The North Face Unveils Spring 12 Product Collections

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — August 4, 2011—The North Face®, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, today debuted its new Spring 2012 product line designed with new features and technology to keep you out exploring longer.

“This spring, our collections are all about providing consumers and athletes with the technology they need to go higher, further and faster than ever before,” said The North Face Product Director Philip Hamilton. “Whether you need to stay cool, dry or warm to achieve your goals, The North Face has the head-to-toe product and cutting edge technology you need to push your personal limits this season.”

Performance
The Spring 2012 Better Than Nakedâ„¢ Cool Collection is more lightweight, breathable and comfortable than ever before, eliminating distractions to help runners perform better, and stay out running longer. The Better Than Naked Cool Collection is still water resistant, breathable and body mapped for convective cooling to remove moisture from the inside out. New burn-out ventilation panels allow for strategic venting throughout the garment, while reducing weight.

The North Face introduced new pieces this spring that are optimized for the racing athlete, including the Better Than Naked Cool Singlet, Better Than Naked Cool Split Short, Seamless Better Than Naked Dry Bra and Better Than Naked Race Cool Capri.

Additionally, The North Face debuted the new gender-specific Enduro Pack, inspired by endurance runner Lizzy Hawker. The new Enduro Pack allows for increased efficiency with a Boa anti-slosh compression system and a stow pouch for easy access to necessities on the trail.

Outdoor
In July 2011, The North Face sent top climbers Alex Honnold, James Pearson, Hazel Findlay and Mark Synott to explore the Canadian coast and establish first ascents of the breathtaking cliffs and fjords of Newfoundland. They have spent the summer putting the Spring 2012 line to the test, scaling 1500-foot walls and using the Atlantic Ocean as the approach.

The most technical pieces of apparel in the spring line – The North Face Summit Series® Alpine Project Jacket and Alpine Project WS Soft Shell Jacket – are both made with new GORE-TEX® fabrics. The Alpine Project jacket features GORE-TEX Active Shell, which is 30 percent lighter than other GORE-TEX laminates. The Alpine Project WS Soft Shell Jacket features GORE-TEX WINDSTOPPER X-fast, which provides extreme water resistance, windproof breathability and excellent next-to-skin comfort.
The new Bastion 4 expedition base camp tent was designed as the result of feedback from Cory Richards, who became the first American to summit Gasherbrum II in the winter earlier this year. The four-person geodesic dome tent was created for alpine expeditions that is large enough space to conduct daily planning meetings, small enough to act as the primary shelter and bomber enough to handle the worst Mother Nature has to offer.

Action Sports
The Spring 2012 Mountain Bike collection has expanded to tell a head-to-toe story, from hydration to footwear. Designed to maximize protection, new and technical features include: waterproof breathable fabrics, body-mapped ventilation, body armor compatibility, concussion padding and bombproof construction.

The North Face collaborated with protection leader Pro-Tec® to create The Downieville Colab Short – the ultimate protective freeride short that features a compression liner with dual density, expansion molded EVA concussion padding strategically located at the tailbone, hip bones and thighs for critical protection. Additionally, the new gender-specific Chamois 29er Short features coldblack®, which reduces the absorption of heat rays resulting in better heat management. Rounding out the collection, the Torrent hydration packs include MTB specific features, such as a helmet bungee system to keep you out blazing the single track all day.

Footwear
The North Face CRADLE® technology is the anchor of the Spring 2012 footwear collection, enabling customers and athletes to push their limits in their chosen activity. CRADLE technology is engineered to naturally absorb impact, stabilize the foot and promote a biomechanically correct stride, achieving the perfect balance of stability, cushioning and comfort to inspire confidence for running, hiking or shredding the downhill on a mountain bike.

About The North Face®
The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snowsport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company’s products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains.

Press Contacts:
Jessica Lange
The North Face
510.618.2734
jessica_b_lange@vfc.com

Pat Burek
Ruder Finn for The North Face
212.715.1542
burekp@ruderfinn.com