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Best The North Face gear - thread

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:17 pm
by WouterB
I have the opportunity to buy The North Face gear at a great reduction. But since they are normally out of my price range I don't know any of their products. Can anyone tell me what product they have from TNF and why they like it. I'll be buying more than I need, just because I can :D

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:19 pm
by phlipdascrip
Warehouse sale or something? Where is it?

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:21 pm
by WouterB
phlipdascrip wrote:Warehouse sale or something? Where is it?

It's for me only :wink:

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:22 pm
by Tonka
I have a feeling you have opened a large can of worms.... :shock:

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:34 pm
by welle
They have a Patagonia R1 hoody knock-off, I think it's called Sentry Mclean - good affordable alternative to an R1 hoody.

Re: Best The North Face gear - thread

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:47 pm
by divnamite
WouterB wrote:I have the opportunity to buy The North Face gear at a great reduction. But since they are normally out of my price range I don't know any of their products. Can anyone tell me what product they have from TNF and why they like it. I'll be buying more than I need, just because I can :D

Their tents (VE25, Mountain, etc) are pretty good. I like some of their fleece products like the TK100. Other than that, I don't know not much about them. You might want to get their Himalayan suit if you want to do 8000m peak one day.

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:49 pm
by mconnell
The older style Baltoro parka is the best parka I've used by far. I have also had a Mountain Light hardshell for many years and it has lived through much more than it ever should have. Their 4 season tents, while heavy as hell, are also extremely bomber. I would trust them to stand up to any other tent in very crappy weather.

All that said, I really can't comment on their newer stuff. I haven't bought any TNF gear in close to 10 years.

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:29 pm
by climberslacker
I disdain TNF, but if you can get it cheap go for it. A lot of their stuff is designed for the city walker who wants the look in regards to design (i.e. shirts/jackets cut to look good, not keep you warm). Their boots are warm but not well designed as far as winter travel, more for shoveling snow.

my .$02

-CS

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:04 pm
by gilbo
second on the older Baltoro parka

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:06 pm
by OJ Loenneker
I own several of their tents, a few packs, and some clothing items. Some of these things however are over 10 years old.

I would look into their "flight" or "summit" series of gear. That tends to be their less fashion oriented items designed for real outdoor uses.

There is nothing wrong with TNF stuff, if you can over look the yuppie aspect of their fashion lines. :wink:

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:06 pm
by zeroforhire
you probably get it on proform right? If so, it isn't very kosher to discuss proforms. The manufacturers frown upon it.

Anyways...

The expedition tents are still high quality... albeit heavy. Some of their summit series stuff is decent.

just my 2 cents.

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:11 pm
by thespiffy
zeroforhire wrote:you probably get it on proform right? If so, it isn't very kosher to discuss proforms. The manufacturers frown upon it.

Anyways...

The expedition tents are still high quality... albeit heavy. Some of their summit series stuff is decent.

just my 2 cents.


+1 for the expedition tents. I've tried random other items of theres and have been left wanting.

I have a Mountain 25 tent though-- while other tents were literally torn off the mountain, few were standing, the TNF Mountain 25 being one. +2 for being HEAVY.

PostPosted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:36 pm
by Pallando
+1 on the Mountain 25.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:56 am
by kovarpa
welle wrote:They have a Patagonia R1 hoody knock-off, I think it's called Sentry Mclean - good affordable alternative to an R1 hoody.


yeah, but the sizing is for somebody who has 100 lbs more.

PostPosted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 3:05 am
by MScholes
In terms of newer gear that you may possibly get "new", look into the Stretch Diad, I picked one up when I was down in Boulder bagging a few 14ers last summer on a road trip I took. Brought it up several, to me it was the perfect light shell anyone could want for non winter climbs (my profile pic - wearing it on summit of Elbert). Although I am after a Triumph Anorak, to use instead, the Stretch Diad that I own will be used for quite some time.