Unique early TNF Bivy Sack. Simple construction of one ply rip stop nylon in blue and green. Grommets at the corners for staking down. Not entirely sure if this was the complete unit or if there would have been a tarp or tube tent covering. Good for a layer of wind proofing and would keep your bag clean as is though.
Measures 92″ overall. 76″ foot to neck and 39″ wide.
A true early-mid 1970s mountaineering boot. This Kastinger has a couple unique construction attributes. The hinged heel allows for the boot to flex without stressing putting undue stress on the boot or the wearer. Second feature that makes this boot both special and revolutionary is the stitchless injection-molded welt, which is quite a departure from the Norwegian and Goodyear welts most boots of this era used.
The gaiters seen here are a similar era (maybe a little later) The North Face nylon blend model.
Nice example of a later first generation puffer jacket. This piece was manufactured in the mid 1980s near the end of this iconic style’s run. Some of the giveaways as to its more recent age are the embossed buttons, TNF branded zipper pull and materials tag. Earlier versions of this jacket were made of rip stop nylon inside and out as opposed to the 65/35 poly cotton shell seen here. Construction also included what I refer to as stitched rivets at stress points such as pocket openings.
The earliest down jackets from The North Face (and brown label equipment in general) were all made in the USA, but the label didn’t start reflecting that until the late 70s when a shift in manufacturing started to take hold. It wasn’t until people started to question where their items were made that it became part of the strategy to include ‘Made in the USA’ in the branding.
Vintage The North Face Brown Label Fiberfill II Coat. Virtually the same pattern as their iconic down coats with a Fiberfill insulation. Not nearly as poofy, but equally as warm. The beauty of Fiberfill over down is there’s no feathers to come spewing out!
This coat features:
This coat has the smaller non-embossed snaps, which I believe predate the embossed. Estimated mid to late 70s production.
This North Face Gore-Tex jacket is quite the piece. Full Gore-Tex outer and nylon inner lining. It’s as yellow as a pvc rain coat but rest assured its not. Very stylish and still functional as a windbreaker, the Gore-Tex has lost most of its repellent properties but could be treated with an aftermarket treatment if one so desired. The label boast the remnants of the former owners last name in faded permanent marker. and from the W-L tag it’s assumed a women’s large but it fits like a short mens medium as well (see measurements).
Features include:
Gore-Tex received its first patent in 1976 and that combine with the brown label would date this jacket late 70s early 80s
Basecamp Vintage & Archives 