| Fad or Fame: The North Face |
In this section of "fad or fame", I'll be talking about The North Face(TNF). This section is going to be a little different from all of the other articles I will be writing because I'm not limiting this article to one single item that TNF makes. And I don't have all bad things to say about their products and certainly NOT all good things. First lets start off with the bad. The reason I don't like TNF very much is because they're no longer interested in making quality gear, but rather, more interested in making money!!!! I don't know about you but I sure don't want to buy any mountain equipment from a company interested just in making money. In Christmas of 2000 TNF was marketing their products in clothing department stores such as Foley's. And by Christmas of 2001, they weren't there anymore. Before the year 2000 I had a "rugged mountaineering" impression of TNF products. Now when I see one of their pieces of clothing it makes me sick!!!!!! I mean, you don't see Mountain Hardwear selling their products at Walmart!!! It's just one of those things that isn't supposed to happen. The North Face has just gotten to commercial for me. I want a company that is �humble� so to speak. I want a company making my gear that is kind of hidden off in the background, but is one of the best companies making mountain gear. I also want a company that is on top of their work and perfect their equipment before even thinking of sending their products out into circulation, and I think TNF has LOST their edge on quality gear. Now for the good points about TNF. Back before TNF went commercial I bought one of their Extreme Gear Jackets. I also have a pair of TNF trail running shoes and a pair of the fleece, Gore-Windstopper gloves. And I love every one of them!!!!!! My jacket has more pockets than imaginable and is super warm and durable with its Rip-Stop outer lining. It has a powder skirt, zip off sleeves and a hidden hood. A really great coat!!! My pair of TNF running shoes have been my favorite pair of shoe since I bought them about 2 years ago. Also my Windstopper gloves are magnificent. If I didn't know better I'd think they were Gore-Tex. I use them skiing and they keep me warmer than my Gore-Tex gloves. TNF also makes fantastic expedition tents. Like their Expedition Dome Tent. This tent is so amazing that climbers use it at the base camp of Everest. It is very expensive but a huge and super durable tent. All this said I declare TNF a �has been� fame but a "present� fad. Once upon a time TNF was interested in climbers and passionate about making quality climbing gear but then one day it tarnished its reputation when it went commercial looking for the big bucks. Its like hanging out in the wrong crowd at school, when you're with a certain group, you get a certain label and that label is not always a good one. I hope that soon TNF will start making quality gear and I'm sure they will because I know that they remember how!!!! They have some great products I just wish they would go back to the basics. BMB PS: TNF: You should have stayed hidden in the background. |