Salomon’s versus The North Face – Round 2
The Ultimate Wardrobe War continues as Salomon Sports takes on The North Face. After a closely fought Paclite Jacket fight in Round 1, the North Face is just ahead. This week it’s the turn of the Technical T-Shirts, when Salomon’s Trail Tee battles it out with The North Face’s Optimus Tee.
The initial weigh-in suggests that there is not much to choose between the two brands this time around. Both Tees are bantam lightweight at around the 120 gram mark. Both have little stash pockets for those tiny trail essentials. Both use different fabrics in different areas to fight sweat where and when it appears. Both Tees have great feminine fits, with contoured waists and lengths that sit just above the hips. And both come in a range of fabulous colours, Salomon alone fielding the Trail Tee in black, red, lime, white, blue, and mauve.
It seems like it will come down to, quite literally, what they are made of.
Moire in North Face!
The North Face Optimus Tee throws down the gauntlet with its VaporWick Sensory Stretch fabric. And as if this ain’t enough to contend with, the Tee delivers additional core regulation by using the latest in Body mapping, delivering ventilation mesh in the back, chest, and armpits for maximum cooling and increased airflow around the body. Beat that Salomon!
Looks like Salomon refuses to take this one sitting down. And before we know it, oh yes, they’ve rolled out their actiLITE fabric, a fabric that wicks moisture away just as quickly as anything The North Face can deliver. But what really gives Salomon the added advantage this time around is that they’ve done some proper training to find out the demands this Tee will face on the trail. “Hmmmm”, they said, “Tees are normally worn in warm, probably sunny weather”.
And, there you have it: Climauv UPF +35 Rated fabric added to keep away the sunburn. But there’s more. “The girl will probably sweat, and sweat normally smells”. So what do they do? Add durable anti-bacterial X-static mesh in areas of perspiration to battle those odours.
Salomon in Hanoi...
Looks like Salomon really wants to win this one. They continue to up the anty by using 8% elastane in their fabric as opposed to the Optimus’s 5%, Salomon’s Trail Tee providing a more snug, less baggy fit. And finally, just in case you want even more ventilation around the neck, the Tee also has a half-zip sister version, with all the same features as the Trail Tee.
Oh, it’s a killer blow.
And with Salomon’s Trail Tee costing £25, just undercutting The North Face’s Optimus Tee by two quid, it’s all over now. The North Face will have to go back to the drawing board if it wants to win this war, because this week it’s:
Salomon: 1
North Face: 0
That puts them both on a level pegging going into the third and final Round.
Next time, it will all be up to the Pants!
