2025.01.07

The Potential of The North Face's New Down Jacket "Wouzel," Which Stays Warm Even When Wet

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Why are down jackets warm?

The answer lies in the "down" that is filled inside. The down, sourced from waterfowl, is fluffy like cotton and can trap a large amount of air. The low thermal conductivity of air acts as insulation, enhancing heat retention.

However, even such down jackets have a weakness: "water." When the inner down gets wet, it can no longer trap air, resulting in reduced insulation.

This season, THE NORTH FACE has released the "Wouzel" which focuses on addressing this weak point of down jackets. We spoke with Yayoi Chiba, the MD of The North Face, about the background of the Wouzel's creation and its specs.

PROFILE

Yayoi Chiba

Manager, THE NORTH FACE Performance Group, Goldwin Inc.
Yayoi Chiba, who enjoys mountain climbing and spent her summer vacation enjoying a long trail in the UK.

A Groundbreaking Idea to Give Down Itself Water-Repellent Properties

"Wouzel Hoodie," 50,600 yen (tax included)

First, could you tell us the background of the Wouzel's development?

In outdoor settings, it is common for down jackets to get wet from rain, snow, mist, or sweat. In fact, we received feedback from The North Face athletes saying, "We want to maintain the lightweight and compact nature of down jackets, but can't we do something about the loft reduction when they get damp?" In response to this need, we started the development process. The model name is a coined term derived from waterfowl native to Yosemite National Park in California.