Reviewing The North Face "Train" Line

AKA, this outdoor gear lover and nature enthusiast's dream collaboration.
Sponsored by Zappos x The North Face

I’ve been a fan of the north face brand since my first winter in Vermont. Vermont is where I developed my passion for the outdoors, and I quickly realized the need for good reliable hiking boots, and layers that were good for constantly shifting weather and conditions. When I got the opportunity to work with Zappos and The North Face, naturally I jumped on it, especially because TNF joined with Lucy to expand the north face train line. I ordered through Zappos which in and of itself started the process off right. Free and fast shipping can’t be beat, plus if my gear didn’t fit or work the way I wanted, it was 100% returnable. 

Because it’s almost the end of the wet season and prime hiking time here in NorCal, I chose to update my hiking wardrobe with some new pieces. My selections were: The North Face Versitas Fearless Reversible Bra in Urban Navy, The North Face Perfect Core High-Rise Tights in TNF Black , and The North Face Endurus Hike GTX hiking boots.

I’ve made the mistake of hitting the trail with ill fitting clothing before, as well as super pricey hiking boots that were supposed to support my feet, and be water proof (mud and streams happen). What happens? My experience in nature is taken away from by wet feet and adjusting my clothes the whole time. Did i mention i HATE wet feet? That’s why before i did any major driving for an epic hike I’ve been waiting for, I decided to put these pieces to the test in as many conditions as i could find, sticking close to home just in case. ​

So what does this avid nature lover, and girl who is extremely rough on her gear think? Read on.....

Quite unlike a lot of the trendy athletic wear on the market these days, this clothing is built to function, and be used for athletic endeavors (unfortunately, that is not the case with a lot of brands these days). The sports bra is very basic in terms of design, which is very refreshing to me.  Instead of lots of straps and cutouts, it's designed to function, and that's what it does. It’s light weight, reversible, and very supportive. It also breaths well enough that i didn’t notice my own sweat circles until I looked down. Lol. The only downside I noticed is that it fight a little tightly under the arms. But I have a large chest for my size so i always expect a lot worse, tbh.  Overall, I felt supported but not restricted, and didn’t feel awful having sweat hugging my body when it got hot. 

​These leggings have easily become my new favorite pair. Black leggings are tricky. You want them thin enough that aren’t super hot, and can be layered on top of, but also thick enough that when you bust out a yoga pose or stretch your legs on the rock wall, the whole world doesn’t see your whole peach. I also prefer mid-high rise, personally. I hate having to tug my pants up when I’m doing something active. I can say with complete honesty, the fit and functionality of these leggings is amazing. Again, the design is pretty basic, but this gear is more technical than my usual yoga “athlesiure”  attire. The leggings were thick enough that i felt comfortable bending over, and that i wasn’t feeling every jagged edge in the rocks i was climbing, but thin enough that i didn’t feel like i was dressed for a winter outing. They also dry REALLY quickly. I know this because i got them soaked when testing how waterproof my boots were.......I got a little too enthusiastic. Pics to follow. I also feel confident that these would make a good base layer in the winter, and not too hot when the temperatures start climbing. Like i said, they’ve easily become my new favorite pair. I’ve worn them twice since i completed the shots for this blog ten days ago. 

On to the boots!! The most exciting part for me was definitely the shoes. My old hiking boots have done me well, but after 8 years they are starting to go. I’ve been itching for a valid excuse to get some new ones for a while now, and was stoked to test these out. Are they supportive enough? Yes. I ran through rocky creek beds, climbed some boulders and scrambled some hills in these guys. Are they light enough? Yes. I wouldn’t say i forgot i had them on, but i will say they didn’t weigh me down (until they were covered with mud). Lol. Were they waterproof? Completely. That is until i got really enthusiastic stomping in the creek and splashed water up and into them. My bad, not theirs. Overall i was super pleased. Check out my gallery below to see what I put these shoes through. 

​Overall, I was extremely happy with my selections from Zappos and The North Face. The leggings are definitely my new go to for hiking, and those boots are going to be hitting the trail with me for years to come.

Here are the links to all of the products mentioned one more time: BRA, TIGHTS, BOOTS. If you were looking for that perfect pair of leggings for all your outdoor activities, I highly recommend checking these out. And if you’re looking for your next pair of trail already hiking boots, let’s be twins!