The North Face Just Streamlined Its Most Iconic Jacket (and Made It Cheaper Too)

Because it evolves at such a swift pace, the technical outerwear space tends to see most products come and go within a few years. 

So when something somehow manages to stick around for four decades, it’s kind of a big deal.

No wonder, then, that The North Face is shouting to the mountaintops about its Mountain Jacket, which has survived by consistently changing with the times since its introduction way back in 1985.

The North Face

But even with the help of rising British pop star Griff, the brand isn’t just making noise.

In honor of the garment’s 40th anniversary, TNF just introduced what might be the coolest iteration yet: the stylish, affordable and spring weather-ready DryVent Mono Mountain Jacket.

A legacy of innovation

These days, The North Face is widely recognized for hardy outerwear that also looks great on the street, but that wasn’t necessarily the case in the mid-’80s. 

The original jacket was really more of a jumping-off point for continuous progression, initially on the technical side and later on the style side.

The North Face

In 1987, it was part of TNF’s modular alpine exploration-oriented Expedition System, spearheaded by Director of Equipment Sally McCoy after the particularly gnarly “Snowbird” Everest expedition.

Three years later, its pockets were updated to a more angular and higher position, making them easier to access while wearing a climbing harness. Then in 1994, the streamlined Mountain Light Jacket appeared.

By 2010, TNF was partnering with Supreme for collab jackets featuring British Millerain waxed cotton fabric.

The North Face

Various Supreme collabs recurred in 2013, 2014 and 2019, the same year TNF worked with Invincible on a photographic print of the 1987 expedition. 

In 2020, The North Face integrated its proprietary Futurelight waterproofing tech into the jacket (replacing Gore-Tex) and also partnered with MM6 by Maison Margiela on the avant-garde Circle Mountain Jacket.

All of which leads up to this week’s unique release.

Springing forward

The timing is apt for the DryVent Mono, as it carries forward a relaxed street-ready style with just enough tech to keep you warm and dry as we shift from winter to spring.

The big highlight is the introduction of 100% recycled 2L DryVent fabric, a waterproof, seam-sealed, mono-material construction — and an ideal ingredient for warding off spring showers.

Relax, there’s still a Gore-Tex version for serious alpine adventures, but the price difference is notable: $250 versus $400.

The North Face

Other signature design elements include alpine-style pockets, a non-PFC DWR finish for added water repellency and adjustable hems, cuffs and hood.

On the sustainability front, the mono-material construction lets TNF recycle the jacket once you’ve pushed it to the limit.

Another small detail that could come up huge is zip-in compatibility with the Retro Denali Jacket. That will give you a nice layer of insulation should you encounter an unexpected temp drop. 

The North Face

One final noteworthy touch? Just below the hanging loop on the inside is bold white stitching that reads “85-25: Celebrating 40 years of the Mountain Jacket.”

Because hey, when you’ve stuck around this long, ain’t no shame in letting ’em know.

Availability and pricing

The North Face’s DryVent Mono Mountain Jacket is available now for both women and men in a wide range of colors and sizes (including plus sizes) for $250. The Gore-Tex Mountain Jacket costs $400.

The North Face

The North Face DryVent Mono Mountain Jacket

• $250 at The North Face

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