Is The North Face one of the best brands?

[Michael]

I had to think about it for a bit, but I don't think I own anything by North Face. Right around the time I was buying all the gear I have now, I was living in a college town. North Face was a really popular brand among the image conscious college students.

So I figured that meant the brand was somewhere in the process of going to crap. Let's face it, if they can cut corners and sell at the same price to a larger group of people -- people who aren't likely to use their stuff under tough conditions -- the company is going to make money hand over fist.

Maybe it makes me come off as an elitist, but I don't tend to buy whatever brand is popular among kids. Industries run off of profit, and any industry that sells to massive numbers of kids has no impetus to make quality products.

[Refrigerator]

Originally Posted by Michael

I had to think about it for a bit, but I don't think I own anything by North Face. Right around the time I was buying all the gear I have now, I was living in a college town. North Face was a really popular brand among the image conscious college students.

So I figured that meant the brand was somewhere in the process of going to crap. Let's face it, if they can cut corners and sell at the same price to a larger group of people -- people who aren't likely to use their stuff under tough conditions -- the company is going to make money hand over fist.

Maybe it makes me come off as an elitist, but I don't tend to buy whatever brand is popular among kids. Industries run off of profit, and any industry that sells to massive numbers of kids has no impetus to make quality products.

Early North Face was only found via magazine or you stumbled across there name through the few outfitter shops. They were highly rated in there early days as one of the best and was a forerunner in the industry for years.

I was in NJ 7 years ago and noticed everyone almost was wearing North Face clothing especially there jackets. Back in the day you rarely if ever seen another with North Face unless you had a friend who climbed or Backpacked.

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Refrigerator

Early North Face was only found via magazine or you stumbled across there name through the few outfitter shops. They were highly rated in there early days as one of the best and was a forerunner in the industry for years.

I was in NJ 7 years ago and noticed everyone almost was wearing North Face clothing especially there jackets. Back in the day you rarely if ever seen another with North Face unless you had a friend who climbed or Backpacked.

I understand this. All I'm saying is that once a brand that was once obscure becomes well known, there is a trend toward being a less good brand. Nowadays I see tons of North Face jackets, everywhere I go. So I've become skeptical.

[Refrigerator]

Originally Posted by Michael

I understand this. All I'm saying is that once a brand that was once obscure becomes well known, there is a trend toward being a less good brand. Nowadays I see tons of North Face jackets, everywhere I go. So I've become skeptical.

Exactly why I agree.

[dinosaur]

Originally Posted by Michael

Any industry that sells to massive numbers of kids has no impetus to make quality products.

No offense intended, but I have to categorically disagree with this line of thinking. I'm not saying it hasn't happened in the past but a business plan is forward looking. The idea is to stay in business. Not ALL companies will resort to cheapening their products for an influx of cash. If it were me, I would simply put out two grades of the same product and call one "professional" or "expert", and the other "recreational" and sell to both markets.

I paraphrase but a fellow named John Ruskin once said something to the affect that there is no product that some man cannot make cheaper and of lesser quality and that those who consider price only are this man's lawful prey.

[Refrigerator]

Originally Posted by dinosaur

No offense intended, but I have to categorically disagree with this line of thinking. I'm not saying it hasn't happened in the past but a business plan is forward looking. The idea is to stay in business. Not ALL companies will resort to cheapening their products for an influx of cash. If it were me, I would simply put out two grades of the same product and call one "professional" or "expert", and the other "recreational" and sell to both markets.

I paraphrase but a fellow named John Ruskin once said something to the affect that there is no product that some man cannot make cheaper and of lesser quality and that those who consider price only are this man's lawful prey.

I agree to this too.

[IndianaHiker]

I would agree and most of the gear they make today I would classify as recreational. The older North Face I would consider pro gear. In saying that North Face has cut corners I am not saying that it is a bad business model for them as they sell a lot more gear. However it isn't good for the guy out there depending on the gear and is using a reference of what quality North Face gear used to be. The level of quality is not the same.

[Newanderthal]

North Face is great... however you can usually find a similar product for that outperforms it for less. Case in point would be their packs. Awesome in their own right, but the REI brand packs are lighter, cheaper, and just as functional and comfortable.

You can't go wrong with North Face, but you can probably do a little better for a little less if you do some research and shop around.

[Refrigerator]

got to agree with Newanderthal. REI does make good quality packs.