If you want to look at purchases as an investment, then yes, a North Face jacket is a great investment. They are long-lasting and perform beautifully. They are worth the price tag if you want an insulating layer that gets the job done without excuses. No overheating, no hindrance, no issues.
If you notice your down jacket smells funny, it may be that the down got wet and has created a musty smell. Run the jacket through a complete wash cycle. Place the jacket in the dryer with a dryer sheet. Put a couple of towels in the dryer with the jacket, as well as two tennis balls.
Caring for HyVent garments is pretty straightforward. It is best to use an outdoor cleaner such as Nikwax TechWash and use a gentle cycle (no spin cycle). Then line dry the jacket. You can also restore the DWR to the outermost fabric layer by using a spray.
Place the jacket in a front-loading washing machine on a gentle cycle. Top-loading machines with an agitator will likely damage the construction of the jacket. Warm water and a mild powder detergent are recommended. For best results, repeat the rinse and spin cycles to help remove all soap residue.
Put the product through two rinse cycles to ensure there is no detergent residue. Dry the garment in a regular tumble dryer, on a cool setting, or use an iron on a cool setting to revive the DWR finish.
Put your jacket into the dryer along with several clean tennis balls. Set the dryer on low and toss the jacket with the balls. The balls will bounce around the jacket, ensuring that it will become fluffy and soft once the cycle is done.
Add powder laundry soap to the machine. Avoiding using liquid laundry soap and fabric softener, as these could damage the coat. Set the washing machine to “cold†on the gentle cycle. Allow the coat to run through the entire washing cycle.
Method Two – Fluff Up a Down Jacket Without a DryerFirstly, squeeze out as much moisture as you can by hand. Again, don't wring out the jacket. Now place the jacket on a hanger and hang it up. You should put the jacket in a dry and cool place.
I've found this works very well:
- Wash it on gentle cycle with a down specific detergent in a machine that doesn't have an agitator (you don't want to rip the baffles)
- Extra rinse & spin cycle to get all of the detergent out.
- Dry on low heat with tennis balls until all of the down is completely unclumped.
Drying and careThe warmth will reactivate the DWR treatment. If you don't have a dryer at hand, you can easily achieve the reactivation with a flat iron. Just use a low heat without steam and carefully go over the material while using a cloth as protection from direct heat. Just let it air dry on a line when damp.
To dry, say Boyd and Whiting, lay the coat flat or hang it—you never want to put faux fur in the dryer. You can use a wide-tooth comb to detangle and fluff the fur, and like all the other coats, it's safe to steam it to remove wrinkles.
If you don't have any tennis balls, you can put shoes inside clean socks or make sock balls as a substitute. The drying process will be slow, but it's the most important part, so be patient. It usually takes around 2-3 hours to dry a lightweight down coat. Don't risk frying your jacket fabric by turning up the heat.
Down jackets should be tumble dried at a low heat. Don't be tempted to set the dryer to a high heat as you risk melting the seams and outer shell fabric. Remember to always check the label of your garment for exact care details.
Use a mild laundry detergent (nontoxic biodegradable types preferred) and dry it on a clothesline if possible. You may also use a dryer on a low heat setting, just make sure to remove it from the dryer immediately to prevent wrinkling.
Yes, you can iron 100% polyester. However, it is vital that you look at the garment's care label first to see if this is recommended. If not, we don't advise ironing the item. Instead, you could try steaming it with a handheld steamer.
If your down jacket has a rip or tear, you should try to fix it as soon as possible to prevent that precious down from escaping. The good news is that you can often make the necessary repairs yourself, with minimal skills and equipment – and it won't usually require sewing.
The North Face, however, highly recommends that you take your down jacket to a dry cleaning facility that specializes in the cleaning of down jackets, so as to avoid damage to the fabric and especially the filling. When wet, down tends to form into clumps, which, if not dried correctly, will remain that way.
We coat many of our products with a durable water repellent (DWR). Together with a tightly-woven, i.e. water-resistant fabric, this provides a good level of protection from rain and snow.
