 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Doesn't really surprise me -you wear it day in, day out for work whereas the most the regular punter will wear an equivalent jacket is to/from work & at weekends so wear & tear /abrasion is increased.
North Face is more of a fashion brand than it pretends. Trail magazine has a customer satisfaction report on jacket repairs/warranty this month IIRC Mountain Equipment and some others came out quite creditably, North Face, Patagonia & Keela (! for sh shops!) not so good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
easiski,
Sorry to hear that but I'm not sooo surprised. As Fatbob says, some famous names are less functional than they used to be and are no longer the little hands-on company, they huge multi-nationals...
I have posted about the excellent serivice I got from Eider with a rock tear, or rather rip, where they had to replace the whole panel, and that was self induced, so not wear and tear.
I appeciate your kit would get worn a great deal more than mine but the jacket is coming upto 5 seasons old... and I have hit a few things...
I was about to get some new stuff...- I don't need it, just fancy a change...but NF would not be one of the companies I'd be looking at. I feel they lost their 'market' a few years ago when they went High St.
72eu via a local shop is not good, I didn't pay that and I had to ship it to France and back.... I think it was £30 inc postage and, as I've said, I crashed into a rock..!!!
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Tue 15-08-06 20:55; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
I made my own breathable shell jacket last season because I couln't find a decent one from anybody in my giant panda size, result I get a big jacket that's completely wind and waterproof, (I even put together a fleece inner jacket that can be zipped in), the only thing I messed up slightly was that the hood is slightly out of true, but then I only finished the stiching 2 hours before leaving for my holiday, total cost including the fleece arround £100
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Edmundh009, Is it ? I just couldnt find anything I liked"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No doubt that easiski won't want to hear this  but the Intrawest supplied jackets, trousers & fleeces are DNA (Descent North America), I wear mine 5 or 6 days per week, in all weathers, oil dripped from the cable pulleys etc. and they wear well for 2 seasons with 140 days + per season.
I really really rate the DNA jackets & pants, they have the correct amount of pockets in the correct places, and lots and lots of technical features.
Sorry to hear of your woe with TNF. I like their fleeces and down jackets, but thats about it.
If I were after a technical shell or jacket, I tend to go for Arc'teryx, Mountain Hardware, DNA and possibly Marmot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've never had a problem with TNF, what a shame they have treated you like this. In the last 5 years I have been really impressed with:
trousers - 250-300 full days hard skiing, hiking & impressive falling (from their own brand material too!) retired on fashion grounds, still in good condition
jacket 1 - 200+ days skiing donated to my brother who still wears it, looks great, performs brilliantly
jacket 2 - a "uniform" jacket, mainly used as a 'pub' jacket which has seen some serious abuse, Goretex XCR, still looks fantastic.
And countless items from the 80s and 90s that I wish hadn't gone to the charity shops - have you seen how much the old Steep Tech (et al) stuff is worth now? Collectors go crazy for that stuff!! 
Nothing beats an old fashioned letter when it comes to customer service...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
veeeight, If they're part of the same Descente here, it's good stuff I know. I would have been happy to get another Duvillard jacket, but they didn't have the right colour combo for my uniform. I've bought a Sun Valley extreme, goretex jacket to replace the NF one, but have to get it printed with the logo etc. My pal with a family in ski shops (ie all his family have one) says Eider is the best, but Sun Valley is OK??
JT, that's the sort of service i was expecting from a well known make.
parlor, glad you've had better experiences. The jacket itself is fine, but I just think the quality clearly isn't what it ought to be from the company that kits out Everest climbers, and the customer service is cr*p. You're right about old fashioned service - what I always aspire to.
D G Orf, Impressive. Full respect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
For what its worth I've had 2 Nike ACG jackets and despite my initial scepticism they have been very well designed and made and always available at a healthy discount . Just goes to show a brand you think would be crap sometimes surprises you.
Last jacket I bought was an ultralight Patagucci shell for £30 - at that price it doesn't have to be hard wearing!
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
It is almost like there is a reluctance with the retailer as well as The North Face. Not good.
We had North Face kit this season at our slope but us girlies went for a girlie North Face jacket as the blokes ones were too big. The softer fabric although XCR gore-tex certainly had wear issues and one girl had her jacket replaced as the fabric was faulty. I've got abrasion wear too and it could probably be replaced too but I'm lazy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
veeeight, my hubby had a Descente jacket that is 12 years old next winter. He has worn it on every skiing holiday until last year, when he bought a Spyder one in Whistler. He still take it with him when we drive though, and uses it to wear when he walks the dog. It is still in one piece. Yoda, we don;t live too far away from the old Phoenix factory. The guy who owned it did start up again, making clothing for group use (ski schools etc). We aquired a couple of pairs of Goretex salopettes, which we sold on ebay as they didn't fit anyone. They were quite good quality, but I can't remember what they were called.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Helen Beaumont, Descente = Top Quality & Durability. Buy Japanese!!! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
veeeight, he bought it in a ski sale at a local hotel. He paid £69 for it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Helen Beaumont, yes I knew that the Phoenix brand had risen from the ashes as Omega - in fact the last person I saw wearing an Omega outfit was Ali Ross about 10 years ago. Come to think of it he's the only person I ever saw wearing an Omega outfit (Phoenix had sponsored/supplied him proir to that). Omega was even harder to find than Phoenix had been.
We (slope) got some "Phoenix" branded kit a few years back, I think at the time the name was owned by Karrimor. It was made in Portugal and was rubbish compared to the old British made stuff. The salopettes in particular were poorly ftting and fell apart in no time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
Yoda, they don't seem to be making their own stuff anymore though. The stuff made by Karrimor was rubbish. I borrowed some Pheonix kit for my first skiing holiday. Really light, and really warm, and more importantly waterproof (the rain in Flaine).
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
veeeight, we really need a picture of the Cocoon in the fashion crime thread.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I agree absolutely about the original Phoenix. Brilliant stuff. I had/have several items of theirs. Still have a pair of gloves about 15 years old which I lend to beginners in the summer (been repaired too many times to wear in bad weather), and I also have a pair of trousers which are still waterproof. Unfortunately they're a bit short and are also shocking pink! I sometimes wear them under other trousers in really cold weather. If I could dye them I'd still wear them.
I also had very bad service from Nevica BTW, years ago. I've never bought anything from them since, my friend with a ski shop (not here) has never stocked them again, and I warn everyone off the stuff!!!! Of course, my little contribution won't amount to much in the view of North Face, but I shall do everything in my power to reduce their sales from now on!!! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| comprex wrote: |
| veeeight, we really need a picture of the Cocoon in the fashion crime thread. |
I've steered well away from that thread on the basis that I think some of the new school one-piece lookalikes actually look quite trendy!
(I've posted a pic there....)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
well, I have to say that i've had similar experiances with RAB and North Face - to be fair to RAB it was their cheaper down one and my Batura expedition is still holding up well after 5 years!!!!!
Best yet is my £60 Helly Hansen that i got from an outlet store, survives everything!!!!!
A
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
ski, I can do the repairs myself - it's just that I don't see why I should! Was the zip replaced by North Face?
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
best jacket i have had is from Beyond X small brand who supply a lot of race teams, lift operators and ski schools, my jacket is made of 600x600 denier cordura, bombproof, weighs a bit but is now 8 years old, used for 2-5 weeks skiing a year, has work several ski tests and gets worn as a winter jacket in the cold months...great kit just hard to get hold of 
oh yes it is starting to show signs of wear...but only slightly
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
easiski, I would email them again stating that you don't expect a technical mountain jacket to fall apart after 1 years use. It might be also worth stating that the jacket wasn't "fit for purpose" and that the jacket shouldn't be marketed as a technical mountain equipment if it can't last 1 year skiing. Also mention that your are a professional (you should have more influence than a "regular punter") and will not recomend Northface products to people seeking advice on what equipment to buy. You might want to exagerate that a little, eg say you regularly review ski equipment and you will mention the poor customer care in your review.
I hope you get satisfaction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
There has been a lot of debate over North Faces decline in the climbing press and forums. Sad as they used to place functionality above the fashion aspects.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
My goretex is a Burghaus (trango without the chest pockets) which is over 15 yrs old with no defects. And it's had very hard use some years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Scarpa,
That was when Berghaus used to be owned by just the two of them... I still have Trango Extreme kit from 92... quite bulky by today's standards but still pretty good nick. They are High St now as well... not the same stuff IMV
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
davidb, I have, and they knew I was a ski teacher from the start. They now have the link to this thread. Although I didn't use the term "fit for purpose" - I don't know the french equivalent, and it's the french bunch that I'm dealing with.
Scarpa, Yeah - old Berghaus was brilliant stuff - wrong colours for my uniform though, however I highly recomend Henri Duvillard. I've had very good use out of both jackets I've bought, and was wearing the orignial one yesterday.
CEM, We see a lot of Beyond X here, I remember we turned it down as a ski school when they started because it wasn't waterproof. The Duvillards are also heavy duty cordura.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
easiski,
| Quote: |
We see a lot of Beyond X here, I remember we turned it down as a ski school when they started because it wasn't waterproof.
|
never been wet in all the years i have owned it (well ok once but there were people wringing out brand new gore-tex suits that day) , I just treat it properly with nik wax
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
CEM, Our local race club use it + ADH.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Yoda, I still regularly use a Phoenix fleece that I bought in 1992. It was a "windstopper" fleece and works better than the North Face equivalent that I bought two years ago.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
easiski, I have been very happy with my Beyond-X stuff. I have got a suit in cordura and shorts in the lighter weight fabric.
I don't remember getting wet through in it, but may get a long shell jacket to go over the top.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
davidb, thanks for that. I may just give it a go!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
easiski, Sorry - can't help with your North Face problem, but I have had a Helly Hansen jacket for the past 3 years and found it to be excellent. Not bulky, windproof, warm and waterproof in that no matter how wet the conditions, I have been dry when I've taken the jacket off. Might be a suggestion for alternative/replacement? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anniepen, The problem is that I can't just choose I make. It has to be the right design and colour for my uniform. Black with grey or silver stripe around the chest and/or on the sleeves. If I change now, no-one will recognise me. It just so happened that North Face was the right desigin, and I thought I was safe with what was supposed to be a reputable extreme garment company. I now know better!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
