The Complete Guide to The North Face
The models, the cut, how authenticity is checked and how to place a jacket in time. A guide to buying pre-owned The North Face.
In this guide
The North Face began as equipment for climbers and expeditions and later became a brand worn in the city, with down jackets, fleeces and Gore-Tex shell jackets.
This guide covers what matters when buying pre-owned The North Face: the history, the icons, how the authentication works, how the items are cut and how to place a jacket in time. The chapters can be read in order or used to jump to a specific topic.
A short history
The North Face was founded in San Francisco in 1966 and made its name equipping climbers and expeditions. The Nuptse down jacket, the Denali fleece and the Gore-Tex Mountain Jacket were designed as serious equipment.
Spotting the real thing
The details below are judged together, because no single detail is decisive on its own.
- Logo embroidery. The half-dome logo and lettering are cleanly and densely stitched on genuine items. Loose or uneven embroidery is a warning sign.
- Zips and hardware. Genuine items have branded, smooth-running zips with real weight. Light, generic hardware is a warning sign.
- Label print and Gore-Tex tags. Genuine items show sharp printing in the correct format, and the membrane tag matches the model.
- Baffle construction. On down jackets, the baffles are even, the stitching is clean and the fill does not clump.
Every item is authenticated through LegitApp before it reaches the store.
The icons
A few models define the brand, and knowing them shows what an item is built for.
- Nuptse is the boxy down jacket the brand is best known for. The 1996 Retro reissue keeps the original shape.
- Denali is the fleece with reinforced shoulders and chest, associated with the nineties.
- Mountain Jacket is the Gore-Tex shell jacket built for bad weather.
- Himalayan is the heavyweight expedition down jacket.
The current selection consists mostly of jackets, including puffer jackets, windbreakers, rain jackets and shell jackets, with a few fleeces, hoodies and sweaters.
See the selection: The North Face →
Sizing and cut
The North Face is cut for layering and sits roomy. The size on the label says little about how a specific model sits, so the flat-measured size is stated for each item. Measuring a jacket that already sits well and comparing it with the stated measurements shows how a new jacket will sit. The four measurements are chest, shoulders, length and sleeve.
Founded in San Francisco in 1966.
leverene
Dating an item
Labels, logo styling and the Gore-Tex tag are the quickest way to place an item broadly in time. The framework below is a starting point, and the finer details should be confirmed against a trusted reference before a date is treated as certain.
| Where to look | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Interior label wording and layout | Broad era, through changes in branding |
| Gore-Tex / membrane tag | The technology generation, which should match the model |
| Logo styling and placement | Consistency with the period and the rest of the item |
Items worth knowing
The items that stand out are the jackets built for real use: puffer jackets, shell jackets, windbreakers and rain jackets. The current selection is available for men and women, with more jackets and the wider outdoor selection.
How to wear and care for it
The North Face works best kept simple, for example a Nuptse over a hoodie or a Denali with denim. On care, the DWR coating on the surface wears off and can be re-proofed at home, and down keeps its loft when stored properly. More outerwear is covered in the guide to Canada Goose, the complete guide to outdoor gear and the wider outdoor selection.
Sources
- The North Face · company history: founded in San Francisco in 1966; the Nuptse, Denali and Mountain Jacket.
- The North Face: the 1996 Retro Nuptse reissue and the Gore-Tex Mountain Jacket line.
