My Experience Testing The North Face Gucci Stuff
Alright, let me walk you through how I ended up testing this fancy Gucci collab jacket and what I think about it compared to regular stuff. Buckle up.
First, why I even bothered: I saw the hype online like crazy. Everyone screaming “Gucci and North Face collab!” and I gotta admit, the pictures looked slick. Fancy colors, weird patterns mixed with hiking gear… it caught my eye. Then I saw the price tag. Nearly choked on my coffee. Way more than a regular TNF shell jacket.
Getting my hands on it wasn’t easy: Tried the official online drop. Site crashed, obviously. Pure chaos. Thought “screw it” and hit up my local high-end department store downtown. Got lucky – they had one piece left in my size. Felt kinda wild swiping my card for that much cash just for a rain shell.
First impressions holding it: Okay, yeah. It feels different. The fabric has this kinda… smoother finish? Not like the usual crinkly TNF nylon. The red and blue color combo they used was definitely eye-catching, like a weird retro hiking vibe with Gucci’s weirdness thrown in. Saw all the logos – both Gucci and TNF plastered all over. Made it clear this wasn’t your everyday fleece hunt.
Putting it through its paces: Now, I’m no mountain climber, but I test my gear. Here’s the lowdown:
- Rain Test: Sprayed it down good with the hose. Water beaded right off, just like my regular TNF jackets. Felt slightly thicker though. Did it keep me dryer? Not really. Same performance.
- Windproof: Took it out biking along the coast. Windy as hell. Blocked it just fine. Same as my other TNF shells.
- Pockets & Zippers: Nice deep pockets, zippers felt smooth. The Gucci “G” on the zipper pulls was a fancy touch. Purely looks, though. Does a zipper pull need a fancy logo? Not really.
- Comfort & Fit: Fit was actually pretty good, maybe a tad slimmer than my normal TNF jacket. But nothing revolutionary.
The big question: Is it actually better gear? Honestly? Nah. My standard North Face shells from last year handle rain and wind just as well. The real difference was the damn logo and the design. That Gucci badge slapped on there is basically half the price.
Compared to other TNF stuff: My regular Summit Series shells? Rock solid, proven on actual hikes, warm, functional, but kinda… boring. Usual North Face fleeces? Comfy, decent for everyday, way more affordable. This Gucci thing? Definitely stood out walking down the street. Got way more looks. But when it comes down to function, it’s just a TNF jacket wearing a Gucci necklace.
Thinking about the “better value”: This part hurts. For pure outdoor performance or keeping warm? Not good value. You’re paying massive extra cash only for the collab status and unique look. It feels like buying hype in jacket form. My regular TNF jackets do the exact same job for protection, just without the fancy Gucci vibe.
My final take: After wearing it around town for a bit? Yeah, it looks cool. Definitely unique. If you got cash to burn and desperately want that specific streetwear flex, maybe. But if you actually need a reliable shell or fleece for hiking, commuting, or just staying dry? Grab a standard, solid North Face jacket. Does the job just as well for way less cash. The Gucci one sits in my closet way more than my other jackets ’cause honestly? Half the time I’m scared I’ll wreck it. That tells you everything.
