Photo Credit
Adam McKibben
The North Face is one of our go-to outdoor brands for winter and ski apparel, with an extensive lineup of cold weather-ready clothing, footwear, and accessories that often score high on value and style. With the holidays on the horizon, we scoured their collection to hand-pick our favorites this season, from hats and gloves to winter boots, insulation, and resort staples. Below are our top picks organized by price, from $30 up to $400, all of which we’ve put through extensive outdoor use over the years.
Editor’s note: This article has been sponsored by The North Face, but the picks and descriptions below were made independently and based on our experiences with and opinions of the products.
Our Team’s Holiday Picks
Logo Box Cuffed Beanie ($30)
A quality beanie can go a long way toward keeping you cozy during the cold winter months, and The North Face’s Logo Box Cuffed Beanie is a crowd favorite. We’re big fans of the styling: The rib-knit design is good-looking and stays securely in place with a snug but comfortable fit (it does loosen a bit over time, which is a good thing). Speaking of comfort, the acrylic material is soft, doesn’t itch, and has a good amount of stretch to it, which makes it easy to roll up the sides to achieve your desired look and fit. The cherry on top is the generous colorway selection (ten at the time of publishing), from subdued Evergreen and Smokey Brown to bright Beetroot Red and Peak Purple. Added up, it’s a classy and streamlined design that looks the part whether you’re shoveling the driveway or hitting the trail for a snowy hike.
See the Logo Box Cuffed Beanie
Denali Etip Gloves ($55)
Another key line of defense against the cold is a solid pair of winter gloves, and the Denali Etip fits the bill nicely. For just $55, the Denali is warm and cozy thanks to its namesake fleece, while a reinforced nylon panel at the back of the hand adds toughness and protection against light moisture. As its name suggests, the glove is also touchscreen-compatible with phone-friendly tips on the thumb and index finger. A final modern touch we love is the zipper at the back of the hand, which makes the gloves extremely easy to take on and off. All told, the Denali is a comfortable and capable everyday design and can hold its own on winter trails, too.
See the Denali Etip Gloves
Men’s ThermoBall Traction and Women’s ThermoBall Traction Booties ($69)
For winter camping, après ski, or simply lounging around the cabin, we’re huge fans of slip-on booties like the ThermoBall Traction. Packed with a healthy dose of The North Face’s down-mimicking ThermoBall insulation (which we cover in greater detail below), the shoes are both cozy and water-resistant enough to withstand light snow and rain. Additionally, the overlapping collar design and pull tab at the rear make the booties easy to get on and off, and the rubber outsole is both decently tacky and does an adequate job protecting your foot if you step on a rock or log at camp. Offered in seven colorways and eight men’s sizes from 7 to 14 (the women’s color and size range is a little smaller), the ThermoBall Traction Booties are a fun and cozy winter companion with much better outdoor appeal than a standard pair of slippers.
See the Men's ThermoBall Traction Booties See the Women's ThermoBall Traction Booties
Women’s Shellista V Mid Waterproof Boots ($165)
Winter weather calls for capable footwear, whether you're working outdoors, snowshoeing, or commuting to work. Now in its fifth iteration, The North Face’s women’s-specific Shellista has been a favorite of ours for years due to its competitive price and all-around versatility. The bottom of the boot is shrouded in rubber for shedding water and snow, while the inside is packed with synthetic insulation and lined in fleece to keep your feet cozy when the mercury drops (paired with warm socks, we’ve found the Shellista to be comfortable into the high teens to low 20s Fahrenheit). Styling is another selling point, including a classy leather upper, high-pile fleece collar, and modern lacing system. For a more outdoor-ready (but less everyday-friendly) design, we also like The North Face’s Chilkat V 400 Waterproof Boots, which pack in thicker insulation, feature a more aggressive outsole design, and come in both men’s and women’s versions.
See the Women's Shellista V Mid WP Boots
Base Camp Voyager Travel Pack ($170)
The North Face’s expedition-ready Base Camp duffels have long been popular among serious adventurers, and the Base Camp Travel Pack is a logical and carry-on-friendly addition to the collection. We recently brought the pack on a trip to Chilean Patagonia and came away with a lot of praise: The exterior is robust and confidence-inspiring, the shoulder straps and backpanel are well padded, and the large front compartment makes it easy to divvy up travel documents and electronics with a variety of mesh, zippered, and fleece-lined pockets. The rest of the design is equally well sorted, from the fleece-lined laptop sleeve and dual water bottle pockets to the generous daisy chain system for attaching gear externally. For everything from weekend getaways to international adventures, the Base Camp Voyager is a great way to stay organized.
See the Base Camp Voyager Travel Pack
Men’s Retro Denali Jacket and Women’s Retro Denali Jacket ($180)
The Denali line from The North Face has been on the market for years and practically epitomizes the casual fleece. We think the popularity is well deserved: This jacket has a timeless style with thick polar fleece covering most of the body and weather-resistant nylon panels at the chest and arms. Both materials are very durable, and The North Face didn’t skimp on practical features, including a two-way front zipper, four zippered pockets, and even pit zips for airing things out in warmer temperatures. All in all, it’s a winning recipe of cozy comfort, everyday-friendly styling, and solid build quality. For those looking to save, The North Face’s Canyonlands Full-Zip is half the price of the Denali and features a dual-surface design with midweight fleece on the inside (the Denali is much warmer) and a smooth polyester shell.
See the Men's Retro Denali Jacket See the Women's Retro Denali Jacket
Men’s Freedom Insulated and Women’s Freedom Insulated Pants ($200)
Easily one of the most popular ski and snowboard pants on the mountain, The North Face’s Freedom Insulated hits a very desirable mix of price and performance. Starting at the outside, you get reliable protection against water and wind by way of a proven 2-layer membrane. Inside, The North Face’s Heatseeker Eco synthetic insulation does a great job taking the sting out of cold chairlift rides (our tester found the pants comfortable into the low teens Fahrenheit with a light baselayer underneath). Other highlights include a thick shell fabric that holds up well over time, excellent all-day comfort, and premium-feeling materials that belie the jacket’s affordable price tag. As a final bonus, the pants are offered in a nice variety of colorways and sizes, including three inseam lengths and dedicated plus sizes for women.
See the Men's Freedom Pants See the Women's Freedom Pants
Men’s ThermoBall Jacket 2.0 and Women’s ThermoBall Jacket 2.0 ($230)
Synthetic jackets have long aspired to mimic down’s lofty warmth and compressibility, and The North Face’s ThermoBall comes impressively close. The namesake insulation was created in partnership with insulation expert PrimaLoft and does a great job trapping warmth while keeping weight to a minimum. And importantly, it doesn’t clump up and lose its insulating properties when wet, which is one of down’s biggest downsides. The rest of the design is simple but well executed, including three zippered pockets (one of which doubles as a stuff sack) and an elasticized hem and cuffs for sealing out wind. All told, we love the ThermoBall for wearing casually or as a midlayer while resort skiing, and it’s offered in a ton of styles—including a hoody, vest, women’s-specific parka, and several kids’ models—depending on your objectives and warmth needs.
See the Men's ThermoBall Jacket 2.0 See the Women's ThermoBall Jacket 2.0
Men’s McMurdo Parka ($400) and Women’s Arctic Parka ($350)
Premium winter jackets can cost upwards of $1,000, which is one reason we love The North Face’s McMurdo Parka. For a very palatable $400, this coat covers all of the important bases: It's warm with a healthy dose of 600-fill down, reliably water- and windproof thanks to the 2-layer shell, and decently breathable for wearing in milder temperatures. We also appreciate the upper thigh-length cut that offers great coverage without impeding mobility, as well as the ability to remove the faux-fur hood on days when the extra protection isn't needed. On the women's side, the Arctic Parka doesn't share the same name but has many similarities, including full waterproofing, a cozy interior, and a removable faux-fur lining on the hood—all for $50 less than the McMurdo.
See the Men's McMurdo Parka See the Women's Arctic Parka
Men’s ThermoBall Snow Triclimate and Women’s ThermoBall Triclimate ($400)
We covered The North Face’s popular ThermoBall Jacket above, and the ThermoBall Snow Triclimate pairs that piece with a waterproof shell for hitting the slopes. The insulating midlayer can be either zipped in on cold days or left at home in spring conditions, and you can also wear the midlayer on its own around town. Unlike many other 3-in-1 pieces, the ThermoBall Snow Triclimate is decidedly well built with a nicely tailored fit, practical storage, and pit zips for dumping excess heat on brief hikes into the sidecountry. Of course, you also get all the standard resort trimmings, including a powder skirt for sealing out snow at the waist, a helmet-compatible hood with multiple drawcords for tweaking fit, and even a goggle wipe inside the wrist pocket. Added up, it’s for good reason that this jacket has been our favorite 3-in-1 design for years running.
See the Men's ThermoBall Triclimate Jacket See the Women's ThermoBall Triclimate Jacket
How to Shop The North Face’s Holiday Selection
There are a few ways to shop The North Face’s winter gear selection, and the easiest for most will be online. The brand’s website is modern, easy to navigate, and has a helpful chat feature that allows you to connect with a sales representative in real time with any questions that come up. Online shoppers also receive free shipping on orders over $99, and members of The North Face's XPLR Pass loyalty program (which is free to join) get complimentary shipping regardless of the total. If you prefer to shop in person, The North Face has several locations scattered throughout the U.S., as well as a strong presence in retailers like REI and Backcountry, although their website is often the best bet for finding the widest selection of sizes and colorways. Regardless of how you choose to shop, gear must be unused and returned within 30 days of purchase in order to be eligible for a full refund. You can read more about The North Face’s return policy here.
Shop The North Face’s 2024 Holiday Selection
