Fresh for spring 2010, a whole raft of new North Face general outdoor clothing, some very, very light...
We've already told you about
The
North Face's fast
and light kit for spring 2010 and their
mountain
biking range, and now we have a look at what's
new from the brand on the general outdooors clothing and equipment
front, the
Outdoor
Collection no less.
Men's Aero Jacket
We've actually been
using
one of these for a few months now and we're
impressed. It's a full-on, hooded, technical mountain soft shell made
from Gore Windstopper and designed in conjunction with sponsored
athletes Conrad Anker and Jimmy Chin.
The fabric is soft, stretchy and comfortable as well as windproof and
very water resistant. Detailing is great and the cut is excellent, more
tapered, less boxy. Finally, we really like the integral inner cuffs
with 'monkey thumbs'. Combined with the soft, stretchy fabric, they
somehow add a real feeling of snugness.
It's one of the best Windstopper Soft Shell garments we've used, works
well on cold, dry days and handles drizzly stuff too. We'll
bring you a full review shortly.
Zephyrus Pullover
There are a few lightweight, PrimaLoft filled windproofs
or maybe lightweight insulation tops floating around at the moment and
this is TNF's take on the concept. It's filled with water-resistant
PrimaLoft One insulation with a rip-stop Nylon windproof outer.
A medium weighs a real 260 grammes and design is simple pull-on stuff
with a neck zip and a single chest pocket. It packs really small and
seems to be warmer than you'd expect. Again we have one for review so
more on the site soon. Available in men's and women's versions.
Men's Outbound Pant
Alpine-cut trekking pant made from a stretchy soft shell
fabric with a water repellant treatment, articulated knees and a
diamond crotch for climbing mobility. The fabric has a 50 UPF rating
for sun protection and pockets are cut to work with a harness. There's
a women's version too with a snap stud fastening so the legs can be
rolled up capri style in warm conditions. Blokes can just suffer...
Meru Paclite Jacket
No prizes for guessing that the new Meru Paclite
Jacket is a lightweight waterproof made from Gore-Tex Paclite and
designed to be light and packable. The men's version weighs in at
400g for a medium while the women's equivalent is 370g.
The jacket has vented pockets rather than pit-zips and an adjustable
hood with laminated brim. It's intended for backpacking, cycling and
hiking.
Heathen Pro Shell Jacket
We were more excited about this than the Meru -
Paclite is fine for short, sharp use, but it's not particularly tough
and Pro Shell is more breathable and more comfortable. And in the form
of the Heathen jacket, it's actually lighter as well...
The Heathen tips the scales at 370 grammes, around 30 grammes less than
the Meru and has a similar cut and features. So what's the downside,
er, price. You'll pay £349 for a Heathen compared to
£199 for the Meru Paclite. Men's and women's variants
available.
Women's DIAD Jacket
Okay, so white may not be the most practical colour out
there, but it looks ace. DIAD stands for Done In A Day and is a
lightweight waterproof made from The North Face's own brand HyVent DT
2.5-layer fabric and, at 320 grammes, is lighter again.
Lightweight, fast-moving jacket, also available for men.
Lighter Still - Triumph
Anorak
The ultra-lightweight Triumph Anorak has been tweaked for
this spring. It still uses a two-panel construction to save weight and
bulk and seams are all laser cut and then welded, apparently with
really thin fabrics, welding is stronger than stitching.
It's super minimalist with a hood and single chest pocket and
weighs around 155g, so you can stow it without even noticing it's
there. Price for ultra lightness is
£149.
All the above in the shops imminently. More information at
www.thenorthface.com
