Patagonia vs. North Face: Here’s The Verdict
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Are you a fan of the great outdoors?
Do you hike, ski, or enjoy spending time in the wilderness?
If your answer is yes, then you probably already have an outdoor clothing preference.
Two brands are constantly at the top of the outdoor clothing game.
Yes, we’re talking about the Patagonia vs. North Face duel.
These brands are possibly the two best outdoor clothing brands in the United States, if not the entire world.
They have many similarities, but there are also key differences between the two.
Read on for a thorough comparison, and our final verdict.
Patagonia
Let’s start with Patagonia, an American brand that came into existence in 1973 in California.
Please be patient and keep reading because we are not proclaiming Patagonia the winner.
Let’s discuss this brand’s background and get a closer look at what it stands for.
Patagonia’s founder is a big outdoors enthusiast who started off making climbing gear.
Patagonia used to be a part of Chouinard Equipment, which went bankrupt and became Patagonia.
Presently, Patagonia is a highly acclaimed outdoor clothing brand recognized for its quality and excellent performance products.
Also, this brand supports and follows ethical manufacturing procedures.
The company is highly environmentally conscious and often participates in various movements spreading awareness and protecting the environment.
Since 2014, Patagonia only uses materials that are confirmed to be ethically collected, ensuring the protection of the environment and animal welfare.
Patagonia Manufacturing Details
Patagonia mostly uses recycled materials, which are gathered responsibly.
Besides that, their materials are top quality, which reflects on the price tags of their products.
The most interesting part of Patagonia’s clothing design is its unique H2No technology.
It is similar to Gore-Tex, and it is entirely water-repellent and waterproof.
On top of that, it is very comfortable to wear.
Patagonia wear comes in different size options, but it is always very breathable and durable.
Another interesting fact about the Patagonia manufacturing process is that the company always puts its products to the test.
It puts the fabrics through extreme conditions, simulating the harshest weather.
If the clothing survives this experiment in great shape, it receives the H2No performance standard status.
Types of Jackets
You should know by now that Patagonia vs. North Face derby is mostly about jackets.
The jackets by these two brands that easily compare are the ThermoBall jacket from North Face and the Nano Puff Jacket from Patagonia.
The Nano Puff is a lightweight insulated jacket made entirely out of recycled polyester, and it has a DWR (durable water repellent) finish.
The insulation is PrimaLoft gold eco, mostly sourced from recycled materials.
The features of this jacket that stands out are the two side pockets, a chest pocket on the inside, and the hoodless medium collar.
An interesting fact about the Nano Puff is that you can pack it into its own pocket.
Finally, the drop-tail design provides better back protection, and the sleeve cuffs and the hem can be adjusted.
That is just one of many models Patagonia offers.
It also makes lightweight down vests, fleece jackets, lightweight rain jackets, etc.
All jackets from this brand are somewhat expensive but well worth their price.
The TorrentShell Jacket from Patagonia compares to The North Face Venture 2 jacket.
It is very lightweight due to the 2.5 layer H2No performance shell, made from recycled nylon ripstop.
It is waterproof and breathable, with a DWR finish.
The hood and the hem are adjustable.
The neck has microfleece lining to add comfort and preserve waterproofing and breathability.
There are two side pockets, and you can pack the jacket in its own pocket.
Finally, this jacket has interior storm flaps, zipper garage chin, and cuffs that you can hook and loop.
The North Face
The North Face is also an American outdoors clothing brand, and it was founded in 1966.
It started with equipment for hikers and climbers.
Over time the brand became much more popular, and it became the go-to choice of various athletes and extreme weather enthusiasts.
The company’s priorities changed with time, especially in jacket manufacturing.
The North Face was much more worried about technical performance before, but nowadays, the company pays more attention to stylistic aspects of its products.
Still, The North Face jackets have great performance; they are not just eye candy.
Even so, Patagonia seems to have a slight upper hand in the performance category.
However, it comes down to personal preference, whether you want to look stylish outdoors, or you want to stay well insulated and dry.
Both brands offer a solid balance of both, though.
The North Face Manufacturing Details
The North Face also uses mostly recycled materials, like polyester.
This brand also cares a lot about ethics and the environment.
The organic parts of its products are carefully sourced, without causing any harm to animals or the environment.
This brand’s jackets usually feature DWR treatment, which is not completely harmless to the environment.
The brand is looking to improve this process and use safe ingredients in the future.
Insulation technology and fabric design also play great roles in the manufacturing process.
Most notably, The North Face uses DryVent, which is a proprietary technology developed by the company.
DryVent is windproof, breathable, and also a waterproof fabric.
Gore-Tex is used, too, depending on the type of the product and particular models.
The catalog also contains jackets made of FlashDry, which makes the materials more breathable.
Another popular technology The North Face uses is WindWall, which serves as a windbreaker in clothes to prevent wind from reaching your body.
ThermoBall is a special insulation technique, which The North Face designed in cooperation with PrimaLoft.
Generally speaking, The North Face jackets feature top quality materials, and on top of that, they come with a lifetime warranty, as well as repair services.
Types of Jackets
Patagonia vs North Face standoff partly exists because these two brands have some pretty similar designs.
One of the most popular The North Face designs is the ThermoBall jacket, which is entirely made from ripstop nylon fabric.
It also has a DWR finish, and it is comparable to Patagonia’s Nano Puff jacket.
The ThermoBall has synthetic insulation, and it offers the same number of pockets as the competitor jacket - two side pockets with one inside chest pocket.
The sleeve cuffs are also elasticized, and the collar is medium.
The hem on this jacket has adjustment cords, and it can completely deny air from getting in.
Guess what - this jacket can also pack itself in its own pocket.
The two mentioned jackets are very alike, they are suitable for cold and harsh environments, and are pretty lightweight and comfortable.
Another prime example of The North Face jacket lineup is the Venture 2 jacket.
It features DryVent 2.5 layer nylon ripstop material, which makes the jacket waterproof, windproof, but also very breathable.
It offers pit-zips if you start sweating.
This jacket has sealed seams, adjustable cuffs, and the hem blocks the air from entering at the bottom.
This jacket has two side pockets, and you can fold it into its pocket.
The prices of The North Face jackets are also pretty high, but they do offer top-notch quality.
They are a little cheaper than Patagonia models, but not by far.
Overall, they are definitely worth their price, and if you need a stylish but functional jacket for harsh conditions, they are a perfect fit.
Patagonia vs North Face: The Final Verdict
When it comes to the battle of the titans, Patagonia vs. North Face, it is very difficult to proclaim a clear winner.
Both brands are very good and offer extensive catalogs.
They have some fairly similar designs, but there are some clear distinctions too.
Most notably, Patagonia is more about technical performance and functionality.
Its jackets are more comfortable, and they move with you, being more flexible.
The North Face, on the other hand, is more about style and fashion statement.
The prices of these jackets are nearly the same, so the choice boils down to your personal preference and fashion sense.
Now It's Your Turn
Now I’d like to hear from you:
Are you team Patagonia or team North Face?
Which do you think is doing a better job at the sustainability thing?
Either way, leave me a quick comment below to let me know.