PATAGONIA VS. THE NORTH FACE: CORPORATE GIFTING GUIDE

PATAGONIA VS. THE NORTH FACE: CORPORATE GIFTING GUIDE

Patagonia and The North Face are popular choices in the corporate gifting programs we help put together. Both offer a wide range of premium outdoor gear that recipients can use on different occasions.

But which brand is the better fit for your company? To decide, you must compare their co-branding guidelines, approval procedures, corporate program structures, logo treatment options, pricing, minimum purchase quantities (MPQs), etc.

While that research is crucial, it can take days. To save you time and effort, we’ve prepared this detailed Patagonia vs. The North Face guide, comparing both brands across all aspects of corporate gifting.

We’ve also added real user reviews to show how recipients perceive each brand and when Patagonia or The North Face is the better choice.

Let’s begin.

PATAGONIA VS. THE NORTH FACE (AT A GLANCE)

Here’s a quick comparison between Patagonia and The North Face for premium corporate gifting programs:

PATAGONIA VS. THE NORTH FACE (A DETAILED BREAKDOWN)

Patagonia and The North Face share common roots: their founders were longtime friends who embarked on a climbing expedition to Patagonia in 1968. However, the two brands have developed distinct identities, even in corporate gifting.

Below, we compare them across seven key aspects that will help you decide which brand aligns better with your goals:

1. Brand Positioning and Recipient Perception
2. Corporate Branding Program Structure
3. Product Range
4. Perceived Quality and Value
5. Customization Capabilities
6. Pricing and Minimum Purchase Quantity (MPQ)
7. Logistics

Let’s discuss each.

1. BRAND POSITIONING AND RECIPIENT PERCEPTION

The biggest difference between the two brands is that Patagonia has built a strong identity around environmental responsibility, while The North Face blends its spirit of exploration with everyday fashion. Of the two, recipients tend to prefer the brand that resonates most with them.

To explain Patagonia’s and The North Face’s different philosophies, we’ve put together a simple table comparing their brand positioning and recipient perception:

Patagonia is a better fit if your recipients value environmental responsibility and you want the gifts to reflect that.

The North Face is a better fit if your recipients resonate with brands that have a strong presence in contemporary streetwear and pop culture.

To learn which brand would suit your recipients for different occasions, you can refer to our Custom Patagonia Buyer’s Guide and Custom The North Face Buyer’s Guide.

2. CORPORATE BRANDING PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Patagonia’s corporate branding program is highly selective. They review each project individually and prefer to work with Certified B Corporations, 1% for the Planet members, or companies with similar affiliations. The North Face offers a more conventional co-branding program through a network of approved partners.

You can compare their co-branding program structures in the table below:

Thus, Patagonia would be a better fit if:

• Your company is a Certified B Corporation or a 1% for the Planet member.
• You can share documented sustainability work when your project is reviewed.

The North Face would be a better fit if:

• You plan to run several gifting projects throughout the year, and you want a simpler approval process.
• You want leaner eligibility criteria.

Now that we’ve covered the groundwork, let’s move on to the meat of this comparison: the product categories each brand offers.

3. PRODUCT RANGE

While both brands offer similar product lines for corporate gifting, The North Face provides more outerwear categories, including soft shells and 3-in-1 jackets. Patagonia offers a broader range of technical fleece and lightweight insulation, along with an extensive range of travel bags (from packing cubes to 100L duffels).

You can refer to the table below to quickly compare the co-branded product range for both brands:

You can refer to our Patagonia corporate catalog and The North Face corporate catalog to explore our complete range of products.

4. PERCEIVED QUALITY AND VALUE

While both brands sit at the premium end of outdoor gear, their perceived quality and value shift across product categories and depend largely on how recipients plan to use each product.

Below, we compare both brands across key product categories: Jackets, Vests, and Bags.

JACKETS

Patagonia’s down jackets draw praise for their technical construction, especially their warmth-to-weight ratio. The North Face’s down jackets, led by the 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket, are loved for their style and silhouette.

Patagonia User Review: A YouTube reviewer of the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody says, “Considering that this jacket only weighs 437 grams, the warmth-to-weight ratio is insane.”

The North Face User Review: One Reddit user states, "Quality wise, Patagonia is better and more ethical. If you want something more trendy, i.e boxy and cropped then go with North Face Nuptse."

VESTS

User reviews for vests show what recipients truly value in each brand. For starters, Patagonia’s Down Sweater Vest stands out for its focus on longevity. On the other hand, another recipient says that they’d prefer The North Face vests for their warmth and overall quality.

Patagonia User Review: One YouTuber says, “They are really focusing on repairing things instead of just throwing away and buying new. So the sustainability is kind of what their focus. So it's nice to see that they actually send you a pretty repair kit for uh small stuff."

The North Face User Review: A Redditor explains, “The Nuptse vest has 4 main baffles that are classically overstuffed with 700 fill goose down. It’s a staple in the north face collection for decades now.”

BAGS

People love The North Face bags for the heavier, stiffer material that allows rough use, plus practical touches like lockable zippers and padded handles. At the same time, Patagonia bags earn value for their simplicity and lighter material that packs down easily.

User Review: A Redditor puts it clearly: “If you want a nice bag and don’t need to strap it to the roof of a truck and go bombing through the woods for a week, the Patagonia would be probably be superior.”

5. CUSTOMIZATION CAPABILITIES

Logo locations and treatments differ between the two brands. Patagonia allows right chest, left bicep, right bicep, back yoke, and back collar locations on apparel. The North Face lets you place your company logo on the right chest or either bicep. Back yoke is only available on request.

Similarly, the logo treatment method also varies, as shown in the table below:

The North Face also lets you customize gifts for individual recipients through personalization and individual monogramming options on some products. But note that it can extend the production timeline.

6. PRICING AND MINIMUM PURCHASE QUANTITY (MPQ)

Patagonia starts at a lower price in fleece and pullovers, vests, apparel, and bags. It also has an equal or lower MPQ range than The North Face, except for fleece/pullovers and apparel. Plus, Patagonia’s prices span a wider range in most categories, so you can combine entry-level and premium-priced pieces from a single brand.

On the other hand, The North Face has lower entry prices in jackets and headwear and a generally higher MPQ range than Patagonia.

You can refer to the table below to decide which brand fits your budget better:

When you plan your budget, keep these points in mind:

• If you add a second logo location, your cost per unit goes up.
• You can combine colors, sizes, or men’s and ladies’ companion styles on some products to meet the MPQ.
• Larger purchases may qualify for discounts.

For more details regarding product-level MPQs and pricing, see our Patagonia Bulk Procurement Guide and The North Face Bulk Procurement Guide.

7. LOGISTICS

The North Face products have the fastest turnaround: 7-12 business days. This is for jackets, vests, headwear, and most backpacks. Popular styles like the Nuptse, Denali, and ThermoBall Eco can take 15-20 business days.

Patagonia products ship in 10-15 business days for most items. However, Black Hole duffels and smaller accessories can take 15-20 days. Zipper pull add-ons can also extend production to 20-30 days.

That’s why you can choose Patagonia if:

• You’re comfortable with slightly longer fulfillment schedules.

The North Face would suit you if:

• Your timeline can accommodate only 10-20 days, or you have an urgent deadline to meet for corporate gifting.

Whichever brand you choose, you can always ask us about rush delivery options to deliver gifts to your recipients on time.

WHY CHOOSE EPI FOR PATAGONIA AND THE NORTH FACE CORPORATE GIFTS

You should choose us because we’re a Value Added Merchandiser for both brands within the corporate/B2B marketplace. Every product on our premier online platform comes through approved channels and follows each brand’s guidelines.

Plus, our Branding Experts™ help you compare Patagonia and The North Face products, pricing, MPQs, logo options, use cases, and production timelines. If your program requires products from both brands, our class-leading agency manages them within a single project. You don’t need to coordinate separate vendors and procurement processes.

Procurement teams across industries have given us a 4.9-star Google rating. Here’s what Joseph Havis, one of our clients, has to say:

Still deciding between Patagonia and The North Face? Call us at 650.513.1037 to speak with a Branding Expert™ and choose the right brand/products for your corporate gifting program.

You can also request blank or finished (speculative) samples below to compare both brands before you commit.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PATAGONIA AND THE NORTH FACE CORPORATE GIFTING

As you build your corporate gifting program with Patagonia or The North Face products, you may have a few questions. Below, we answer the most common ones.

If you have a more specific question, call us at 650.513.1037, and a Branding Expert™ will get back to you within 30 minutes.

1.) CAN YOU EMBROIDER A WATERPROOF JACKET?

Absolutely! We embroider waterproof jackets from both Patagonia and The North Face according to each manufacturer’s requirements, so the embroidered area stays protected. For The North Face rain jackets, we also offer optional factory-approved seam sealing over the embroidered area.

2.) WHICH BRAND HAS BETTER QUALITY JACKETS: PATAGONIA OR THE NORTH FACE?

Both brands make premium, high-quality jackets, so the better choice depends on how your recipients will use them. Reviewers often praise Patagonia’s insulated jackets for their lightweight construction and longevity. The North Face’s jackets are valued for their practicality and style.

If you’re unsure which co-branded jackets will fit your project, our Branding Experts™ can help you compare specific styles and arrange samples.

3.) CAN I COMBINE PATAGONIA AND THE NORTH FACE PRODUCTS IN ONE PROJECT?

Yes, we can manage Patagonia and The North Face products in a single project. Each product still needs to meet its own minimum purchase quantity. In some cases, you can even combine brands to meet MPQs. To find out whether this fits your exact project requirements, consult a Branding Expert™.

4.) CAN YOU SHIP CUSTOM GIFTS DIRECTLY TO RECIPIENTS’ HOMES?

Absolutely! We offer split shipping within the same project, so we can ship 200 custom Patagonia or The North Face products to 200 unique addresses. This works well for remote employees, distributed offices, or programs where recipients receive their gift at home. Shipping is complimentary, and we share tracking details as soon as each package ships.

5.) DOES EPI OFFER SAMPLES BEFORE I COMMIT TO THE FULL PROJECT?

Yes, you can request blank or finished (speculative) samples of Patagonia and The North Face products before you commit to a full purchase. A blank sample lets you check the product’s fit, fabric, and color. Finished samples show you exactly how your company logo will look.

6.) HOW DO I PROCURE CUSTOM PATAGONIA OR THE NORTH FACE PRODUCTS FROM EPI?

To procure Patagonia or The North Face products from EPI, call us directly at 650.513.1037 or email us. A Branding Expert™ will get back to you within 30 minutes. Make sure you have the following details ready:

• The products you’re interested in and approximate quantities
• Your budget or target price per unit
• Men’s, women’s, or both, with an estimated size breakdown
• Your company logo files and brand guidelines (if any)
• Your expected delivery date and shipping addresses

From there, we’ll confirm MPQs and logo placements, manage brand approvals, and send complimentary digital design renderings before production.

Disclaimer: Images used in this article are AI-generated and intended for illustrative purposes only. They do not depict real individuals, locations, or events. Any resemblance to actual persons or situations is coincidental. The reviews below come from independent third-party creators and communities. They reflect the opinions of their authors, not those of ELITE PROMO INC, Patagonia, or The North Face. We’ve included them to give you a broader view, and we have no control over their content.