Has The North Face Gone too far? Is it Worth the Hype?

Рет қаралды 9,653

Жыл бұрын

The North Face Advanced Mountain Kit is the newest and greatest from The North Face, but is is worth the hefty price.
From TNF Website:
Inspired by our athletes with a thirst for lighter, faster-climbing gear, the Advanced Mountain Kit is the most sophisticated alpine climbing system we've ever created.
The L3 insulation layer features 50/50 Down, which delivers truly breathable warmth without weight. A series of down-filled baffles are paired with a highly air-permeable face fabric. This innovative construction allows heat and moisture to escape without any cold patches for enhanced temperature regulation during aerobic activity in extreme environments.
L5 - Harnessing the breathable-waterproof fabric technology of FUTURELIGHT™ the nano structure of the jacket's membrane allows air to pass through for better breathability without sacrificing waterproofness and durability. Spectra® yarns are used over the elbows for extra durability and all seams are fully sealed to provide a barrier against wind, rain and snow.
The L6 Parka provides unrivalled warmth without bulk or weight. It harnesses Cloud Down technology - a discontinuous offset baffle construction with a asymmetrical inner and outer baffles, which allows the maximum space for the down to loft while keeping the lining close to the body for enhanced thermal performance. Additionally, the L6 layer features a metalised fabric finish on the lining for increased thermal performance with minimal weight.
The L6 Trousers provide unrivalled warmth without bulk or weight. They harness Cloud Down technology - a discontinuous offset baffle construction with a asymmetrical inner and outer baffles, which allows the maximum space for the down to loft while keeping the lining close to the body for enhanced thermal performance. Additionally, the L6 layer features a metalised fabric finish on the lining for increased thermal performance with minimal weight.

Пікірлер: 60

@Hightower600 Жыл бұрын

Good to see you back on the platform again Rob, looking forward to move reviews.

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much buddy 🙌🏼 How’s the Kaitum working out?

@Hightower600 Жыл бұрын

@@OutdoorPrep I’ve been ill for the last several months so haven’t been out much. I’m considering selling the Kaitum and Akto in favour of the Helags 3 and the Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 “long”. Very limited to where to pitch the Kaitum plus the weight/bulk is a lot for long hikes.

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

@@Hightower600 yeah the weight is killer on backpacking trips... I'm gonna try out the Ultamid 4 in the snow soon...

@plaboo Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for this video, I kinda freaked out after I got my kit because the 50/50 is so roomy, and as you said, this is not avaiable anywhere, the size I got was my only option. BTW, I am from Brazil and I'll be heading to Peru to climb soon, IDK if you are still trying to find pieces of this kit, but if you are, let me know your sizes, I have a contact in TNF in Brazil and I know they still have some AMK pieces, I'll also be searching for L2 and L1 for me when I go to Peru, so let me know!

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

Haha yeah - it took me a few moments to realise it’s actually a good thing as well. Now I’m quite happy with the roomy size. I’ll keep what I have for now. Thanks for your offer to help - muito obrigado 🙏 Have fun in Peru!

@artysa.blackwood4261 Жыл бұрын

Got the L3 and L5 jackets, very cool, just one note for everyone else: the L5 amk is worthless whit out the L3 because it doesnt have bottom cinch cord, and rely in a specific down baffle only available on the L3 amk. I am still debating with myself into getting the L3 and L6 bottoms but availabily is hard and i am not so sure on sizing yet. I use M in a tnf goretex pro summit bib. Plus as you say no cinch cord on L6 bottom ? Are we suppose to clip them on something ?

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

Well... I would not call it worthless... it has become my fav jacket for climbing. I've used it recently as a shell with just base layers L1 and L2 equivalents and was quite happy with it. Because the jacket is long and nice and loose, the climbing harness acts as a singe cord so I really don't miss it. The same would happen with L6 bottoms, but I do think they should have had a cord there... otherwise I would use pants suspenders. Not ideal for sure.

@JoeMurphysGuitarlessons 9 ай бұрын

Thanks Rob, glad I watched this before wasting a lot of cash, could you recommend some good base layers tops and bottoms and the same with mid layers

@OutdoorPrep 9 ай бұрын

Happy to help Joe! I like the Fjallraven Woolterry as base layers. They’re a bit thicker and warmer. As fleece I got one from Norrona - very warm and stretchy fabric.

@JoeMurphysGuitarlessons 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for getting back to me Rob with the Fjallraven Woolterry wick moisture away ? @@OutdoorPrep

@dragonbushcraft7612 Жыл бұрын

You experienced that your 50/50 down jacket got soaked. Do you think a (partial) vapour barrier liner would have prevented that? For example the Forty Below vbl vest. I just made a vbl vest myself and will test it soon. I am interested to know what you think about the idea...

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

Hmmmmm interesting concept… it might be helpful when wearing a backpack indeed but generally I’d rather adjust layers to prevent this in the first place. When my jacket got soaked I wasn’t wearing a backpack, was simply too active for the layers I was wearing. So with the VBL vest, the back may stay dry, but the front and arms would still be wet. Simply because it’s not a fully closed VBL and I’m not sure I’d want that 🙈 Maybe a VBL liner to keep the bag dry on very very cold trips. Interested in hearing your experiences with it! Are you heading out to the snow soon?

@dragonbushcraft7612 Жыл бұрын

There are also complete vbl clothes (warmlite). Those are complete vbl suites. I am ging to the alps end of February and I made something similar to the 40 below shirt vbl on back) because I will be wearing a backpack. I will let you know whether it worked.

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

Just finished pulling a tire for 3h and without a backpack my back was still sweaty... I might try this sooner than I thought haha. Where did you get it?

@dragonbushcraft7612 Жыл бұрын

My mom made it for me. I bought a quick drying shirt and a 1mm neoprene shirt at Decathlon and she combined the two.

@dragonbushcraft7612 Жыл бұрын

@@OutdoorPrep Hi Rob, I am back from the Alps, but it was way too warm to test the VBL shirt. It was 10-15 degrees Celsius, so I didn't wear it. May be next year.

@reformedknight7506 6 ай бұрын

Wow . Is Pumori parka warmer than L5 ? What is the most durable and also ultra warm ( can be heavy no problem ) North Face or other brands stuff you tested or you know about ? I guess Pumori Parka would be great option ?

@OutdoorPrep 6 ай бұрын

I found the Pumori parka to feel a bit more fragile. Very thin fabric, see through. There are no warmt ratings but I think they are comparable. Pumori has 850 down versus 1000 in L5. I’ve asked TNF multiple times for information about how much down is actually in it but no response. Most durable I think would be the Fjallraven (Keb) Expedition but it’s a different fit and not great for climbing.

@reformedknight7506 6 ай бұрын

@@OutdoorPrep okay , thanks . That's probably so warm I will be soaked just by walking in it if it's not minus 10-15 C :D . Down , or even feather is something so warm that it's just above anything else . What I do not like it that almost all brands now use recycled materials and tests were made and prove that recycled synthetics are not the same as virgin synthetics .

@Martycycleman Жыл бұрын

Why would you want to 'sinch' your trousers at the waist and loos all that heat. What's wrong with salopettes or braces versions, strange

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

Yeah the trousers are not a great success it seems…

@mehmetbaykurd6998 Жыл бұрын

Is the peak series production over now?

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

It’s not clear but they have not restocked in over 6 months now

@mehmetbaykurd6998 Жыл бұрын

@@OutdoorPrep🙋‍♂️

@CA-kg8yy 7 ай бұрын

Would you ever wear all the layers at the same time?

@OutdoorPrep 7 ай бұрын

Yes absolutely. That’s what they’re made for. I have done it while climbing in Nepal. At least the top layers. Down pants were not needed at 6000m.

@marcovelasquez4848 Күн бұрын

I get the Pumori shell jacket ( slightly used ) for 120 us on eBay 😂

@OutdoorPrep 17 сағат бұрын

Good for you mate

@artysa.blackwood4261 Жыл бұрын

The only innovation is the 50/50 down, 10d facefabric on L5 is cool, but is has been done by multiple brands before, and the 1000FP down is cool for the L6, but the cut is not there, too long on the front. And as the himalayan profesional say, 800FP and even 600FP is preferred in some parts, as low FP down resist compression better. Iam glad TNF is still trying to shoot for the best from time to time, more competition is always better.

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

Yeah I have definitely felt the 1000FP being compressed too much while leaning on my arms. You need to make sure it's "fluffed up" so you get the optimal loft, otherwise you can get cold... Their newest product has moved away from 1000 to 900 down...

@user-ve3uo7ut3w 3 ай бұрын

Just buy regular summit series and everything will be alright, amk series worries me only for one thing and that is denier of the material 10D is way to fragile for shell and etc construction. Overall is amazing !

@OutdoorPrep 3 ай бұрын

This actually feels better than the summit series in terms of fabric durability 👌🏼

@user-ve3uo7ut3w 3 ай бұрын

@@OutdoorPrep interesting I’m using how summit series layering system and it’s amazing I can imagine how better amk will be this is super cool

@OutdoorPrep 3 ай бұрын

@@user-ve3uo7ut3w in retrospect the AMK is just an experiment and 1000FP down is too much. 850 is better as it doesn’t compress that easily. The extra weight is worth the warmth :)

@user-ve3uo7ut3w 3 ай бұрын

@@OutdoorPrep amazing thanks for responding to me , tnf with they’re system are to quality and innovative . I hope to see more from they’re team for future amk series . I want to see upgraded version of the Torre egger boots form this collection , because I use them and I love them but see some flows like not so high gaiter with chinch on top lack of recco system and some other features

@axelift 9 ай бұрын

what the name of the jacket ? 9:43

@OutdoorPrep 9 ай бұрын

AMK L6 Down Jacket. I no longer see it on the website. Similar jacket is the "Summit Series Pumori Down Parka"

@Quan-ls3ku 8 ай бұрын

@@OutdoorPrep would you be willing to sell me that purple L6 jacket ? I found the red one but I love the purple one

@OutdoorPrep 8 ай бұрын

@@Quan-ls3kuI'm afraid it would look weird with the rest of my purple outfit :) Where did you find it? It's sold out on the official website.

@Quan-ls3ku 8 ай бұрын

@@OutdoorPrep online

@qiaoshuzhang7019 Жыл бұрын

Wasn’t AMK introduced two years ago?😂

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

That was the introduction indeed, then some time passed before it was actually available. At least in Europe 🤷🏻‍♂️ and now it’s gone again

@qiaoshuzhang7019 Жыл бұрын

@@OutdoorPrep Agree, but I think it’s still available on UK’s official website.

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

@@qiaoshuzhang7019 looks like same stock. Not all products are there and trousers only available in “normal” length. It has not been restocked for at least 6 months :/

@vasiliifilippenko1677 7 ай бұрын

I used to love TNF. About 10 years ago, but not now.

@OutdoorPrep 7 ай бұрын

Yeah I get that… Some products are getting better but customer service is non existent

@vasiliifilippenko1677 7 ай бұрын

@@OutdoorPrep Also I'm quite skeptical about the new line. It barely handles the abuse of the expedition conditions. Maybe it works if you are a sponsored athlete and get a new item every single expedition, but for the average climber there are better options

@robertlewandowski8491 7 ай бұрын

@@vasiliifilippenko1677 - what better options have you found? Do tell!

@camouflage962 Жыл бұрын

Insane are those purchasing it - I had such gear during the mid 80-s, produced by BERGHAUS ("non China" made - back then) when on POLAR EXPEDITIONS, costing around 1000 DEM at the time ....And always remember what Amundsen, Nansen, Scott and other pioneers in POLAR RESEARCH had available while walking to the Poles.... what about that?

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

Haha yeah maybe… but once you experience the 1000FP down - there is no going back - I can tell you that. Amundsen used skins as he learned that from Inuit people. Not suitable for climbing though. Scott was not big on research so would not follow his lead. You also would not want to go climbing in Ed Hillary’s outfit 😉

@camouflage962 Жыл бұрын

@@OutdoorPrep I agree...but one could do with a lot less, I reckon, while constantly asking oneself "do I really need this...or couldn't I rather do without it?" .... As in many other areas, everything seems to lose a rationally justifiable proportionality, instead of which excessiveness progressively rules.

@OutdoorPrep Жыл бұрын

Absolutely agree with that! I try to always do it. And what we "really" need is also open to interpretation of course :)

@northumberlandmountainhopper Жыл бұрын

Wow totally mad price regardless of how good !!!!

@realStyleguide Жыл бұрын

It‘s not about what people had a long time ago. Or do you still use a horse carriage? I doubt it. When those clothes are light, durable and make you feel comfortable in harsh environments, why use cheap stuff instead that makes you feel sweaty? I tested different sorts of gear and the tnf summit series is really amazing. It just works. If you can afford it, get the AMK, if not, the summit series offers many alternatives.