Patagonia vs The North Face: Which Outdoor Brand Reigns Supreme?

27/06/2024

Few brands command as much respect and loyalty when it comes to outdoor apparel and gear as Patagonia and The North Face. These two powerhouses have outfitted adventurers and explorers for decades with top-quality products designed to withstand the harshest elements.

But how do these brands stack up against each other? In this guide from the Slingo lifestyle blog, we explore the histories of Patagonia and The North Face before comparing them head-to-head on quality, value, performance, style, and environmental sustainability. Let's get started!

A Brief History of Patagonia

Patagonia was founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973, though its roots stretch back to the founders' previous company, Chouinard Equipment, which started making rock climbing gear in the late 1950s.

From its headquarters in Ventura, California, Patagonia has grown into one of the most respected eco-conscious brands in the business.

A Brief History of The North Face

The North Face was established in 1966 in San Francisco. Founded by Douglas Tompkins and his wife Susie, the brand drew its iconic name from the mountain's coldest and most unforgiving side. The North Face quickly became known for its exceptionally durable and innovative mountaineering gear and apparel.

Patagonia vs The North Face: Which Brand is Best?

With over a century of combined history, Patagonia and The North Face have proven their longevity and staying power. But how do they compare in key areas?

Without further ado, here's our Patagonia vs The North Face comparison.

Quality

There's simply no questioning the outstanding quality and craftsmanship behind both Patagonia and The North Face products. Both brands use premium materials and excellent construction to create apparel and outdoor gear that can go the distance.

Patagonia has built a reputation for extremely durable yet comfortable clothing, using responsibly sourced fabrics like recycled polyester and natural fibres like hemp and organic cotton. The North Face has achieved similar legendary status by delivering bombproof jackets, tents, sleeping bags and more that thrive in severe alpine conditions.

Pushed to split hairs, Patagonia may get a slight edge on everyday apparel quality and comfort, while The North Face remains the top dog for pure outdoor performance gear. But both earn top marks in this category.

See how the North Face got on against another outdoor juggernaut in our Berghaus vs The North Face comparison guide.

Patagonia score: 9/10

The North Face score: 9/10

Value for Money

Of course, all that premium quality comes at a premium price. Both Patagonia and The North Face offer plenty of apparel for less than £100, like t-shirts and shorts. But you'll be spending £100-£300 or more on their specialist gear, like rain jackets, waterproof trousers, base layers, and the like.

Specialised gear like tents, sleeping bags, and technical packs will cost several hundred dollars. When you need absolute top performance, you get what you pay for - but there's no denying that both brands reside at the higher end of the cost spectrum.

In terms of pure bang for your buck, The North Face gets a slight edge for a few reasons. While both brands make incredibly durable and long-lasting products, The North Face has a few more affordable options sprinkled into its lineup without sacrificing much in quality. The Cyclone III Jacket, for example, is priced at £63 on The North Face website. Meanwhile, the cheapest full-price jacket on the Patagonia site is the Houdini Jacket, costing £100.

Having said this, Patagonia has an excellent repair and reuse program, allowing customers to extend the life of well-loved garments for years. And they back everything with an ironclad warranty. Still, from a cost perspective, The North Face's prices deliver a tad more value overall.

Patagonia score: 7/10

The North Face score 8/10

Outdoor Performance

When you absolutely need apparel and equipment that won't fail in harsh conditions, it's hard to beat The North Face's proven reputation for unsurpassed ruggedness and performance. Their proprietary fabrics, like FUTURELIGHT and DryVent, deliver waterproofing and breathability that outclasses most competitors.

The North Face gear is also built to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations encountered by mountaineers and winter explorers. Products like the Summit Pumori Jacket are almost indestructible fortresses against whiteout blizzards and sub-zero temps.

Patagonia is not far behind with incredibly capable shells, like the Super Free Alpine Jacket, insulation layers, backpacks, and more that handle tough outdoor activities like climbing and hiking with ease. The brand's Capilene baselayer fabric remains an industry standard. It's easy to see why both brands have built cult followings among hardcore outdoor communities.

While The North Face maintains a performance advantage for the burliest alpine adventures, Patagonia clothing is more than capable of being used for most outdoor pursuits. Both deliver exceptional quality in this category.

Check out how two more outdoor brands compare in Fjern vs Rab: Which Outdoor Brand is Better.

Patagonia score: 8/10

The North Face score: 9/10

Style and Fashion

These days, Patagonia and The North Face apparel has become just as popular on city streets as on mountain trails. Their iconic styles have permeated mainstream fashion trends, getting sported by urban tastemakers and outdoorsy types alike.

So, which brand has the edge in pure fashion appeal? It's close, but The North Face wins by a narrow margin thanks to its bolder branding, list of collaborations and more style-conscious designs. Their geometric camo prints and sleek puffer jackets have garnered the brand extra cache with younger consumers.

In recent years, TNF has been ever-present in the cultural zeitgeist, with trendsetters like Kendall Jenner wearing the Nuptse jacket and causing sales to boom. The brand has also collaborated with Gucci, Supreme and Maison Margiela, to name just a few.

By contrast, Patagonia maintains an image as the slightly more rugged and no-frills outdoorsy option. It's less brand collaborations and more fleece pullovers and insulated jackets.

The brand's eco-conscious approach certainly gives it extra appeal and authenticity. And we have to mention the men's Baggies Shorts, a summer favourite for fashion-conscious men all over the world.

In the end, you can't go too wrong either way if you want to combine outdoor functionality with a certain level of cool, casual style. The North Face wins this category for its broader mass appeal and recent run of collaborations.

Patagonia score: 7/10

The North Face score: 9/10

Sustainability

If there's one area where Patagonia utterly dominates The North Face, it's environmental sustainability. While both brands have strong ethical commitments, Patagonia is truly in a class of its own and is likely the most eco-conscious outerwear and apparel company on the planet.

Some of Patagonia's innovative and admirable initiatives include using 100% organic cotton, recycling and reusing as many materials as possible, diligently monitoring its entire supply chain, and funding grassroots environmental groups. They've led many conservation efforts and aim to be carbon neutral across the company by 2025.

The North Face has also made considerable strides in sustainability, with commitments to make all products with recycled fabrics or renewable materials by 2025. They partner with fabric suppliers like Yulex to increase the use of plant-based and recycled materials. Despite all this hard work, their efforts don't quite live up to Patagonia's approach.

So, while both brands deserve praise, there's simply no denying Patagonia's leadership in ethical environmental stewardship. For shoppers who prioritise reducing their impact, the choice is clear.

Patagonia score: 10/10

The North Face score: 8/10

The Final Verdict

After thoroughly examining these two iconic outdoor brands, there can be little doubt that both Patagonia and The North Face rank among the very best in the business. Really, you can't go wrong choosing apparel and gear from either company. But, as always, there has to be a winner, so let's see the final scores…

Patagonia final score: 41/50

The North Face final score: 43/50

Ultimately, The North Face gets a slight edge for its laser focus on premium outdoor performance, strong style points, and a bit more overall value. But it's incredibly close, and Patagonia's sustainability ethos makes it a no-brainer choice for eco-conscious buyers.

At the end of the day, the "better" brand likely comes down to personal preference. If you need the absolute burliest, most technical and most weather-ready gear for serious outdoor adventures, go with The North Face.

Patagonia has you covered if you care more about an outdoorsy fashion aesthetic and lowering your environmental impact with sustainable fabrics.

No matter which one you choose, you'll rest easy knowing you've invested in some of the highest quality, most durable and most trusted outdoor apparel and equipment on the market.