The North Face
Categories: Shopping Fashion Sports Wear Shopping Sporting Goods Sports Wear Shopping Sporting Goods Outdoor Gear Sports Wear, Outdoor Gear [Edit]
151 Bloor St West Suite 103Toronto, ON M5S 1S4
(416) 922-6133
2 reviews for The North Face
2 reviews in English
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Review from Jonathan S.
York, ON
2/27/2012
Coming of age in the outerwear business, it was said that there were two kinds of people: those who wore gear by The North Face (TNF) and those who preferred Patagonia outerwear. In Toronto, both brands were often stocked side-by-each by specialty retailers.
Patagonia customers preferred simpler gear, with a solid return policy and few bells and whistles. Like the toughest guy in the room, Patagonia gear was designed to look unobtrusive, but perform like Hell when the situation arose. TNF appealed to techies and gearheads; big "GORE-TEX" hangtags, cordura nylon elbows and asses, powder skirts in case you decided to walk your dog to Antarctica.
Since I'm currently wearing at least three Patagonia items, you can imagine where I stand on this subject.
That said, quality is quality.
In the early 2000's, TNF seemed to take a quality hit. Rumours abounded of financial difficulties, and sales to coroprations that were more interested in harvesting brand value than in continuing the tradition of quality, tough outerwear. It was at this point that I fell away from TNF, and Patagonia gear started to take over my closet. The trend continued when an actual honest-to-goodness bricks-and-mortar Patagonia store opened waydowntown at King and Spadina. I wasn't totally surprised when it's competitor followed suit, although this TNF location on the prestigious mink mile was a bit of a head scratcher.
No matter. The place is full-to-bursting with items in TNF's signature style. The hallmarks are still there, although there are a few pieces that seem a bit more fashion-forward. Fits are slim, yet boxy, Accessories are a strong point. I'd still take my old, beat-up TNF backback from undergrad over most of my current packing options. When it finally dies (although I might go first), I'm glad to know I can easily find a replacement.
Best of all, service is welcoming and friendly...even if I show up in a Patagonia jacket.Listed in: February Non-Food Reviews
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Review from Noel D.
I was a big fan of the Puma Store that was located here and sad to see it go, but having a North Face move in isn't so bad. Judging by the amount of people crammed in the store it seems to be a popular replacement.
I'm not as outdoor-sy as I used to be so I don't know how often I will need the North Face services but it's nice to know it's there in case I go on a camping trip as I desperately need a new sleeping bag and they have some seriously fly ones in stock. They had some really nice heavy-duty boots for me to look at as well... Something I need for this upcoming winter. Basically they've got you covered for all your outdoor needs. Their prices are reasonable and everything seems very well-made.
The girl who helped me was beyond lovely. So nice and helpful. My only complaint is the store is way too small for the amount of gear they have crammed in there. It's nice to know they have a lot of stuff, but getting around the store can be tricky with very little room to move. Plus it was really busy, so throwing in a bunch of people makes things a little more tedious. They could use about twice the amount of space.
Specialties
More than 40 years after our humble grand opening, The North Face delivers an extensive line of performance apparel, equipment, and footwear. We push the boundaries of innovation so that you can push the boundaries of exploration. We remain deeply proud to be the first choice of the world's most accomplished climbers, mountaineers, extreme skiers, snowboarders, endurance runners, and explorers.
There's little telling what the next 40 years hold for us. However, there is one bedrock certainty: The North Face will maintain an unwavering commitment to pushing the limits of design, so that you can push your limits outdoors. Never Stop Exploring™.
