New From The North Face
Scoop preview of what's new from The North Face for spring / summer 2004 direct from sunny Kendal
Posted: 28 October 2003
by Jon
|
We thought you'd like a quick scoop preview of the North Face's
range of new products for Spring-Summer 2004, the kit that'll be
appearing in the shops in January/February next year, so we popped up
to TNF HQ in sunny Kendal for tea and chat.
There's some interesting new stuff in the wings, including a whole
new category of kit which TNF has called the 'Flight Series' which,
they say, has been developed for 'multisport athletes' who are going
to be moving fast and light.
The Flight stuff gets its own logo and covers everything from
lightweight waterproof jackets, through base-layers and tights,
across lightweight footwear and finishing with tents and sleeping
bags. It includes....
TNF Gets Gore-Tex Paclite...
Last year when everyone else was churning out mountains of
Paclite jackets, TNF had something called the Atmosphere using a
Japanese-made Gore-Tex fabric called LightFast. It was breathable all
right, but nothing like as light as Paclite - more of a 'sensible'
weight jacket at around 525 grammes.
For 2004 though, TNF has a new 412-gramme Paclite jacket called
the Prophecy PacLite. Priced at around £150, which is par
for the Paclite course, it comes complete with a roll-down adjustable
hood, brushed chinguard lining, pit-zips, two big pockets and a
sleeve pocket. Interestingly, although the jacket's respectably
light, the fabric still feels pretty sturdy in contrast to some of
the ultra-lightweight Paclite tops out there.
The pit-zips use MHW Simplex-style closures where the zip is
backed up with internal flaps to minimise bulk and make them easier
to use. Looks very smart too. There's also a simple Prophecy
Paclite Pant at £120. The jacket is also available in a
women's specific version.
|
And Something A Little Cheaper...
Weighing in at a claimed 431 grammes, the Coriolis Jacket
is a hooded windproof jacket designed for general use. The fabric,
something called Sundowner, is windproof and water-resistant and the
garment's pretty well featured for a wind shell. For example you get a roll-away, adjustable hood which stows in
the collar, cape vents, two hand pockets, Velcro adjustable cuffs and
a hem cinchcord and for easy carriage, the whole jacket stuffs into
the lefthand pocket.
The price will be £50 and it looks more suitable for general
use than many of the more minimalist windproofs out there targeted at
runners and mountain bikers.
|
More Apex Softshell
Apex is TNF's own softshell fabric. It's a stretch fabric that's
denser and more wind resistant than, say, Schoeller, but still
retains decent breathability. We have some of the 2003 versions on
test right now and will report back soon, but coming your way in
January is the new Apex Zip Shirt.
It's an Apex shirt with a soft-brushed backing fabric complete
with a half-length zip, chest pocket and elastic bound cuffs. We
actually have one already and it's a very neat piece of kit that you
can wear as a light mid-layer, a light outer shell or, if you want,
next to the skin.
Price is £60 and our only complaint is that the hem - cut
wide to fit over-sized American butts - is a loose fit and really
needs a drawcord to stop icy 'up the back' gusts of wind from
ruining your day. This one's in black but it also comes in blue and grey. Also available in a women's
version.
|
And Windstopper With A Difference...
Our main problem with Gore's Windstopper Softshell in the UK is
simply that in our damp climate, some users simply find that it's not
breathable enough. One solution is to go somewhere colder and drier,
another is simply not to use it and a third is to combine Windstopper
with other, more breathable materials to up overall performance.
It's the third option that TNF has gone for with the
Windstopper Hybrid Jacket. As you might possibly guess, it's a
hybrid, in this case the illegitimate child of Windstopper which
forms the front and back of the jacket and the fronts of the sleeves
and Apex, TNF's stretch wind-resistant soft shell which does duty on
the shoulders, sides of the trunk and backs of the arms.
The stretch panels should improve fit and up mobility, the rest of
the jacket's a simple design with fleece-lined collar, two pockets,
Velcro cuffs and a shock-corded hem. There's also a women's version
in nicer colours - as always - and price is a not inconsiderable
£120.
|
Tekware...
A couple of interesting developments here. One is that the El
Cap long-sleeved and short-sleeved base-layer tops which
currently uses a rather heavy grade of PowerDry which makes it too
warm in summer and compromises wicking performance, gets a new
silkweight version of the fabric for quicker drying and better
performance. Definitely a step in the right direction.
Also new, pictured in fact, is the Vortex Tee also in
silkweight PowerDry, but those dark panels under the arms are
actually made from a mesh to provide extra ventilation and access to
your armpits, mmmm.... Price is £32 and you'd better get some
effective anti-perspirant if you want to keep your walking, climbing
and other partners we reckon.
|
Equipment, tents, bags and stuff...
The pack range stays pretty much the same, though we're told it's
undergoing a major revamp after a pretty quiet few years. Meanwhile
there are exciting moves on the sleeping bag front - well, as
exciting as sleeping bags get.
New for the spring is a range of three Quantum sleeping
bags. These all use Pertex Quantum fabrics which are downproof,
soft, and significantly are 50 per-cent lighter and 50-per-cent less
bulky compared to normal Pertex.
The two down bags in the range, the Hightail 900 and
Beeline 900 both use 900-fill power down from eastern Europe
to give maximum warmth with minimum bulk. The bag is stitched using
what TNF call a 'ripple' construction - see pic - to stop down
shifting within the bag and even the logo is a heat transfer 'to save
embroidery thread weight'. Ahem...
The Hightail is rated down to -10C, weighs just 800 grammes and
costs £270 while the Beeline weighs just 545 grammes, is rated
down to -1 C and will cost £200.
Even more interesting is the Propel. It's a synthetic bag
using the latest PolarguardDelta insulation - one of the best on the
market - which is a refined hollow-fibred fill. To save more weight,
construction is welded - or glued as we used to call it - rather than
stitched. The end result is a bag rated down to 4 C, which weighs in
at just 481 grammes and costs £150. There's a hood but no side
zip.
|
More information on the current TNF range on their web
site.
|
Discuss this story
Why do TNF always insist on have floppy hoods in their very expensive jackets? It may be ok for your dry Alpine climber, but for a wet & windy ramble in the Lakes it just won't do. Wouldn't it be a good idea to do a UK version which stiffened brim? Or is that too much to ask TNF.
Posted: 28/10/2003 at 16:20
I think the problem is that the US end of things has always had the upper hand. Americans rarely go out when conditions are bad, consequently, floppy peaks a go go. Having said that, TNF Europe is getting substantial and growing to the point where they're starting to have a stronger influence on design, I'm told. But I don't know. The new Paclite jacket has a marginally stiffened hood, but really if you want an effective hood, take a look at Mountain Equipment - stiffened and wired - or the hood on the Marmot Glenmore, which was developed with the instructors at Glenmore Lodge in Scottish conditions. It's so good that the Marmot designers are starting to use it on their other jackets.
Posted: 28/10/2003 at 16:30
See more comments...
|
|
