North Face jacket replacement

I'm considering sending my circa 1998 North Face "Kichatna" jacket back to TNF for warranty since it seems to be failing -- the "guaranteed for life" 3-layer Goretex is wetting out, and I've tried the recommended Nikwax cleaning & DWR coating (twice). Still no good. Fabric is fine, it's just not waterproof anymore.

Looking at TNF's website to see what they have if they replace the jacket with something else -- WTF? Do they even have any decent jackets anymore? Not even the Mountain Guide?

http://www.thenorthface.com/opencms/...ubcategory=111

Or am I looking at the wrong TNF website? Don't think so -- it looks like it's their main site.

I though i remembered looking at thier site and seeing the new line of st as well as the mt light etc. That link you provided looks pretty weak. I've been looking around as well. May want to try link, stuff is way sexier and much more durable, imo than what the new tnf has been producing. i would think this is more up your alley or anyones alley actually. I have an old kichatna which i was going to sell and a mountain jacket. I don't believe tnf makes anything nearly as nice as the old heavy duty stuff. Sure technology has better stuff but the tnf's line just isn't employing it. check out the link patagonia too

http://www.arcteryx.com/product_cat.aspx?group=21

That TNF link was to their rain/summer jackets.

Two you can consider are the Caber and the Redpoint. Both have welded seams, the first made with Hyvent the second made with Goretex.

The TNF summit series is what you are looking for. Dig deeper.

That said, I've been pleased with my Arc Teryx Sidewinder AR.

once the factory DWR wears out on any jacket the life is then limited IMO. i doubt the goretex is failing...its probably the breathability failing once the outer layer is saturated 'cause the DWR has failed. w/out the DWR any jkt is toast

fwiw, i think nikwax is next to useless, revivex is a little better.

Of course, we're talking 20 years ago. TNF has gone through so many ownership changes since then, it's ridiculous. Everything was bomber: Best tents, best packs, best jackets, best bags. Period. One stop shopping. Made in the US of A. I've heard the "lifetime warranty" has changed also: It's the projected life of the article itself, not your lifetime(always the damned fine print). I last dealt with their warranty dept. eight years ago(how many owners since then?) and it wasn't a pleasant experience. I had to get nasty(Consumer Affairs, state attorney general) until I got what was, in the end, more than fair. Hopefully, this new TNF incarnation will treat you right. Let us know and good luck!

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Originally Posted by powstash

That TNF link was to their rain/summer jackets.

Two you can consider are the Caber and the Redpoint. Both have welded seams, the first made with Hyvent the second made with Goretex.

The TNF summit series is what you are looking for. Dig deeper.

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Oops. That website did look pretty weak as far as any winter-type offerings.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flykdog

fwiw, i think nikwax is next to useless, revivex is a little better.

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I tried spray-on Revivex first, no good. Then I did the full Nikwax special detergent, then Nikwax wash-in waterproofing, with 2 rinse cycles. Dried the jacket in the dryer both times, per instructions. Still no luck.

I returned TNF jackets like 5 times in 4 years in the mid 90's. The final time was at a TNF store and I said the quality of their jackets sucked and I wanted my money back. They said "sure" and off I went to the Patagucci store for a far better replacement. Don't know if they would still give money back, though.

Take it to REI. They'll do it for you.

You should wait for the Sage model Jacket he told me he was in a meeting with North Face and they had the Jacket all put together but he told them that he could not have mesh in the pit zips so that he could tuck his arms in and hide from the wind ;) . A lot of thought has gone into this thing.

Update.... I brought the jacket back to Sierra Trading Post, where I bought it in January 2000, explained that it's wetting out no matter how much I treat it with DWR renewal stuff, and asked them if they can send it back to TNF or somehow backcharge TNF for it. They offered me a refund (!), said the jacket would go into their Bargain Barn, and they'll sell it as used gear.

So I bought this Arcteryx Javelin jacket as a replacement:
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/xq/...qx/product.htm

Net cost $100 over what I paid for the TNF jacket way back when.

STP has a customer for life. That was very generous of them.