The North Face

Brand overview and significance

The North Face is one of the most visible outerwear and equipment brands in skiing, with a heritage dating to 1966 and a mission built around technical apparel for harsh mountain environments. While the company does not manufacture skis, it has shaped modern freeskiing through performance outerwear, insulated midlayers and expedition-grade shells that show up from early-season rail jams to high-consequence big-mountain filming. As part of VF Corporation, the brand pairs global distribution with athlete-led product development, keeping its ski-focused collections relevant for resort laps, freeride touring and competition travel alike.

For skiers, The North Face matters because its snow collections are specific. The Summit Series Snow line is built for steep, stormy days and pro-level needs; resort-focused pieces target warmth and all-day abrasion resistance; and insulated workhorse layers hold up to chairlift seasons. The brand’s waterproof-breathable platform (marketed as FUTURELIGHT) sits alongside GORE-TEX options, giving skiers clear choices in membrane feel and weather protection without losing durability.

Product lines and key technologies

The North Face’s snow range centers on articulated, helmet-compatible shells and bibs with purposeful pocketing for beacon/shovel/probe carry, powder skirts, and robust cuff and hem reinforcements. Top shells in the Summit Series Snow family use three-layer constructions with fully sealed seams and low-bulk linings to manage moisture on long storm days or high-output backcountry climbs. The brand also maintains resort-oriented shells and insulated jackets that trade a few grams for extra warmth and quieter face fabrics—useful for cold, windy lift rides and repeated groomer laps.

Two technical pillars define the experience. First, The North Face’s proprietary nanospun waterproof-breathable membrane is designed to balance storm protection with high vapor transfer for aerobic skiing; second, classic GORE-TEX offerings deliver the familiar “storm armor” feel that many big-mountain skiers prefer for abrasive snow and frequent contact with rock or ice. Around those shells, the brand layers synthetic insulations and high-loft down (certified to animal-welfare standards) plus purpose-built fleeces that slide cleanly under shell fabrics without binding.

Ride feel: who it’s for (terrains & use-cases)

If you spend most days in the trees and bowls, skin across ridgelines for sidecountry shots, or chase chalky spines after a storm, The North Face’s three-layer shells and bibs feel purpose-built: light enough to move, quiet enough for filming, and protective when wind and spindrift kick up. Park and slopestyle riders who grind rails and lap jump lines will appreciate the brand’s tougher two-layer pieces with reinforced hems and cuffs; they take repeated hits on rope tows and metal without fraying early. On cold interior or continental days, insulated resort jackets keep the “all-day warm” promise for chairlift-heavy sessions, while breathable midlayers keep you from blowing out a sweat-soaked base on sunny hikes to in-bounds lines.

Tourers and big-mountain riders who prize mobility and temperature control generally gravitate to the Summit Series Snow shells and bibs, pairing them with minimal midlayers. All-mountain skiers who split time between groomers, trees and the occasional hike-to bowl can pick slightly heavier shells or insulated options that smooth out wind, lift rides and late-afternoon chop.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

The North Face runs a broad athlete program across disciplines; for freeskiers, a reference point is the pro-to-film pipeline shaped by athletes such as Markus Eder (see the team hub via The North Face). On the competitive side, the brand’s apparel has appeared on national-team uniforms and in major qualifier circuits. A long-running example is The North Face Frontier freeride event in Queenstown, staged within Winter Games NZ and sanctioned on the Freeride World Tour Qualifier ladder (Winter Games NZ; Freeride World Tour). Historical partnerships have also included U.S. Freeskiing uniform programs around Olympic cycles (U.S. Ski & Snowboard), reinforcing the brand’s visibility at the highest levels of park and pipe.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

The North Face outerwear shows up everywhere skiers congregate to progress. In Canada, Whistler Blackcomb functions as a proving ground for long storm cycles, big vertical and a park program that scales to pro lines. In the Southern Hemisphere, Cardrona Alpine Resort anchors park/pipe training while The Remarkables provides freeride faces for The North Face Frontier. At a national scale, New Zealand flips the calendar for Northern Hemisphere pros, enabling late-winter filming and contest preparation. In North America’s Interior Northwest and Rockies, broad-acre venues across British Columbia and the U.S. West create the “every condition” testing that informs durability and weatherproofing choices.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

Ski pieces are cut with a skier’s stance in mind—helmet-compatible hoods that pivot with your head, drop seats or side-zips on bibs, and pocket maps that keep avalanche tools accessible without bunching under a pack. High-wear zones (cuffs, hems, inner ankles) use beefed-up weaves and overlays to resist edge nicks and lift-line scuffs. Zipper garages, laminated storm flaps and low-bulk seam taping reduce water ingress and keep the garment quiet on camera.

The North Face also foregrounds product responsibility. The brand helped launch the Responsible Down Standard and commits to certified down in new products, then extends product life through trade-in and refurbishment via its Renewed program and broader circularity initiatives hosted on official brand channels. Warranty support and regional repair services backstop the gear; policies vary by market (for example, a limited-lifetime defect warranty in the U.S. and a two-year defect warranty common in parts of Europe), underscoring the emphasis on long service life rather than single-season use.

How to choose within the lineup

Start with terrain and effort. If your skiing includes long traverses, bootpacks and touring, prioritize three-layer shells and bibs from the brand’s alpine/snow performance tier—look for articulated patterns, venting options and a helmet-friendly hood. If you’re a resort-everyday skier who values warmth on the chair and durability in the park, lean toward insulated or burly two-layer shells with reinforced cuffs and less crackly face fabrics. Backcountry and film crews chasing storm cycles typically pick the lightest shells that still feel substantial against rock, ice and tree bark, then regulate warmth with active midlayers and breathable baselayers.

Pocketing and fit are the tiebreakers. Dedicated beacon pockets and mesh dump pockets are worth it if you carry tools every lap; if you ride park, a simpler pocket map and a cleaner hem reduce snags on rails and boxes. Slimmer fits move well when you’re side-stepping landings and hiking takeoffs; roomier cuts favor cold resort days with heavyweight layers. Finally, match membrane feel to your conditions: the brand’s nanospun waterproof-breathable fabric aims for high output comfort, while GORE-TEX delivers a slightly stiffer, highly bombproof vibe that some big-mountain skiers prefer when the weather goes sideways.

Why riders care

The North Face sits at the intersection of access, performance and culture. The gear is widely available, but still built with the specificity that athletes demand. It’s dependable in the storm, articulate enough for park moves and camera work, and backed by responsible material choices and end-of-life pathways that extend a jacket’s usefulness well beyond a single season. Whether your winter is lapping jumps at Cardrona, grinding through variable days at Whistler, or hiking into a wind-buffed couloir after patrol drops the rope, the brand’s snow line offers clear, durable tools to match how—and where—you ski.