To think that not all 15 year olds have a North Face jacket?

[Shinyredbicycle]

DD15 is seriously nagging us about getting a North Face jacket to the tune of £300. Apparently, everyone at school has one, they're very warm, last forever etc.

I'm a bit surprised given the decidedly non-middle class demographic of her school tbh, but I have seen a lot of teens wearing them.

My first thought was that it's an insane amount of money to spend on a jacket. Her last one was from Urban Outfitters which I bought in the sale and I suppose that given that she's not going to grow very much more, I'd feel okay spending around £100 on something she really wanted.

But £300! Am I missing something here about how vital they are to a young person's life? It's quite possible that I don't really get how desirable they are.

Would like to hear from other parents of teens about how reasonable a request this is!

TIA

Goodness! I’d always thought of TNF jackets as middle-aged dog walking coats

live and learn

Glad to discover I'm finally cool! 😁

I wouldn't let my dc wear a £300 coat to school - it would get ripped or nicked within a week!
DS has one (he's 22) and paid for it himself. He got it because they are warm and he was fed up of freezing his arse off. I've told dd (15) she's got no chance - I'm not paying £300 for a child's coat and funnily enough she doesn't seem keen to spend all her own money on one either! She has 600 coats already that she asked for and doesn't wear , so settled for a £35 one from H&M in the end, that she's just as happy with!

I have just got a £300 men's puffa reduced to £225 on TNF website - they have 25pc off if you spend over £175, but for today and tomorrow only.

Still tickles me that anything from the Millets sale would be seen as desirable by a teen, but here we are.

My thoughts exactly! Dear God, I am old. Sensible outdoor hiking gear is now highly fashionable…..?

My ds (19) has had his NF winter jacket for a couple of years. This will sound horrible but it’s his ’cheap’ jacket which he will wear when he goes out, so not risk being robbed.. We live in a very cold country though, so tbf North Face does work when it’s an average -20 during winter.

They’ve been the in thing for a while. My brother had one, it got stolen

JD sport had them cheaper / but there are so many similar types.

if you are absolutely dead set on getting the 1996 Nuptse jacket it’s ridiculous and is essentially a fashion jacket, bear in mind it’s only water resistant so in a heavy downpour. You will get soaked in it, plus it’s a hip cut so will let in a draught compares to the ones which sit a little lower.

if it’s the logo that’s important not it being a functional coat just get one of the other coats like the synthetic jacket for £150 rather than the 1996. They look almost the same anyway

Deffo not my 15 year old, his mates don't have one either

Yes, I've pointed out that it's not waterproof and looks drafty around the hips.

Thanks all.

My 16yo DS's last coat was a £40 Trespass one for MandM (apparently RRP £120 ish but I doubt it). It's warm and waterproof.
I did get him and DS2 Superdry jackets a few years ago when they seemed to be the in thing, but paid £20 or less on Ebay and they're still going strong and are really warm. No hoods though.

I'm
40
And bought myself my first NF coat in the Black Friday sale. £160 down from £350.

I wouldn't get one for my kids though. It would be lost or damaged within months!

Definitely not worth paying £300 (or £100!) if they aren't even waterproof!

I don't know what a roadman is either. Drug dealer?

All the troublesome youth, those who openly drug deal etc around where i live wear Canada Goose jackets which are in and around €900

They are available from £125, more than idea but less than £300!

Exactly, no self respecting drug dealer would be seen dead in North Face. Its seen as a bit cheap for them.
All about Stone Island and Canada Goose, with a Moncler woolly hat.

I must be very lucky my DD's 15 and 17 go mad at me if I spend lots of money on clothes, they would be horrified if I spent over £50 on a jacket. Not sure what class I am maybe middle but who really cares. If you can afford it and don't mind buy it, if not just say no?

Same here , nobody wears north face it's zavetti, parajumper or mountain equipment with Nike air 95s

Is it just that one specific jacket that’s cool? If so, I hope all the ones on here thinking they’re now the bees knees have that one

In the puffa style one I’d just be concerned about the length of them! Surely you need something on your bum too to keep you warm.

My daughter (14) has asked for one this year.

The one she's after is £200.

It'll be her main present.

I'm pleased that she's after a coat as she's normally out in just a T and hoody 🥶🥶🥶🥶

The one my ds got is absolutely water- and snow proof. We live in a -20 climate, it’s a to-go jacket. No need for it otherwise..

They are on offer in a few places and they do last well , my ds had his previous one 3 years which we bought in an outlet centre

My 15 year old wouldn’t be seen dead in a North Face jacket, and there’s no way on earth I’d be spending £300 on any jacket, I couldn’t afford to even if I wanted to.

Could you look on Vinted?

There will be loads of fakes, just like those Balenciaga shoes

I'd say its definitely passed the middle class trend. Middle class kids definitely seem to be wearing other brands now around here as the brand of choice.

And outdoor people no longer wear them as its a fashion brand not an outdoor brand these days.

The middle aged, outdoor brand of choice now tends to be Patagonia. To the point that the real outdoor types have now moved on from that too to other 'more outdoorsy' brands as they think its gone too fashionable! (Outdoors snobs are a law onto themselves).

Down jackets are just about the worst thing for wet weather too. They should be worn with an outer waterproof layer in wet conditions. So really are a pile of crap in terms of usefulness in the UK if you don't do it properly!

I do laugh at the out of school uniform the kids wear. Its like personality bypass surgery where they are all cloned in black nike.