The North Face had a pretty cool display at the 2013 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, with the introduction of Thermoball, a new way to use synthetic insulation. Typically, Primaloft-style synthetics are put into jackets in sheets that are stitched inside the outer material. But The North Face, along with Primaloft, has come up with a way to give synthetic insulation “loft” meaning it works much like down while maintaining its water resistant qualities.
This new technology is called Thermoball, which refers to the insulation’s ball-like appearance. In a display on the show floor, they showed how it keeps its loft, even when wet. Impressive stuff. The new Thermoball insulation will be found in mid-layer puffies and vests this fall.
Other new developments is that TNF is getting into the dry down game. Their version will be called ProDown, which will be utilized in select garments like the Supernatural Jacket, a new 950-fill down jacket coming this fall.
Z-Loft is another new technology that seemingly solves the problem of cold spots in standard baffle design. What The North Face has done is invent a unique Z-baffle shape to maximize warmth without adding weight or bulk. In order to achieve the baffling shape strips of insulation are formed into semi-circles and integrated into a Z-baffle construction, which eliminates the holes created by a conventional baffle construction that stitches through the jacket and insulation.
For more details, we’ve posted their full press release below:
The North Face Invests in The Science of Warmth With Three New Insulations
ALAMEDA, Calif. —Jan. 23, 2013 — The North Face, the world’s premier supplier of authentic,
innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, today unveiled
a series of insulation options designed to fit the versatile needs of outdoor enthusiasts
worldwide.
“We’re excited to debut these three new insulations, which are at their core inspired by the
needs of our athlete team,” said Vice President, Global Product Joe Vernachio. “Our approach,
and really what enables us to continually innovate, is through our athlete tested, expedition
proven process.”
ThermoBallTM is a proprietary The North Face insulation technology that is just as compressible
as down but continues to insulates even when wet. Unlike traditional synthetic insulations, the
small ThermoBall PrimaLoft® synthetic-fiber clusters closely mimic down clusters, trapping heat
within small air pockets to retain warmth. ThermoBall’s clo value is equivalent to that of a 600-
fill down jacket of similar weight.
“ThermoBall offers the climber unparalleled synthetic insulation. In situations where one’s
insulation must retain loft, ThermoBall is the right choice,” said The North Face athlete Conrad
Anker.
ThermoBall was tested on the walls of Meru by Anker and fellow The North Face Global Team
athletes Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk on their successful summit of the Shark’s Fin in 2011.
“The initial prototype was close to what we had in mind, yet once we gave it the run through on
our Meru expedition we realized that there was room for improvement. By the time we
departed for Everest in the spring of 2012 the design and production team had worked out a
way to secure the insulation within the garment, offering improved insulation,” Anker said. “The
design collaboration between athlete, in house and production is ongoing and continues to offer
refinements that benefit the active outdoor athlete.”
Joining ThermoBall in The North Face portfolio of insulation is ProDown, a water-resistant down
technology utilized in select garments. While regular down will wet-out in six to seven minutes
in wet conditions, ProDown retain its dryness and loft for 100 minutes, meaning adventure
seekers caught in unexpected wet conditions have time to spare when seeking shelter or
finishing one last run down the mountain.
ProDown will be added to select styles throughout The North Face line, including the
Supernatural Jacket, a revolutionary 950-fill down jacket. 950-fill down is the highest quality
down commercially available and gives an unparalleled warmth to weight ratio.
And finally, The North Face is introducing ZLoft a proprietary technology utilizing PrimaLoft®
One synthetic insulation constructed wit a unique Z-baffle shape to maximize warmth without
adding weight or bulk. In order to achieve the baffling shape strips of insulation are formed into
semi-circles and integrated into a Z-baffle construction, which eliminates the holes created by a
conventional baffle construction that stitches through the jacket and insulation. This innovative
construction keeps cold air out and warm air in, providing greater warmth with less weight.
For more information on The North Face, check out www.thenorthface.com. To visit The North
Face blog for latest company, athlete and product news, visit www.neverstopexploring.com.