Published November 19, 2024 10:30AM
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How to Stay Warm—and Stay Out—This Winter
Embrace the elements with The North Face Summit Series™, an athlete-tested layering system built to perform the best when conditions are the worst
Embrace the elements with The North Face Summit Series™, an athlete-tested layering system built to perform the best when conditions are the worst. (Photo: The North Face)
There’s nothing like a thrilling winter expedition—the kind of pursuit that leaves you in awe of the natural world. Whether you’re navigating riveting mountain ascents or chasing snowy silence in the backcountry, the fourth season introduces challenges that require technique and specialized equipment. Snow, cold, and wind can conspire to turn any outing into an epic. But daunting conditions are no excuse to stay inside, especially if you have the gear to match the season. With a dialed layering system, you can handle whatever winter brings.
That’s why The North Face Summit Series exists: to keep you warm, dry, prepared, and protected in the face of winter’s worst. Crafted and refined using field-tested input from The North Face’s elite athlete team and proven on expeditions around the world, this modular system encompasses every layering piece you need to adapt to unpredictable conditions. No matter what your favorite alpine activity—whether it’s skiing, snowboarding, or mountaineering—Summit Series lets you enjoy the cold, not hide from it.
Better Base Layers
A warm, sweat-wicking base layer is the cornerstone of any effective layering system, and the Summit Pro 120 Crew sets the tone for cold-weather comfort. It blends heat-regulating performance and stretchy mobility in a soft, 100 percent recycled fabric. “The Summit Pro fits snug next to skin and keeps me warm while moving the sweat away from my body,” says The North Face Athlete Matt Cornell, who wore Summit Series on multiple expeditions, including the first ascent of Jannu, Nepal. “I use it day after day.”
Summit Pro 120 Crew
Multipurpose Midlayers
Temperature regulation while you’re on the move is the key to staying comfortable in winter: You don’t want to get too cold, but you also don’t want to overheat, as sweating too much has its own consequences. Thankfully, this is where midlayers, the next key component of the Summit Series layering system, shine. First up is the FUTUREFLEECE™ Full-Zip Hoodie, a versatile fleece that provides the perfect balance of warmth and breathability as you forge your way uphill or down. “When I’m ski touring, I wear it all the way from the start in Chamonix Valley up to the Argentière Basin—which is about 6,500 feet of elevation gain,” says alpinist and The North Face Athlete Fay Manners.
FUTUREFLEECE Full-Zip Hoodie
If low temperatures call for a piece with more insulation, The North Face athletes reach for the Breithorn Hoodie. This puffy midlayer’s 800-fill, water-repellent ProDown™ preserves warmth and resists precipitation. It also makes the jacket compressible enough to stash in a pack until you need it—at which point you’ll be glad you took it along for the ride. “We were forced to spend the night just below the summit on a tiny sloping edge. The Breithorn appeared as a beacon of warmth at the bottom of my pack. I’ve never loved it more than I did at that moment,” recounts athlete Coline Girod about an exposed bivy in the French Alps.
Breithorn Hoodie
Weather Protection, Perfected
Embracing winter weather means heading into the storm, not running from it. When snow and wind are in the forecast, having a fortresslike shell—another essential element in the Summit Series system—is paramount. On high-octane missions requiring an outer layer that provides breathability and dependable protection, the Torre Egger FUTURELIGHT™ Jacket is your best friend: Its FUTURELIGHT™ three-layer membrane, The North Face’s most breathable waterproof fabric, will keep you from redlining. And although it’s a lightweight piece, this shell is built to last: “When I’m on-route, I’ll often rest an ice ax on my shoulder if I’m placing protection or switching hands. The Torre Egger’s durability means I don’t have to worry about damaging the material,” says Manners.
Torre Egger FUTURELIGHT™ Jacket
Built for skiing and snowboarding, the freeride-inspired Verbier GORE-TEX® Jacket is another shell that provides a reliable refuge from the elements. Its rugged three-layer GORE-TEX® construction will keep you dry and warm. Thoughtful design touches such as an articulated fit, a powder skirt, and seamless shoulders make this a do-it-all shell that excels from the skin track to the drop-in. Just ask pro snowboarder and The North Face Athlete Victor de Le Rue: “The Verbier Jacket is a thin but durable shell that breathes where I need it to. It’s easy to layer under and has big, efficient pockets that are perfect for what I do,” he says.
Verbier GORE-TEX® Jacket
On-Demand Heat
When the mercury plummets, the final layer of the Summit Series system locks in heat and keeps freezing temps at bay. The Pumori Down Parka is the warmest jacket in the Summit Series arsenal, providing luxuriously cozy defense against the cold. Stuffed with lofty 800-fill ProDown™ that’s water-repellent and ultrapackable, the Pumori’s feature set—which includes concealed hand pockets, internal drop pockets, an adjustable hem and hood, and a two-way zipper—conserves every possible bit of heat. “This jacket allows me to step into the unknown with confidence, knowing I have the absolute right piece for anything,” says skier and The North Face Athlete Christina Lusti. Each layer in the system works together to strike the highest level of warmth while remaining adaptable to the conditions. And that’s what Summit Series is all about: the perfect winter layering system for whatever may come.
Pumori Down Parka
The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor LLC, was founded in 1966 with the goal of preparing outdoor athletes for the rigors of their next adventure. Today we are the world’s leading outdoor brand, creating athlete-tested, expedition-proven products that help people explore and test the limits of human potential. We protect our outdoor playgrounds and minimize our impact on the planet through programs that encourage sustainability. The North Face products are available at premium and specialty retail sporting goods stores globally and the company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. For more information, please visit thenorthface.com.