Q about teens and The North Face.

[Elmo9607]

They are extremely popular here and probably most popular with the kids in my age group, or college aged. However, although they are thick fleece, I couldn't justify paying that much for one, no matter how warm or in style they might be. Since it is such a basic thing, I can't imagine they would ever go out of style any time soon and will probably hold up to long-term wear.

 

[pezheadmeg]

I have a WHITE one and it's on season 5. It's still in really good shape. That is with pretty much biweekly runs through the washing machine.

So if he's not growing that much, they are more than worth the $$$. I can't justify the grey Denali that I want soley because my current jacket is still in good enough shape.

 

[okeydokey]

What in the world makes these jackets worth that price?

 

[Gretchen]

What in the world makes these jackets worth that price?

The fact that so many people want them.

 

[auntie]

When it comes to jackets..I l have the kids print out or e-mail me the exact style they want..and the colors they prefer.
These jackets are so expensive, I wouldn't want to screw it up and get something that I think is nice..but for whatever reason, they might not.

Ask your son to show you a pic of the one he wants.

 

[MrsPete]

I'd get the jacket that YOU THINK he wants, but include the receipt in the box and let him know that YOU'RE FINE with him exchanging it for a different style after Christmas, if you've chosen wrong. That way he gets something nice to open on Christmas morning, but -- just in case of a parental/teen miscommunication -- he isn't saddled with something dorky, and you aren't mad because he isn't wearing the expensive coat.

 

[MrsPete]

Just ordered DS15's this past weekend-with all of his patches, etc. it was $320 We spent $90 adding more patches to DD15's jacket over the summer

North Face is still very popular here. Most of the kids either have the puffy down ones (we are in MN), the polar fleece ones or the ones that are like a wetsuit almost (I don't know the style names of any of them). DS15 has the puffy down one, DD has the wetsuit like one. I did see in the stores that they have some that are like those super soft fuzzy slipper socks you can buy.

Patches? I have no idea about patches.

Puffy down? We don't have that either. I'm thinking about Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future: "This idiot's wearing his PFD -- thinks he's gonna drown!" The popular ones here are either good-quality fleece or a furry fleece -- yes, like fuzzy slipper socks. And almost always in black. Of course, down isn't popular here. The expense and the care are too much to justify in our warm climate; we rarely see temperatures below 50.

I have a North Face Jacket.
All of my friends have a North Face Jacket.
97% of my high school has a North Face Jacket.

Yes. They're still "in".

They're nowhere near that popular here. I'd say 25% of the high school kids wear them.

What in the world makes these jackets worth that price?

They're in style. It's easy for us adults to say, "So what?" But when I think back to my teenage years, I had so few luxuries . . . but how I loved my Member's Only jacket, my wooden-handled purse with button-on covers that I got for my birthday, and my few polo shirts. I saved my baby-sitting money to buy Tretorn tennis shoes, and I was so careful with them (Scotch guard!).

My teenaged girls aren't over-indulged -- not by a long shot -- but I do get them a few really special things that they want badly. Especially at Christmas. And I'd rather splurge on a jacket, which can be worn just about every day, rather than a shirt. If they were to beg or demand expensive things often, or if they had an attitude of entitlement, I'd feel differently.

 

[MELSMICE]

A popular North Face that a lot of kids I know wear is the Khumbu fleece.

 

[golfgal]

Patches? I have no idea about patches.

Puffy down? We don't have that either. I'm thinking about Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future: "This idiot's wearing his PFD -- thinks he's gonna drown!" The popular ones here are either good-quality fleece or a furry fleece -- yes, like fuzzy slipper socks. And almost always in black. Of course, down isn't popular here. The expense and the care are too much to justify in our warm climate; we rarely see temperatures below 50.They're nowhere near that popular here. I'd say 25% of the high school kids wear them.They're in style. It's easy for us adults to say, "So what?" But when I think back to my teenage years, I had so few luxuries . . . but how I loved my Member's Only jacket, my wooden-handled purse with button-on covers that I got for my birthday, and my few polo shirts. I saved my baby-sitting money to buy Tretorn tennis shoes, and I was so careful with them (Scotch guard!).

My teenaged girls aren't over-indulged -- not by a long shot -- but I do get them a few really special things that they want badly. Especially at Christmas. And I'd rather splurge on a jacket, which can be worn just about every day, rather than a shirt. If they were to beg or demand expensive things often, or if they had an attitude of entitlement, I'd feel differently.

Patches-our letter jackets have patches on the arms for the activities in which you letter-so if letter in football, basketball and track you would get a patch on your left arm (football patch looks like a football, basketball patch looks like a basketball, etc. ). On your right arm you get a chevron for the first year you letter and a bar for every subsequent year. If you get a special award, they sew that into the bar-so DD got Rookie of the Year in 7th grade for golf and got MVP last year (9th grade) for golf so on her bar it has "Rookie of the Year" on on bar and "MVP" on another. If you are a captain, you get a star.

Then, they get patches that are sewn on the back of the jacket for marching band for their major regional competition they attend (this year they got the patch for BOA, one for being a finalist and one for being class champions at BOA).

This is the jacket that DS15 has-puffy down-remember we live in MN-this style is pretty popular here:

http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/...bCat&parent_category_rn=11702&variationId=74A

 

[mrspaha]

Are the down insulated ones popular with college guys? My son already has the black denali, which he wears all the time, but he really needs something for the cold midwest winters. Any suggestions on a popular choice in Northface?

 

[okeydokey]

The fact that so many people want them.

I'm glad my kids don't. Same with ugly UGGs.

 

[MrsPete]

Patches-our letter jackets have patches on the arms for the activities in which you letter-so if letter in football, basketball and track you would get a patch on your left arm (football patch looks like a football, basketball patch looks like a basketball, etc. ). On your right arm you get a chevron for the first year you letter and a bar for every subsequent year. If you get a special award, they sew that into the bar-so DD got Rookie of the Year in 7th grade for golf and got MVP last year (9th grade) for golf so on her bar it has "Rookie of the Year" on on bar and "MVP" on another. If you are a captain, you get a star.

Then, they get patches that are sewn on the back of the jacket for marching band for their major regional competition they attend (this year they got the patch for BOA, one for being a finalist and one for being class champions at BOA).

This is the jacket that DS15 has-puffy down-remember we live in MN-this style is pretty popular here:

http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/...bCat&parent_category_rn=11702&variationId=74A

Oh, patches on letter jackets. I thought you meant on North Face fleece jackets, but I see I was way off track.

Here the school gives the letters /subsequent patches to the students. The students buy the jackets themselves, but -- if they never buy a jacket -- they still have the letters. My husband never bought a jacket, so one year I had his letter, patches, and medals made up into a nice shadow box with his high school colors for a Christmas present. He loves that thing.

No one here wears jackets like that puffy one -- it just wouldn't be practical. Today I'm wearing a short-sleeved tee-shirt and a zipped hoody (one I 'specially like 'cause it's thin material), and it's just right for our climate.

 

[krcit]

Are the down insulated ones popular with college guys? My son already has the black denali, which he wears all the time, but he really needs something for the cold midwest winters. Any suggestions on a popular choice in Northface?

I can't speak for older kids but around here, the down ones are popular. The denali fleece are worn in the spring and fall and then the down ones come out for the really cold months..Jan and Feb. My 15 year old has the Nuptse jacket and loves it. It's down but not at all bulky and she says it's really warm. She walks a mile to school in it and even uses it when she skis. I don't think you can go wrong with a Northface.

BTW, anyone looking for the Denali fleece. I have always found them for the kids for under $65. I actually got my 12 year old dd a hot pink one(so cute!) at Marshall's last fall for $50. Also, the girls XL is big enough to fit my 5'5", 125 lb dd and they are a lot cheaper than the adults