The North Face jackets and equipment are best known for their performance in extremely cold conditions and often at altitude. So it might come as a surprise to know the company originated as a retail outlet for climbing gear based a mere 100 ft above sea level in San Francisco North Beach.
It was 1966 when Doug Tompkins opened the store and part of the opening night included The Grateful Dead playing a set at the shop. It was a time of change in the US and the young population were looking for a change in lifestyle. The outdoor living, "never stop exploring" struck a cord.
The shop started to sponsor exploration and bought a little manufacturing warehouse in the Berkley area to start producing mountaineering equipment. Some 40 years later there are not too many peaks in the works that have not seen The North Face jackets somewhere near the summit. From Chamonix to the Himalayas, waterproof coats, insulating jackets and vest from The North Face will have you covered.