ashenOur previous post of similar nature was the comparison between The North Face and another giant in the outdoor apparel and gear industry, Marmot. In today’s post we will explore the rivalry between two of competitors whose competition has been thriving and growing for a long time. Yes, it is time for the Patagonia vs The North Face exploration. Undoubtedly you must have come across these brands if you are an outdoor adventure lover with a passion for backpacking, lightweight camping, hiking and all other outdoor activities. On the outside, both Patagonia and The North Face jackets, tents, hiking pants may appear the same and even the specifications may seem identical.
But of course this is not the case when you dig deeper and have all the facts laid out before you. Subtle changes in these apparels and gear can bring about complete differences in your outdoor adventures. So this article is aimed both as a means of better educating you regarding the significance and credibility of each brand, and also to help you better decide which better suits your preferences, lifestyle, outdoor habits and more.
Patagonia vs The North Face: The Origin
Now, a fair warning that this section can come off boring for most, but trust me it will help you in understanding the innovations that each producer came up with. And how it has helped them to reach these enormous heights in the outdoor apparel/gear industry. Innovative methods and solid foundations are the pillars of their success today. It won’t be a lengthy history lesson, rather a brief yet useful skim through of each company’s innovative growth in manufacturing throughout the years. Let’s start off with the Patagonia and North Face founders.
Patagonia
Yvon Chouinard is Patagonia’s founder. It all started when he decided to climb mountains as a 14 year old kid and his senior taught him a trick to utilize for smooth rock climbing. Then in 1957, Yvon started teaching himself how to blacksmith using some resources such as a used coal-fired forge and an anvil. He tried out his own pitons that he made out of old harvester blades in the Lost Arrow Chimney and the north face of Sentinel Rock in Yosemite. Then it turned into a business where he sold self-made chrome-molybdenum steel pitons in the back of his car. 1965 marks the year when Yvon went into partnership with Tom Frost and started Chouinard Equipment to perfect all formats of climbing tools. And by 1970, Chouinard Equipment had become the largest supplier of climbing hardware in the United States.
They got into the apparel industry by starting to sell rugby shirts from England . 1980 is another significant milestone in the history of Patagonia(Chouinard then). Because in 1980 they proposed insulating long underwear made of polypropylene, a synthetic fiber that has a very low specific gravity and absorbs no water. Next is the birth of Capilene polyester in the year 1984. The surface here is hydrophilic, It wicked moisture away from the body to the outside to evaporate.
Since then, after the company changed their name to Patagonia, they’ve continuously been innovating outdoor gear and clothing. However their actions did not remain merely to grow their brand and sales. They also volunteered on saving the planet, taking on massive environmental- and wildlife-focused educational preservation campaigns. Allocating part of their profits for the benefit of humanity by working against deforestation, pollution and protecting the wildlife.
The North Face
The North Face began in 1966 as a climbing equipment retail store in San Francisco, founded by Douglas Tompkins and his wife, Susie Tompkins. A couple of years later they moved to the Berkeley area, and by then the brand name was beginning to be widespread among outdoor explorers. They began designing and manufacturing their own brand of technical mountaineering apparel and equipment. Their specialty was sponsoring expeditions to far corners of the globe where only a very few would dare to venture given the extreme cold conditions.
By the early 1980s, The North Face began innovating the apparel section by adding extreme skiwear to the product offering. By the beginning of the 90s, The North Face became the only supplier in the United States to offer a comprehensive collection of high-performance outerwear, skiwear, sleeping bags, packs and tents. Another significant milestone is the launch of Tekware, their glorious debut into the sportswear market. Thermoball and Fuseform marked the next step of apparel innovation. As such, over the past 50 years, The North Face has taken the outdoor apparel and gear industry into new heights, reshaping the consumer perspective of outdoor travel outfits.
Products comparison
Now that we got a glimpse on the history of both the companies, let’s compare some of their trademark products and see how they shape up against each other. Since both the brands are widely known for their jackets, we will start off with those.
Patagonia Torrentshell Jacket vs The North Face Venture 2 Jacket
Now these are two of the most popular consumer jackets of both the brands. Both are Rip-stop Nylon – waterproof, windproof, breathable. The Patagonia is 50D while The North Face is 40D. D refers to denier, or the weight of 9000 meters of a single strand of fiber, measured in grams. The higher the denier, the higher the fiber weight used to make the fabric. In general, this speaks out for the strength/durability of the fabric. So in this case, Patagonia is ahead of TNF by 10D. Naturally, that makes the Patagonia heavier by almost 40g. Apart from that, both the jackets got adjustable hood, zippered front pockets, hem adjusting cord, fleece lined collar and packs into pocket.
Therefore as you can see, there isn’t much of a difference in terms of quality. It comes down to the price. In that sense, Patagonia is a bit more expensive than TNF. But then again the Patagonia products are a step ahead of TNF which justifies their pricing. The choice is yours in the end.
The North Face Thermoball Jacket vs Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
Lightweight insulated jackets are selling well for both the company’s. Since they are light, warm, pack easily and inexpensive, they are quite popular among outdoor enthusiasts. Outdoor apparel companies develop these jackets using synthetic material to retain heat better and dry up quickly as well. We’ve talked about TNF Thermoball jacket before. They use a material developed by Primaloft who are a top synthetic down producer. The Nano Puff from Patagonia is of similar nature.
The Patagonia is built with 1.4-oz 22-denier 100% recycled polyester with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. TNF is built with 5D 33 g/m² 100% nylon ripstop with durable water-repellent (DWR) finish. The Thermoball has synthetic insulation while the Nano Puff Gold Insulation Eco 100% polyester. The weights are almost similar in the mid 300g. Pocket placements, elastic cuffs, hem adjusting cord, packable to pockets are common for both. The significant differences are seen in the Patagonia because of its slightly longer rear hem. Both the jackets are appropriate for cold environments with rough weather.
TNF Men’s Venture 2 Half-Zip Hiking Pants vs Patagonia Gritstone Rock Pants
Although jackets are more popular for both the brands, let’s do a quick check on the waterproof hiking pants too. The Gritstone Rock Pants were made for vertical ascents in rock climbing. Built from a cotton-poly blend that’s comfortable and has a wide range of motion. Fair Trade Certified sewn plus they are antimicrobial and DWR. Breathable mesh pocket bags, adjustable waist and weighs only19 oz.
TNF Venture pants are made out of 100% recycled nylon with DWR finish. Sealed seams and allow water vapor to escape for breathability. Elastic waistband with internal drawcord for a personalized fit. Feature knee-high zippers to shorten them making it ideal for multi day hikes. Overall a pair of high quality hiking pants that adjust to different environmental conditions. Prices and quality of both pants don’t differ much but TNF is much lighter than the Patagonia.
Patagonia vs The North Face Outdoor Gear Comparison
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel Bag vs TNF Kaban Backpack
Two similarly built backpacks by Patagonia and TNF. Although when it comes to backpacks, brands like Osprey are more prominent, this post would not be complete if we don’t talk about the backpacks of both the brands. TNF uses water repellent material and the bag weighs 2.67 Pounds. 15″ laptop sleeve, plenty of room in the main compartment. Front three-quarter-zip compartment hosts a padded and fleece-lined tablet sleeve, an organization panel with an ejector tab for easy access. A well modernized, user friendly, lightweight backpack.
The Patagonia is 100% recycled body fabric, lining, and webbing with a tough polyurethane coating. Self-contained storage, padded, removable shoulder straps, padded base and well organized internal pockets for optimum space. Weighs 3 lbs 9.85 oz. It is their largest duffel bag for gear intensive travel with capacity expanding up to 100L. Ideally the 40L would be the best for backpacking.
Patagonia Altvia Pack vs TNF Women’s Borealis
Another reasonable product comparison between the two brands. The Patagonia Altvia pack(shell) is made out of 4-oz 140-denier 100% recycled nylon ripstop. The back panel, rain cover and straps are made out of polyester while the lining is 3-oz 200-denier recycled polyester with a PU coating. The backpack is extremely breathable because of the suspended mesh back-panel construction and shoulder straps and hip belt being of the same nature. Plenty of pockets and neatly organized interior. All of this just weighs 679 g.
The North Face backpack is specifically crafted for women. Weighing 2 pounds, the Borealis integrates an overhauled suspension system and front elastic bungee system. The main compartment has a padded fleece-lined 15″ laptop sleeve. FlexVent suspension system features a flexible yoke built from custom injection-molded shoulder straps, a padded mesh back panel and a breathable lumbar panel for comfortable, ventilated support. Good interior and exterior pocket placement and excellent weight distribution throughout the body. Also includes a removable waist belt and a top handle for grabbing.
Conclusion
So there you have it. A guided comparison for Patagonia vs The North Face. Both the brands have earned their reputation and grown the customer base with their own innovative ideas. In terms of outdoor gear, TNF is the leading manufacturer ahead of Patagonia. But both the brands compete for the best outdoor apparel clothing. Patagonia is more inclined to optimized functionality and performance. While TNF integrates fashion and style as well. Now that you’ve seen the materials and the level of technology used by each brand in creating their outdoor products, the choice is up to you.
