New From The North Face - Spring '08

We're just back from a visit to the guys up at The North Face in sunny Kendal where we had a bit of a tour through the company's massive range both for this spring 2008 - kit that's appearing in the shop right about now - and also some highlights from the autumn / winter range that you'll be able to buy from around September onwards.

Spring 2008 Packs

The main changes for spring 2008 are with the company's hydration range and the introduction of some fast-moving packs with a new back system.

The smaller hydration packs keep the same excellent, non-absorbent EVA-based back system as last year's, albeit with added nobbles, but the two larger hydration models - the 12-litre Hammerhead and 18-litre Megamouth - get a new back system called X-Vent.

It's another suspended mesh trampoline design with crossed rods holding the load a little way off the wearer's back in an Osprey Atmos stylee to increase breathability but without spoiling stability.

Oh, and this year, the hydration packs are available in camo, which you'll either love or not. We like it...

Also new to the range are a couple of all-round packs called Bosque (19-litres) and Escalada (21-litres) which are aimed at walkers, climbers, scramblers and so on. Again they use the X-Vent back system and include touches like an insulated hydration pocket, pole / ice tool lashing points and loops, a removable and adjustable hip-belt and even a soft-lined electrical accessory pocket for your mobile or GPS. This is the Escalada.

Finally there's also a fast-moving lightweight pack 20-litre called the Ion. It's reckoned to be ideal for running and adventure racing and uses EXO-LITE a different back system again with two vertical strips of EVA leaving a ventilation gap between them.

Lots of external storage stretch pockets, an air-mesh waist belt with food pockets and a dual density air-mesh shoulder harness with sliding sternum strap. Claimed weight is 820 grammes.

Running Footwear Explodes

The North Face's range of running footwear has also had a major overhaul with around 90 per-cent of the range new for this spring with 32 new lasts being used and over 60 styles in both men's and women's versions. Phew...

Among the new arrivals are the company's first ever fell-running shoe, but for more general mountain running, the company's introduced the weirdly-named Rucky Chucky, the official shoe of the TNF-sponsored Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc running event.

Some pretty serious technology has gone into the shoe with the grippy Tenacious sole unit including some artfully designed TPU reinforcement both to protect the EVA from damage but also to improve the stability and efficiency of the sole unit with a forefoot 'Snake Plate' designed to give lateral stability for running on rocky terrain without compromising longitudinal flexibility.

Price is £85 and there will be a Gore-Tex-lined version available this autumn for £100.

Incidentally, with all the new lasts in the range, you can lift up the foot-bed to find a written description of the design in that particular shoe. We reckon that's a neat touch that should help customers and shop staff alike.

For more general trail running, the latest in the Ultra line is the new Ultra 104. We're still using its ancestor the 101 and while the shoe looks quite different, it still has the excellent wide lacing system that makes it easy to get a snug fit and avoid swimming foot syndrome.

Again it uses the Snake Plate and also has a waterproof Gore-Tex liner for, erm, waterproofing, plus various stability features. We suspect it may also make a decent lightweight trail-walking shoe if the fit suits you.

The North Face Goes Fell Running...

Last but not least is the new Cooper's Hill, TNF's first fell-running shoe. Slightly bizarrely it's named after the venue for the Gloucestershire cheese -rolling race...

Moving swiftly on, it looks like an interesting shoe despite the scary colour schemes with an X-Frame reinforced tough mesh upper plonked on top of a grippy-looking outsole unit.

Cushioning is provided by lightweight EVA but interestingly while the heel area is actually as well padded and protected as some trail-running shoes, the forefoot has only minimal padding for better feel and stability. It should also push the runner onto his or her toes, which technically ought to be ideal for both ascending and fast descents when you need to lean forward slightly for maximum speed.

And no, fell runners aren't renowned for their tasteful choice of colours in footwear or clothing...

Clothing...

We've already carried a preliminary review of The North Face's summer highlight, the ultra-lightweight Triumph Anorak but this was the first time we've seen their filmy 87-gramme windproof, the Hydrogen Jacket. It's a small-packing, minimalist wind shell made from ripstop nylon with a water repellent coating to shrug off light showers.

Comes complete with stuff-sac and is so light that the fabric is virtually translucent. - yes, you can see that grid through two layers of fabric. Price is £65.

More Information

Brief highlights of the autumn / winter range to follow shortly but for details of the current spring summer stuff see www.thenorthface.com.