What exactly does The North Face sell to make it a "climbing company" aside from just huge sponsorships?

Math Bert wrote:

What exactly is a "climbing company"?  How are Patagonia, MHW, OR, or even BD much different?  

BD makes cams, rebadges ropes, and I don't know what's going on with their shoes. Their trekking poles are even pretty good - I used to own an Ice Axe of theirs. Didn't they start out as "All the hardware that Choinard Inc didn't want to deal with making anymore"?

I actually really like a lot of their technical apparel. Expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Long Ranger wrote:

Didn't they start out as "All the hardware that Chouinard Inc didn't want to deal with making anymore"?

No, Chouinard was sued because some idiots could not figure out how to buckle their harness and got injured/died. Chouinard did not want to deal with the liability. So Chouinard Equipment declared bankruptcy and the assets were sold to what became Black Diamond. That was around 1989-1990.

To add to what Allen just posted. My recollection is that those who started BD were the former employees of Chouinard Equipment buying out the inventory, etc. from the parent company.

Allen--Died, in the Tetons. . . evidently took a dump and didn't reconnect the harness correctly afterwards. . . 

I have been using an amazing North Face Thin air pack for 20 years of recreational expeditions.  I got it after I saw a pic of it in use on lead of a Grade VII huge 80 degree ice & mixed route high in the Himalaya.  old ad:  https://www.geartrade.com/item/420932/north-face-thin-air-alpine-guide-pack
Their latest is the Cobra series.

but urban campers in their slippers say  (tNF single wall assault tent review on their website): "Don't like the breathable design doesnt work well in my backyard."

The haulbag in my avatar photo was probably purchased at a TNF store, one of John Middendorf's A5 branded haul bags.  TNF would later buy A5, and I think they also bought a number of his patents.  In the mid to late '90s, someone withing TNF corporate tried to make a solid push into being the premier outfitter for bigwall stuff - high altitude bigwall photos sell - they knew that - they put money in what they knew to be.  But, companies are companies and comprised of individuals who come and go, and the companies as a whole, or in part, get sold off to whomever, and whatever, and some ideas die.  I think internet may have had a lot to do with TNF dropping that branch of pursuit.  It opened up commerce to the point where larger aggregators would no longer be needed.

The crampons in that bag?  I know those were bought at a TNF store.  I had called them on the phone some days before, and after landing at Midway, taking the Orange line into the Loop, I walked into the TNF store at the base of the Hancock building, where they had that pair of crampons and a shovel on hold with my name on them.  The crampons may have even come right of one of the mannequins; a manilla/string tag attached to the toe bail holding it with my name.  Met up with my partner out on a nearby street corner, where we then hopped on Blue up to O'Hare, and kept going.

They were super helpful, not just on that trip, either.

Uknown Unknown wrote:

Been lingering in my mind for sometime now, but The North Face sponsors huge climbing athletes such that are all well known in the community. They also sponsor many events, and their athletes are repping their logo on their pullover sweater. 

When you actually check out the north face's store, all they sell is apparel. There are no technical items such as rope, climbing shoes, devices, hardware, soft goods etc etc, it's pure apparel. None of the apparel you can actually climb comfortably in as well. The pants functionality is below average compared to its competitors, their tshirts are just tshirts, They've got some unpractical bags. 

How exactly is a company like this so huge in the climbing world but sell absolutely no climbing gear???????

I ask because very often I look on their website after seeing their huge athletes wear it, then when I'm on their website I have absolutely no interest in anything they sell because there's nothing I can buy? 

They sell an aesthetic.

Tradiban wrote:

They sell an aesthetic.

Wu-Tang Clan is for the Children and it's been that way since many of us were children, 

Would be kinda sick to do a big technical route in the Gucci line. Shit would be real free stylin

Josh Z wrote:

There's climbers doing $100,000 van conversions to "dirtbag" out of, I imagine they can buy the gear.

touche

Josh Z wrote:

There's climbers doing $100,000 van conversions to "dirtbag" out of, I imagine they can buy the gear.

150k, used!

Steve Williams wrote:

Allen--Died, in the Tetons. . . evidently took a dump and didn't reconnect the harness correctly afterwards. . . 

There were four lawsuits one was the death others were injuries.

I’m probably in the middle of the demographic represented on MP, (49 years old). When I started, TNF made highly regarded tents, sleeping bags, and outerwear. Remember Mountain Light Gore Tex shells, Denali fleece, and TNF down jackets?   

Igor Chained wrote:

Based on the threads you create, you are either a troll or an ignorant chap.

He's just young and still figuring out how the world works.

My TNF sleeping bag is off the chain. 850 down, light af, zippered foot box… someone knew what they were doing back then 

There is an iconic photo of Todd Skinner on the FFA of the Salathe wearing a Denali fleece so their non-technical apparel must be good for something.

Who cares!?

Check out Stio, out of Jackson Hole, next time you need a jacket or some such.

Alan Rubin wrote:

To add to what Allen just posted. My recollection is that those who started BD were the former employees of Chouinard Equipment buying out the inventory, etc. from the parent company.

Further to what Allen and Alan have already posted, anybody interested in the story of BD's origin can hear it 'from the horse's mouth' by listening to Enormocast #90 with Peter Metcalf: https://378.137.myftpupload.com/?p=2239 .

How is RedBull an extreme sports company? All they do is make energy drinks.

Same thing.

Long Ranger wrote:

BD makes cams, rebadges ropes, and I don't know what's going on with their shoes. Their trekking poles are even pretty good - I used to own an Ice Axe of theirs.

Sure - and they make skis, splitboard, bindings, and all the outerwear associated with those activities, which I would wager is a larger end market than climbing. My point here is only that the original question is nonsensical.