Coat Sublimation

[Comrade]

I bought a new North Face coat (Mountain Guide, Spring 2001) two seasons back and it was reputed to be one of the better coats on the market. However, stitching has been undone in the area above the right side of my chest and it it peeling away the Gore-Tex layers and I really can't see it stopping. I had it repaired last year and the same problem has sprung up. Does anyone have any similar experience with North Face coats? I was just wondering. I should've bought this: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/product.asp?base_no=43318

Thanks,
Eric

[Randy S.]

I've had great experience with my North Face coat. After 3 seasons of heavy use, a couple of the stitches holding velcro down came lose, but I just had those sewn back on (with new velcro). You should contact North Face. I had something from them years back that gave me trouble. I don't even remember what it was, but I do remember that they replaced it no questions asked. Go to their site and see if you can find where the nearest store is. If there isn't one, contact them and ask what to do. Good luck.

[Comrade]

Randy,

Thanks for the advice, however there is a bit of North Face history that I think should be considered. In 2001, North Face went bankrupt and the Vanity Fair group bought them out. After that, the quality on the jackets has slid downhill some. I was foolish, and unaware, and I bought a Spring 2001 jacket, which would have been one of the first produced by the new VF-North Face guys and I think that is the problem. I have contacted some very knowledgeable representatives at my local mountaineering store, and that's where I found this out.

Last year my jacket had the very same problem. I sent it back to the North Face and they fixed it for free. Recognizing some parts to be covered under warrantee while other parts weren't, they did me a favor.

So here is my dilemma: My jacket is falling apart. It looks like some form of abrasion, but you would think that after only two seasons of use, it could hold up to something more. So do I send it in again and likely be charged to have them repair it? Or do I try to fix it on my own by using silicon? Just wondering.

Thanks,
Eric

[jeffnstefanie]

sierratradingpost rocks

the best tip on the net

[mellowjonny]

my two year old north face jacket had the seams on the bottom, both sides come out. I sent it back-they repaired free of charge. The repair lasted two days before one side started openning back up. I sent a long letter explaining my problem with the jacket-- they wrote back that they could not help me out. The pants I bought with this jacket started absorbing water the very first season--North Faces answer to this problem was the pants are not waterproof--as if I was swimming in them. No more North Face appearl for me!

[jason_watkins]

I bought a north face guide jacket of some sort last season. I can't even remember the name of it, but it's a discontinued model. Anyhow, it's worked out fine for the little time I've used it so far. But, I only expect it to last another season or so before something goes wrong.

So if you're looking for opinions, mine on north face is that it's perfectly fine considering how cheap you can find some of their products. (my traditional 2 layer goretex jacket was $140 on www.campmor.com, has all the usual features plus cordura re-enforcement on some parts) So if you get a deal, I think you get your money's worth. But if you're paying full retail on their high end products, I think you'd be much better off spending the $ on something that seems better built and better supported like Arc Teryx, Patagonia, etc.