I’m SO FUCKING SICK OF NORTH FACE JACKETS. It seriously seems like 50% of all people here, male and female, have the same ugly black North Face jacket. I think these are the crummiest looking jackets ever. They’re made of cheap-looking “fleece” and cheesy nylon/polyester crap and they still cost 100 dollars or more. Every crowd of people on campus will be a sea of North Face jackets. I really mean it. There are so many it’s ridiculous. You’d think that all the fashion-whores would realize that it’s become too trendy and thus cliched and stop wearing them, but this hasn’t happened, and somehow the fact that every single person seems to have a North Face Jacket has not deterred even more people from buying them.
It is the most played-out fashion statement on this campus. I am sick to death of seeing your ugly fucking North Face jackets!!!
I despise these trends. People want desperately to look like they’re outdoorsy or earthy or granola or something. So they spend a ton of money on something they’ll never really use just so they can look the part. Contemptible.
I’m a pretty avid backpacker, I average about 50 miles/month. TNF is one of my favorite brands, their stuff is pretty rugged and comfortable. I’m not sure what I think about seeing it everywhere. As long as they keep making good stuff, I guess I don’t care.
I just picked up this little number for a song, the outfitter had some TNF and Mountain Hardware stuff for 40% off. When I asked him why he told me he was opening a new store downtown that was “clothes only” and that the original store was going to go almost all technical.
I don’t know what the point of all that was, but to sum up, I like TNF, I too see it everywhere but unlike you, I’m not sure I care.
While we’re on the subject, WTF is up with Under Armor? I see that shit everywhere. WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE!!!
Bruce, if you’re actually an outdoorsman I couldn’t care less what brand you use - it’s about function, after all.
These college students are not outdoorsmen. They’re wearing this shit because it’s trendy. The same reason you see all these pink shirts on frat boys. They’re just a trend. A pink shirt only works with certain skin tones, it doesn’t just look good on anyone. But these guys don’t care, if pink shirts are in then by God they’ll wear a pink shirt. And pop the collar up.
North Face is good gear with a lifetime warranty , but I agree that the Denali jacket has become ubiquitous; so much so that I sold mine to friend because I felt like I was wearing a uniform everytime I wore it out. The fleece is polartec (not shit) and the nylon is ripstop. There are obvisouly many styles and “levels” of gear, but the Denali jacket is probably the one you’re seeing the most of (it’s closer to $165). Their shells are also good, but there not made of fleece, so that’s not what your talking about. Your rant could just as easily be against Patagonia. I do think it’s a bit silly for people sho never leave town to wear (-40F) expedition gear to the supermarket, but no sillier than the Land Rover they got out of.
In sum – the trend is the stupid, but the gear isn’t shit – like some other trendy stuff that really is cheaply made.
I’ve always been a big Patagonia fan, mainly the stand-up short and the baggies (I deep sea fish and canoe/kayak), but I buy what’s on sale. In a lot of cases it’s the exact same material.
I certainly can’t speak for everyone, but it’s the only thing that’s comfortable to wear under my uniform. Short-sleeves if it’s warm out, long if it’s cold. It’s great. I don’t see the point about just wearing it around, though.
I agree. If you ask me, North Face went the path of Columbia. They originally made a name selling decent technical products, but then went after a larger market with lower cost structure. Presumably, people would think they were still getting the ‘good stuff’. The aren’t. This little game nets you some good short term returns, but once your name becomes synonymous with low cost crap there is no going back.
For snow, Spyder still makes good products, but I see some worrying signs that they are greedily eyeing larger markets. For most other outerwear, I prefer Mountain Hardwear.
I disagree, Waverly. I have a Columbia ski parka from two years ago that I regularly use for extensive backpacking and technical fieldwork. I’m a field ecologist. I have used it in all kinds of extremely wet, nasty weather, and it has never leaked at all. If that’s cheap, I’ll eat my hat.
All gear manufacturers go down the mass market road, because that’s how you grow and make money. TNF still makes excellent gear, it’s just a little harder to find in their catalog since they are making lots of still good but lower cost and lower quality garments.
I’m sure folks are buying that stuff to look cool and wear the uniform, but the fact remains that the gear is pretty good. It’s warm, functional, and well made. Even if they’re not climbing mountains they deserve good quality winter gear.
I climb, hike, and ski, and have a variety of high quality and expensive gear, some with big name brands. But I also wear them when I commute to work on the subway. Good clothes are good clothes. And if it subsidizes my technical gear, I’m all for it.
/explanation by way of hijack/
It’s akin to saying “bingo!”
I refer you to the Ben Stiller opus “The Cable Guy,” and the following exchange between Matthew Broderick’s character, Steven, and Jack Black’s character, Rick, regarding Steven’s cable guy, Jim Carey’s character, who calls himself Chip Douglas:
Rick: I have a list here of every cable installer fired in the last four years. Check out some of these names: Murray Slaughter, George Jetson, Jean Luc Picard, there’s even somebody who liked to call himself “The Big Ragoo”.
Steven: Carmichael from Laverne & Shirley.
Rick: That’s so sad that you know that. Anyway, the cable company has just fired somebody six months ago named Darrin Stephens. You may remember his boss, Larry Tate, from a little show called ‘Bewitched.’
Steven: So… He doesn’t even work for the cable company.
Rick: Yahtzee! They booted his ass for stalking customers. This guy is deeply troubled. If I were you, I’d lock up tight.
/end explanation by way of hijack/
a. It’s winter.
b. They’re warm.
c. They’re dry.
North Face jackets are probably popular for the same reason the iPod is: they’re high quality, they do a very fine job at what they’re supposed to do, and (the OP notwithstanding) they look pretty good.
BTW, what the fuck does being an outdoorsman have to do with wearing fleece? Some of the coldest and most miserable I’ve ever been has been waiting for a bus on campus. Not to mention, college students being legendarily cheap, a good fleece jacket is comfy way to keep the thermostat turned down in that crummy off-campus underinsulated apartment.
What is even worse is when you see a herd of Sorority girls in North Face jackets, Ugg boots, Ipods and wearing those huge ass ugly sunglasses crossing campus. You would swear it is the same herd, but each day the hair colors are different. So who knows.
I think it’s been along time since I’ve seen a Columbia jacket that is seam taped, just to use one example of attention to detail. Maybe they were still doing it a few years ago, or maybe they still carry some higher quality lines that I’m not aware of.
This is the second Pit thread where you’ve told people to fuck off for how they choose to attire themselves and there is a third floating around where you state that males who wear sandals aren’t real men.
If such a thing as a “real man” exists, I sincerely doubt he spends so much time obsessing over strangers’ taste in fashion as you do.
