DEFY THE PAST - WEAR THE FUTURE
If you want to improve upon something that is already good, you need to think outside the box. Few other outdoor brands know this better than The North Face. To design a new and revolutionary material, developers put conventional fabrics and technologies aside. They searched for a new production method that would enable the creation of a whole new kind of membrane. The solution: nanospinning. This process wasn?t specifically conceived for FUTURELIGHT, but this is the first time it has ever been used for clothes manufacturing. Up until now, the smallest unit of measure in the clothing industry has been ?micro?, but The North Face has taken things to the next level and is using nanospinning to create minute natural fibers. These are layered haphazardly via a webbing process that results in tiny holes that enable outstanding air circulation. In other words, evaporated perspiration and hot air can escape from the inside of the garment but moisture can?t penetrate the fabric from the outside.
WHAT IF??
The membrane doesn?t work alone. It?s flanked by two fabric layers that are just as innovative as the membrane itself, which is the core between the interior layer and the external layer. The three layers are joined together by perforated laminate. This means that the adhesive layers are not continuous. Instead, they leave openings so that air can circulate better. The membrane is always the same thickness but, depending on intended usage, its weight may vary. This innovative layer combination makes FUTURELIGHT a living, adaptable technology.
PASSING EVERY TEST.
The North Face leaves no stone unturned when it comes to putting features, materials and technologies through their paces. Prototype testing lasts for months, and it takes place in the most extreme alpine regions on the planet. This is precisely how Hilaree Nelson and Jim Morrison tested FUTURELIGHT jackets and pants. For their special expedition, they would usually have needed thick, bulky outfits, but they each went out there wearing just a baselayer, a fleece, a down jacket and a FUTURELIGHT hardshell. On 20th September 2018, they reached the Lhotse summit and went on to become the first people to ski down the Lhotse Couloir. Thanks to the incredible adaptability, lightness and comfort of their FUTURELIGHT garments, they were able to reach the fourth-highest peak in the world in just one day?s journey from basecamp.
GROUND-BREAKING. INNOVATIVE. UNPRECEDENTED.
Over 200,000 pores in the nanomembrane enable top breathability. This means that you can control how much air escapes from the inside of the garment but no water will be able to penetrate the membrane from the outside. What makes FUTURELIGHT unique is the way it adapts to different sports disciplines, movement intensities and weather conditions. Aspects like weight, stretchiness and breathability are optimised to suit each individual wearer, but the fabric is always guaranteed to breathe as much as the athlete.
Every FUTURELIGHT garment is tested for a total of 100 days in all kinds of weather conditions. The technology performed just as well on the summit of Mount Everest as it did down the slopes of the Lhotse. It?s a unanimous conclusion: FUTURELIGHT can withstand all weathers.
The developers of FUTURELIGHT consider the future of our planet a top priority. These garments are manufactured by a company in Vietnam that places a very high value on good working conditions, eco-friendly operations and controlled water usage. Perfluorinated chemicals (PFC) are not used in the production of FUTURELIGHT pieces. Instead, the products come equipped with CO Super coating. All interior and exterior fabrics consist of at least 90% recycled material. In summary: minimal ecological footprint, maximum performance.
FUTURELIGHT was designed to keep you dry from the inside of the garment and from the outside, even in extremely wet situations. Its water resistance has been tested under the toughest conditions by the UL, or Underwriter Lab. UL is an independent third-party tester usually tasked with testing clothes for US firefighters. FUTURELIGHT passed every single one of their tests.
FUTURELIGHT products are equipped with web structures that make the garments thinner and stretchier than conventional hardshells. The materials are also surprisingly soft to touch, very light and practically noiseless.
SUMMIT, STEEP & FLIGHT
The first products to boast FUTURELIGHT technology are part of The North Face?s athlete series: the Summit, the Steep and the Flight collections. All of these product ranges combine the very best The North Face product and technology know-how for outstanding performance in all weathers.
REASONS TO CHOOSE FUTURELIGHT
Superior breathability: The super-thin nanomembrane delivers breathability and keeps water out of the garment.
Innovative waterproofing: Shielding you from the toughest weather conditions.
Unparalleled comfort: Soft, light and nimble for maximum freedom of movement.
Tried-and-tested durability: Tested by elite athletes in the most extreme environments in the world.
Sustainable production: 90% recycled materials and manufactured in eco-friendly conditions.