be thinner. Comparing NF to competitors is more relevant.

That's a really good point.

I've never been a gear expert...guess I just got lucky and found what worked without too much drama or wasted money. The military gave me good stuff so I had a good place to start.

I need to get close to being an expert though as I need to replace things and want to try the AT in '18.

Matter of fact this weekend I'm going out to truck camp and will use my old MSS as the forecast claims a low of 32F and humidity 55%...although it's usually a bit colder where I'll be.

Thanks.

[The Solemates]

of course its not worth it. a $10 fleece at goodwill is just as warm as a north face expensive one. all depends on the density of the fabric. there are plenty of cheap fleeces with adequate density.

[StillMoving]

of course its not worth it. a $10 fleece at goodwill is just as warm as a north face expensive one. all depends on the density of the fabric. there are plenty of cheap fleeces with adequate density.

Makes sense to me.

[bigcranky]

For sleeping bags, in my personal humble opinion TNF is right in the middle of the pack for quality at a general purpose outfitter like REI. Not the worst, but not high end.

[StillMoving]

Thanks big and frankly I'm glad to hear it. I really liked my 2 previous TNF bags.

FWIW I've been a member of REI since 1977...or 79. They've always said 77 but other day she said 79. I love it when they say something like, "Wow, you joined before my dad was born."

Where's my walker...

[Venchka]

For sleeping bags, in my personal humble opinion TNF is right in the middle of the pack for quality at a general purpose outfitter like REI. Not the worst, but not high end.

Year before last I was in the market for a Rocky Mountain 3 season bag. The 15 degree The North Face Hightail 3s was the #2 bag on my short list. The bag was discontinued. The replacement was unacceptable to me. On an impulse I bought the last one from Moosejaw for 25% off. Long story short, I kept it 3 days and returned it for a refund. Suffice to say they had skimped everywhere possible.
A darn shame. My first 2 backpacking tents came from The North Face and I would welcome both of them back.
Wayne


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[fastfoxengineering]

For the money TNF products sell for, I'd rather spend my money on gear from some of the great cottage backpacking manufacturers.

Their stuff isn't bad, I just get imo better engineered products for the same price point from cottage shops.

[fastfoxengineering]

I should add...

I own some north face clothing. Fleece pull overs and more casual wear. I've been very happy with it.

I would never ever pay full price for these items and got them heavily discounted on local clearance racks.

I have a really comfortable pull over thick fleece that I paid $25 for brand new on a clearance rack. The MSRP was like $120. I wouldn't even try it on for that price.

[saltysack]

Only gear I currently own from TNF is my sons tigger sleeping bag. Great 20* kids bag but it's several years old and not made anymore. Personally I prefer cottage mfg gear for hiking with exception of a few larger mainstream companies such as......montbell, patagoochie etc....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[StillMoving]

Thanks folks.

Based on what I've read here and info from other folks, I'll not purchase more TNF gear. The 2 fleece jackets I have work good for what I use them for: around town and around the campfire. For doing anything physical they're terrible, and I carried one in a pack in a long time.

I understand the cottage industry thing, and frankly I'd much rather support them than Big Biz. But...I'm not familiar with who's making great and stuff and who'd making junk.

As I said earlier this is mostly about bags. Seems price is inversely proportional to weight, and think what I'm going to do is buy a high quality/best quality bag that'll keep me down to the coldest I'll encounter on the AT, then I'll sleep on top of it with a liner during the hot times...and just carry that bag the entire way. For now, I'm not interested in mailing stuff home, then having it returned later...plus to do that I'd have to enlist friends and I hate putting folks out.

I have a ton of logistic questions and hate to start a thread for each one...seems the search function gets me close to my answer...but not quite.

[hobbs]

Your thinking the right way and asking good questions..On the AT your either hiking long miles or short 10's and eating then getting in your bag to warm up and sleep..Your right put the money in a good bag or Quilt...I have a Western Mountaineering and probably the best bag I ever owned..Second comes a NF back in the 80's as a teen...But yeah I see what your getting at. Biggest thing whats your comfort range when sleeping...

[StillMoving]

Thanks hobbs.

Biggest thing whats your comfort range when sleeping...

I sleep warm, but I'm paranoid.

About 100 yrs ago a warm dry sleeping bag and dry thermals, socks, and hat might have - probably according to some folks - saved my life when snowshoe backpacking I fell threw the snow into a steep sided creek.

I'll search later but I need to try and find the extreme temp range of the AT during a 6-7 month stretch...and buy a bag/liner combo that'll keep me warm.

[HeartFire]

Got a replacement jacket for my old NF fleece that I have had for years and finally zipper could not be repaired. It was not as good as quality as my old one. Fleece was skimpy and it just is not as warm as my old one.

Zippers can ALWAYS be replaced! You just need a good dressmaker

[StillMoving]

I wouldn't buy the new NF Denali jacket...like I ordered for my dad.

Just discovered the stupid thing doesn't have pit zips like my 2 older ones do (I think they're Denali but not sure). He's in his 80s and just wearing it around town so it won't matter but to me that rules it out as a backpacking item.

[Just Bill]

The Denali was at one point the second best piece of outdoor clothing you could own... after the TNF Mountain Guide Jacket. There are many of both still going.

Those days are long gone. If nothing else this is who owns it now: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VF_Corporation

VF corp owns 30+ brands and basically makes almost every daypack you'll ever see at a sporting goods store... TNF, Eastpack, JanSport, Eagle Creek... all the same damn conglomerate made in the same factories.

If buying clothing- I'd rather put the money into Patagonia. Although they don't make a Denali like fleece; similar price points but much better use of the money you give them.

Otherwise... most fleece is fleece and all made at MaldenMills/Polartec.

Columbia has gone up in cost but used to be a nice middle ground and made a few decent Denali knock offs over the years.