Being a company that has helped people reach the summits of the tallest mountains in the world, The North Face ironically was started in a town whose elevation is only 150 feet above sea level. The company was founded by outdoor enthusiasts interested in designing their own mountaineering clothing and equipment. From its beginnings in 1966 in the San Francisco Bay area, The North Face has grown into one of the top outdoor apparel and gear companies in the world. The company today is still leading the way with new technology and innovations.

Company founders Douglas Tompkins and Dick Klopp chose the name The North Face because the north face of a mountain is often the hardest to climb. The stylized logo of the company represents the sheer north face of Half Dome at Yosemite National Park. By the early 1970s, The North Face had progressed from sewing clothing and gear in the back of their small store to having their own factory in Berkley, CA. Also in 1971, The North Face began supporting expeditions and athletes around the world. One of the first sponsored expeditions was to Everest base camp in Nepal. Some of The North Face’s other sponsored expeditions over the years include:

• 1979. TooTyred Tour, an around the world, six year, 4,000 mile bicycle expedition.
• 1984. The first of many sponsorships of the Anchorage to Nome Alaska. Iditarod Trail Race. The longest and toughest sled dog race.
• 1988. Sponsorship of Helen Thayer’s quest to become the first women to make a solo attempt to the Magnetic North Pole. The story of this trip is recorded in Helen’s book Polar Dream.
• 1989. Trans-Antarctic Expedition. A 4000 mile, seven month long crossing of the Antarctic continent by dogsled.
• 1989. The first ascent of Mt. Tyre, Antarctica. At the time, Mt. Tyre was the tallest unclimbed mountain in the world.
• 1991. The first all Sherpa ascent of Mount Everest in Nepal.
• 1991. The first snowboard descent of North America’s highest mountain, 20,320 foot tall Denali.
• 1993. Helen and Bill Thayer’s Amazon Research Expedition. The Thayer’s traveled 1000 miles in the Amazon River area of Brazil conducting rare plant studies.
• 1999. An expedition to establish the new height of Mount Everest at 29,028 feet.

Today, The North Face continues to support expeditions around the globe. These extreme expeditions serve as proving grounds for The North Face gear and clothing technology.

One of the jackets that has been tested by The North Face experts has turned into what can be called one of the most popular winter jackets of our time. The North Face Denali Jacket is a basic heavyweight fleece that will keep you warm in cold winter conditions. Made with Polartec Classic 300 Series fleece, the Denali provides warmth and breathability at a minimum weight. The Denali also features a Durable Water Repellency; while not completely waterproof; it does provide you protection from changeable weather. With abrasion-resistant reinforced shoulders and elbows, and zip-in compatibility with The North Face shells, it will become your favorite winter jacket. The North Face Denali is available in men’s, women’s and youth sizes in a wide range of colors. The Denali also is available in a hooded version.

Another innovation by The North Face is TKA Fleece, or Thermal Kinetic Advancement, is a lightweight fleece, created by The North Face, that provides warmth and wear-resistance. TKA Fleece is available in 100, 200 and 300 weights, with 100 being the lightest weight. Products made from TKA 100, such as the TKA 100 Glacier ¼ Zip or the TKA 100 Pants can be worn alone or combined in a layering system. The 100% polyester TKA Fleece has a high warmth to weight ratio, keeping you warm and dry while not weighing you down. TKA Fleece products are easy to care for and compress well to fit in any pack or suitcase.

The North Face is now a subsidiary of the world’s largest apparel company. VF Corporation. VF, a 7 billion dollar company, also owns such brands as Lee, Jansport, Wrangler, Eagle Creek and Reef to name a few of many. For 40 years, The North Face’s mantra has been, “Never Stop Exploring”. It still holds true today with new products, innovations, and expeditions on the horizon.

Your local outdoor outfitter has the training and knowledge provided by The North Face to help you choose which products fit your needs. As proven in the field, The North Face clothing and technical gear is of high quality and a perfect companion to your Take It Outside adventures.