Press Releases

The North Face, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, today announced its new DryWallTM tent fabric. The ground-breaking textile is a first-of-its-kind for tent construction and fabrics throughout the industry with its breathability, water resistance and safety.

The North Face worked with top Japanese mill, Mitsui, to create the new DryWall textile. The DryWall textile boasts an incredible Durable Water Repellant (DWR) that will not wet out, or soak through. It provides simplicity and the lightweight characteristics of a traditional single wall tent while delivering the waterproofness and moisture management of a double wall tent.

Tent design has traditionally been one of two options, a heavier double-wall tent construction or light, single-wall. Double wall tents, while reliably dry with less condensation issues, take longer to set up, are more difficult in wind and are heavier to carry. Light, single-wall tents, solve bulk and weight issues, yet often at the cost of either waterproofness or breathability.

By considering every element of the material, from the yarn that makes the fiber to the coating that provides the water repellant characteristics, The North Face has delivered a single wall tent fabric that excels in breathability while producing the durability and tear strength expected on expeditions. Tested by The North Face athletes over the course of a 12 month expedition season, the material has seen the high alpine regions of the biggest peaks in the world, gale force winds, humid beach climates and everything in between.

“We are very proud of the DryWall fabric. This is one of the best technologies we have ever developed,” said Jeff Nash, Director of Materials and Lab at The North Face. “Not only is it waterproof, it’s tremendously breathable and to top it off, extremely lightweight.”

The new DryWall technology is available for Spring 2011 in one expedition tent, the Assault 2, and The North Face’s new line of Ultralight single-wall tents and bivies, including the Phoenix 2, Sputnik 2, Asylum Bivy and Simple Bivy. All of the tents crafted of DryWall feature an abundance of venting options to keep things dry, comfortable and easy no matter what the elements. The DryWall tents range from $199 to $399.

“We were able to take some of our most innovative ultralight tent designs and apply this new DryWall fabric to create an unstoppable offering for consumers,” said Scott McGuire, Equipment Product Director for The North Face. “In the testing process we put the DryWall tents to more than 100 nights in the field from high altitude climates to wet spring snowpack.”

For more than 40 years The North Face athlete team has defined the limits of what is humanly possible, and continually works with The North Face Research Design and Development teams, creating innovative designs that push new technologies and inspire cutting-edge products.

For more information on The North Face, check out www.thenorthface.com.

About The North Face®
The North Face, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, the company offers the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snowsport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company's products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snowsport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains.