OUR STORY: BEHIND THE BRAND We are named for the coldest, most unforgiving side of a mountain. We have had an effect pioneers arrive at the first unthinkable heights of the Himalayas. Yet, The North Face® legend begins, amusingly, on a shoreline. All the more totally, San Francisco’s North Shoreline area, at a height of so to speak 150 feet over sea level. It was here in 1966 that two ascending aficionados settled to take after their inclinations and set up a little mountaineering retail location. From the beginning, the brand focused on serving every one of the individuals who desired to examine and to serving our normal wild grounds by having an effect to direct them. At our middle, we acknowledge examination makes a super durable bond with the outside, animating people to guarantee our show up and pass these feelings down to the another time.

Soon thereafter, that little shop became known as The North Face, a retailer of high-performance climbing and backpacking equipment. In 1968, The North Face moved to the other side of San Francisco Bay, to the unbridled possibilities of the Berkeley area, and began designing and manufacturing its own brand of technical mountaineering apparel and equipment.

Through the 1960s, The North Face brand cherished a following amongst avid outdoor athletes and began sponsoring expeditions to some of the most far-flung, still largely untouched corners of the globe. This launched a proud tradition which continues in full force today and constantly reinforces The North Face mantra, Never Stop Exploring™.

By the early 1980s, The North Face was taking exploration to the outer limits of the ski world, adding extreme skiwear to the product offering. These were the days of pastels, neons, hair dye, and mohawks; they laid the groundwork for today’s free-spirited snowsports athletes. By the end of the decade, The North Face became the only supplier in the United States to offer a comprehensive collection of high-performance outerwear, skiwear, sleeping bags, packs and tents.

The 1990s ushered in an era during which The North Face further broadened the outdoor world it helps athletes to explore. The decade saw our debut in the sportswear market with the launch of Tekware™, an innovative collection designed to provide rock climbers, backpackers, hikers, trail runners, and outdoor enthusiasts with the ultimate fit and function. The North Face half dome logo began to appear with greater regularity on ultramarathon courses, high-country trails, and big walls. And, as the calendar clicked toward a new millennium, The North Face launched its own line of trekking and trail-running shoes to ultimately address the head-to-toe needs of those always striving for the next horizon.

While the brand continued to shape the outdoor market through product, expedition and athlete achievements, it launched two game changing product lines – Thermoball and Fuseform. Thermoball introduced synthetic insulation mimicking the capability of down. Fuseform revolutionized the manufacturing space as it changed the way technical apparel is produced.

Now, more than 50 Years after its humble grand opening, The North Face delivers an extensive line of performance apparel, equipment, and footwear. We push the boundaries of innovation so that you can push the boundaries of exploration. We remain deeply proud to be the first choice of the world’s most accomplished climbers, mountaineers, extreme skiers, snowboarders, endurance runners, and explorers.

There’s little telling what the next 50 years hold for us. However, there is one bedrock of certainty: The North Face will maintain an unwavering commitment to pushing the limits of innovation and design, so that you can push your limits outdoors. Never Stop Exploring.

The North Face® fundamental mission remains unchanged since 1966:
Provide the best gear for our athletes and the modern day explorer, support the preservation of the outdoors, and inspire a global movement of exploration.

Return Policy & Warranty

Return Policy

We proudly stand behind the quality of everything we sell and hope you’re happy with your gear. All products (except footwear) are fully warrantied against defects in materials and workmanship with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. All footwear and items from our The North Face Renewed line have a One-Year Warranty.

Online purchases can be returned online or at The North Face retail stores for 60 days from the time of purchase.

Items purchased online using PayPal, Klarna or Apple Pay are not eligible for in-store returns and can only be returned online, via the post.

If you’re unsatisfied with a product you purchased from The North Face, you can return your item(s) as follows:

• Items purchased online can be returned online or at The North Face retail stores within 60 days of purchase. 
• Items purchased online via thenorthface.com using PayPal, Klarna or Apple Pay are not eligible for in-store returns. Please use the pre-paid shipping label included in your shipped package to complete the return. 
• Items purchased from a 3rd party or re-seller must be returned to that same provider. 
• Returned items must be unused and unwashed.

View details of our product warranties here

Online Returns 

Products purchased through thenorthface.com can be returned within 60 days of purchase. Items must be unworn, unwashed and have the original tags attached.

Each shipped package will come with a packing slip and a prepaid label for return shipping.

To return your item:

FIRST

• Sign into your account on thenorthface.com and go to My Account.
• Go to Order History and scroll down to the item you wish to return.
• Click on “Create a Return” next to that item and fill out the required fields.

THEN

• Find the packing slip from your original package and ensure it is in the package you’re returning.
• Fill out the prepaid label included in your original package and put it on the outside of your package.
• Take note of the tracking number for your records.
• Drop the item into any US Postal Service box. 

If a packing slip or return shipping label was not included in your original package or they have been misplaced, please contact Customer Service at (888) 863-1968.

Vectiv Wear Test Returns

To give customers the chance to “wear test” our VECTIV footwear, we will accept returns of reasonably worn VECTIV shoes up to 90 days from the date of purchase. Returns can be processed online or at any The North Face-owned retail stores (NOT at 3rd party retailers), but customers must provide an original dated receipt for processing (valid for purchases between 1/26/2026 and 4/2/2026). The North Face will determine in its sole discretion if a return will be accepted. Additional restrictions may apply; see full Terms & Conditions.

In-Store Returns 

To return your item in-store, you must have:

• The original receipt or exchange receipt from your order.
• The ability to show order details from your account on thenorthface.com.

Returns without the original receipt, exchange receipt or order details from an online account can only receive a merchandise exchange at the lowest selling price of the item(s), and only at the discretion of store management.

Returns will be credited back to the original form of payment. If the original purchase was made with a credit card, we will refund the purchase only if the authorized cardholder is present with the same card. If the authorized cardholder and original card are not both present, we can only issue a store credit.

Gift Returns

Items purchased from a 3rd party or re-seller must be returned to that company and are subject to their return policy.

To return a gift, purchased from thenorthface.com, follow these instructions.

1. Sign in or create an account on thenorthface.com.
2. Request a return for your items
3. Print the prepaid return label.
4. Attach that label to the outside of the package
5. Drop your return into any US Postal Service box.

Your refund will be issued as an eGift Card 24 hours after we’ve received your returned item(s).

Warranty 

Limited Lifetime Warranty

All of our branded products (except footwear and products from our The North Face Renewed series) are covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty against manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the product.

If your product covered by this warranty fails due to a manufacturing defect we will repair it without charge, or replace it, at our discretion. Only original, unaltered and unmodified items and workmanship are covered. This warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, improper care, negligence, normal wear and tear, or the natural breakdown of colors and materials over extended time and use. Damage not covered under warranty may be repaired for a reasonable rate and a fee will be charged for return shipping.

The products eligible for the Limited Lifetime Warranty are covered to the original owner, for the lifetime of the product. Unfortunately, this does not mean your lifetime. Your The North Face® sleeping bag may not survive to the ripe old age of 70. (But we have heard from folks whose well-loved and cared for 1973 Superlight sleeping bags are still going strong!)

One Year Warranty

Footwear and products from our The North Face Renewed series are covered by a One-Year Warranty which covers manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the first year following purchase.

For products labeled “The North Face Renewed” please go here for information on how to submit a warranty claim.

Warranty Claims

To submit a Warranty claim, your product must be returned, with a Warranty Return.

STEP 1: PRE-SORT

Products are selected for renewal. Everything that can’t be renewed is upcycled through the REMADE collection, donated or recycled.

STEP 2: SORT

With a more critical eye, technicians inspect garments to identify issues and prepare them to be refurbished. 

STEP 3: IDENTIFY

Sort techs match products to their original data. If a style has been recalled or has known quality issues, it will removed from production. New bar codes are added to track renewal and impact data.

STEP 4: CLEAN

Garments are cleaned to factory grade standards either using the Tersus CO2 cleaning system or high capacity commercial washing machines.

STEP 5: INSPECT

Repair technicians identify the processes that need to take place to restore garments either Like-New or Reconditioned standards. Repairs are assigned based on time, complexity and capacity.

STEP 6: REPAIR

Garments are repaired based on standards provided by The North Face quality control team.  Highly trained sew technicians ensure that all aspects of the repair meets or exceeds The North Face requirements.

STEP 7: FINISHING

Finishers polish garments up removing any signs of lint, loose threads, or wrinkles.

STEP 8: QUALITY ASSURANCE

Quality assurance certifies that every garment meets or exceeds TNF standards and there are no signs of exterior visible repairs, defects or imperfections.  Although extremely rare, if something is missed we offer Free Returns and a One Year Warranty.