The products are vastly discounted, the staff are generally quite knowledgeable (like you would expect from an outdoor goods retailer, but non necessarily an outlet store of any sort), and the selection is quite vast. I recently went to the fall 2012 sample sale and snagged some hiking boots at a 50% discount. I also got some mountaineering boots (TNF's first pair ever) at about 90% off. We're talking about a $300+ SAVINGS ON A SINGLE ITEM. My girlfriend also got a great 60L backpack at about a 60% discount. The trade-off? You have to dig through the bins, which, unless you're the first person on the scene at day one of the sale, is a complete mess. If the discounts aren't worth the effort to you, skip the sale in the warehouse and head into the well-organized normal store. read more

I just bought a beautiful coat in the nick of time for the snow...and it was half off because they're having a great sale. Watches were an amazing deal too. They also will donate to a good cause, which earns them stars. Why not 5 stars? Sigh. Because I took off my sunglasses and set them next to me to check out how I looked in my gorgeous new coat, and some freak show put them on and walked off!!! Okay, they were super cool and all, but c'mon...I woulda told her where to buy them for a stunning $2.50...but no, that's not the way it went down. And that's why 4 stars....because the store was filled with opportunists, making this an unpleasant experience. So go during a sale and be prepared for incredible deals and watch your stuff ( or be prepared for a throwdown which I wasn't) or else go when they are not having a sale for a less Costco-like experience. This is a good place overall. read more

Well, this review is for SERVICE!!!! I am in the customer service (read restaurants) business. I arrived seconds before closing and they let me in. They found exactly what I wanted (pulled it out of a box in the back, just my size!) on the last day of a crazy sale, and had me out the door with my new handy dandy jacket within minutes. Outlets don't need to be helpful, there stuff is a screaming deal. They still bothered to check that my sleeve length was right and that I was happy with my choice, even as they were locking down registers and getting ready to go home. Thank you! read more

Great deals, but hard to find "regular" sizes. If you're an XS or an XLL you're in luck, because most styles have a plethora of these sizes! Managed to score a comfy fleece hoodie (great upgrade from the awkward reversible North Face Puff Jacket I had as a kid, which was probably meant for trekking mountains and not elementary school playgrounds.) The boyfriend got two nice jackets, we just had to be patient looking through everything. Looks like we're all set for Bay Area Winter! The only thing that turned me off about the store was a certain female employee complaining about her pay/status at the store in comparison to employees that have been there less time than her. Keep the politics in the break room or the bar, not at the front of the store. For those of you coming from SF with small bladders, they have a bathroom in the back they'll let customers use. read more

I come here for one thing and one thing only: BACKPACKS. Like half the students at Cal, I've found that North Face backpacks are the most comfortable and health-conscious yet stylish way to tote around a good 30 pounds of books up and down that annoyingly sloped campus. With all the hidden compartments and sturdy zips, you get a hardy bag that will last you literally years. Heck, you might even be able to slip a Camelback in there somewhere, too. The North Face Outlet sells mostly brand new, unflawed backpacks (voided of their warranties) usually in last season's color schemes. They are usually about half off, and because of this all of the more casual bags (i.e. none of the seriously strappy/waterproof/bungee corded hard core bags) are lapped up pretty quickly. If you aren't too picky about your colors, you'll make like me and get a bright yellow and black backpack for only $40 that just might stave off osteoporosis for an additional five years. read more

I came here last sunday to see if I could find a winter jacket; somehow I've lived in the bay area my whole life and don't own a warm/waterproof jacket as an adult. Their parking lot is tiny, so good thing there is lots of street parking all around it. The variety is massive and they have two different sections of clothing/shoes/accessories, and there were a ton of people there; made me feel very uncomfortable looking at jackets and the kids running around didn't help. I did find the jacket I liked but the line was a mile long and I was starving, so I left it for another day when hopefully the line won't be as long. I say stop by if your in the mood for great quality clothing and accessories!! read more

After drving to Napa Valley and Calistoga, my wife and I decided to stop by the North Face Outlet store. This guy Sam kept on following me in the store. I felt discriminated. He will follow me and watch me while talking to his friend. I wanted to tell him I'm not going to steal. I'm driving a Mercedes Benz dude. I just decided to stay more in the front, so he'll stop following me. Just close to their register, and by their employee by the door. read more

There are ALWAYS good deals here! It is definitely worth the traffic and the drive to come here to get a jacket or two. I'm pretty sure you wont leave this place without buying something cuz the deals are THAT good. Service here has always been good. The Associates are super helpful and always got good input for which jackets to get read more

I have been to this store many times. I have gotten some great deals and clothing I really like. I was there last week and parked in their tiny parking lot for the first time, some 25' from the front door and their 'guard'. Within 3-4 minutes of entering the store, my vehicle was burglarized! They drove a van up next to my SUV, opened their door, smashed my window and shattered my work life. This was in broad daylight and apparently happens all the time. The thieves seemed to know where all the security cameras were! I will never return to this store. read more

I've been coming here a couple decades and at first I found lodes of gear, hardcore backpacks, gloves, hiking boots, outdoor gear.....I haven't found anything in years. I don't even know why I keep coming. I guess because I've been a loyal North Face customer. Today it seems like a clothing store with stuff you can buy anywhere. Not tough, durable, nature based gear? Anyway also wondering what's up with the big barreled, steely-faced greeter at the door? Talk about an energy crusher!! read more

I love this North Face Outlet. I live in the South Bay, but I have no problem driving the 45-60 minutes to get to this one when I need a jacket. The quality is great and the price reductions are real savings (unlike other outlets and "company stores" that have limited merchandise and slight discounts). I travel to the East Coast regularly, so my go-to is the 3-way jacket. Everyone in an area with micro-climates needs this action! read more

If it wasn't for this joint, i would have barely anything from the North Face! Their stuff is so expensive in the regular stores but this place... it is a marvelous place for real bargains. Note that the stuff from the outlet does not come with the North Face warranty, which i read is awesome. Anyway, there stuff is so well made, that I doubt you would ever need to use it! I LIVE FOR THE SAMPLE SALE, which is like once or twice a year... IT IS FREAKIN' AWESOME. you can get beanies for $5 that normally cost at least $25 and dope ass snow jackets for $90 (they used to be $80 at former sales but inflation is a bitch) that normally are over $200. what bliss! now the sample sale is not for the faint of heart. you must be a warrior! Determined and not intimidated by the dozens of boxes and dozens of people! you have to literally dig in boxes and throw shit in a huge clear garbage bag. the aisles between the tables are so narrow. there are also boxes on the floor. if your bag gets full, it is hard to navigate down the aisle. i recommend you go with someone like a significant other who can hold the bag while you sort thru the madness. i was there for a good 4 hours... i scored a lot of good ish. only one beanie this year for me :( but i have a lot more jackets now! *pleasant sigh* they are beautiful. went to REI the day after and saw some of the same stuff for so much more. Don't get me wrong I love REI too but they are way expensive. BTW, there were only 2 mirrors on the sample sale side - you can't use fitting rooms and all sales are final. For the regular store, you can try on stuff and there is a return policy. you can score good deals there even when there is no sample sale - i.e. I scored two pairs of hiking shoes for hella cheap one time - 50% off the marked price. read more

North Face outlet is great because you can get good stuff at good prices. The trick is only buying things that are like 50% off. In order to find what you want, it's good if you can pop in from time to time because they always have different stuff and different stuff on sale. You can also call and ask what they have on sale. I've gotten a lot of good shoes, backpacks, jackets, two tents and a sleeping bag here. Again, my advise is 50% off or wait until it is. I think each month they change the sale items. read more

I really wanted a warm jacket for the winter season, so my boyfriend and I drove all the way to outlet in look for a cozy jacket. We stepped in and the place was pretty messy with all the customers rummaging around look for something suitable. I scavenged around in hopes that I'd find something I like, but no luck here. It was a long shot to come to the outlet, since it's all the things that couldn't sell in the retail stores. I was looking through a lot of the clothing, and they were all wayyy too big, all the smaller sizes have already been taken away. But overall, I would say this was probably a hit or miss outlet. Sadly for me, it was a miss. read more

Like all outlets, this one is a hit or miss with sizes or styles. Normally whenever I come, they only have huge sizes in the styles I want or my size in the styles I dont want. I can never catch a break. Recently, they have a lot of pull overs and denali's in my size. Was able to pick up a grey denali and some snow accessories for cheap because they were having a presidents day sale going on. Try to come back on the holidays because there are extra sales. There are two big rooms. Jackets and sweaters on the left side and other clothing on the right side. This place is clean and organized. read more

The North Face outlet is always packed and the tiny parking lot is definitely not enough to accommodate shoppers. But it doesn't stop anyone from visiting looking for some good sales! I visit from time to time when my friends and family want to check it out to prepare for winter but I never seem to be able to find anything for myself since XS is so rare especially since I want my jackets in either black or white. I visited this weekend and there was a weekend special of an additional 40% off all items, but I'm not sure how often these sales happen. This is a big warehouse so expect to spend some time searching for something that suits your style and need. There isn't any logical order to anything. I was interested in getting a pair of snow pants but the selection is so small and the sizes were all L and XL. I wish they would expand their selection for that. Maybe thy will have some after winter is over. read more

The North Face Outlet is pretty awesome. You can get great heavily discounted TNF clothes without their lifetime warranty. I have personally probably drop quite a few here for their jackets and pants. There's a sale every month and once in a while there's an extra weekend only discount on top of the discounted clothes. Then about once or twice a year, there's a sample sale they have. These sales are pretty crazy as in they attract a huge crowd of people that come. Alright, this place is all about the timing. If you have good timing, you'll find clothes that are XS, S, and M. Uncommonly, the L sizes. Most of the time, there's only XL, XXL, and XXL. They restock every week or so at the store so there's new items coming in. The nice thing is you can call ahead to check on inventory and sizes. First room in the store is divided by mens on the left and women's on the right. There's a few exceptions of backpacks and stuff that's on the right. This first room has mostly jackets and some waterproof pants. The second room to the right has shoes, backpacks, sweats, and regular clothes like sweaters and t-shirts. Fitting rooms are located near the cash register in the first room. So recapping, save money on TNF stuff by going to the outlet. Most of the time you don't need their lifetime warranty. Call head to check inventory so you don't waste a trip. read more

i regretted that when I was in bay area 3 year, i only went to this place once. Only remember it's an ordinary sportswear outlet store. But this time, visiting Berkeley from the east coast, I found how much I have missed if I have had came here during sample sale. (I heard one of the same sale started in September, and I just caught the end of it in the first week of Oct). First, here is who are be most suitable for sample sale items. all most all their sample sale items are M for men and women, and they have a huge selection including accessories. so i didn't really taking advantages of that as a small/xs person. Shoes are mostly 7 for F and 9 for M, and a few kids size that i don't remember. I got a winter water proof boots for like 60 bucks. I also found a few useful items from a cluster of items filling boxes, including a ski gloves for like $20 and winter beanie for 6 dollars. assorted shirts/hats/shorts/sweaters/pants varied between ~$5-$35 in the boxes. I think if u are M size,u will find amazing deals for snowboarding jackets and pants too. I got a few more items from their discounted regular sale, which I am very happy w. One of winter 3-in-1 jacket that I had spotted in a retail store half year ago for 2.5 x of the price I got here. One down side is there is no manufacture warranty from any north face outlet, it doesn't bother me much. read more

Helpful when they want to be. Management less so than regular employees which is a little backwards. Judge not, less ye be judged yo. And be helpful to your customers if you want them to come back. Undecided if I will be. read more

As a brand I view North Face as a consumer friendly version of a real outdoor company. Over the years they have expanded their offerings overpriced fleece jackets and whatever stuff you could get from a mainstream brand at a much lower price. That sort of stuff is what you will find at this outlet, not any hardcore mountain stuff. This outlet is cool if you're a North Face consumer, but don't expect a killer deal for what you are getting with the exception of backpacks which actually are a deal here. Otherwise the parking situation is eh and most of the items are jackets and some snowboard stuff. Always crowded and parking can be a mess. It's nice they are open until 7 to capture the out of towny guests that seem to come to cherry pick the outlet. On the plus side they always have bags and socks at a good deal. While you're in the area you can go to the Wildneress Exchange and REI if you're into that sort of stuff. read more

I've only been here once for the massive cleaning clearance. I don't really know how my sister heard about this, but the sales are incredibly low. I got $15 for a jacket, $30 for hiking boots, $20 for a camelback, $6 for a windbreaker, and $80 for a heavy jacket originally $350. I saved so much! Some of the inventory can either be "handled" or imperfect, yet the majority of the merchandise is in pretty good condition. This was about a year ago and I'm still using my North Face stuff without any dings. Just be sure to get there early because there will be a long line of asians, family shoppers, and Ebay auction sellers. Once you walk in, the employees start handing out garbage bags for you to shove all your goods in. Everyone go crazy like it's the end of the world. You'll constantly be second guessing yourself on whether or not you need snow pants, sleeping bags, or gloves because its such a deal. Just know that you'll probably be tired and sweaty after the ordeal. They close down the fitting rooms so you can't steal stuff. Additionally they have few mirrors available. A great clearance event if you can find out when it happens. read more

They have the best deals! Most of my north face items are from here. It gets pretty crowded when there are huge sales so you need to prepare for that. Also, their stock is inconsistent and changes all the time so if you find something you like...JUST GET IT! It's probably the best deal you'll find anyways and you might not find it again the next time you're back. Came here recently for some hiking shoes and a bit disappointed in their lack of variety. But this will still be the first place I'll stop by whenever I need some sports gear. read more

Amazing deals on North Face! As the other reviews indicate, this place gets super crowded and parking is definitely limited. We came on a Sunday shortly after opening and found a spot about a block away near the local skate park. I was expecting picked-over, limited merchandise in bright/unpopular colors, but was pleasantly surprised at the selection. They had a variety of different jackets (fleece, tri-climate, insulated, etc.) in all sizes for both men and women. The prices were great! I already have a Denali and Venture jacket, and was surprised to see both of these available here. My fiance found the exact jacket he was looking for at 30% off retail. This was a better price than anything he found online. It seemed like all merchandise was either 30% or 40% off (some off of already mark-downed items). Definitely check this place out if you're looking for a new jacket! read more

Well its been about ten years since i was last here to pickup any gear and the reason is i no longer live in the area. But i can say that every piece of gear i own from north face is still used during ski season. If you want some quality outdoor gear and would like some savings this is the store to go. The selection is limited and there are some cosmetic rejects but nothing so fashionably outlandish that you wouldnt want to be seen in public with it on. read more

Uh this place is AMAZING. maybe it was just the day I went, but the prices were unreal, and their stock was heaven. I can't believe I've lived in sf for the past two years, and did not own one article of north face clothing?! I got a few woman's venture jackets for $40 each, and they were originally $100. A Denali feather down jacket for $80 and it was originally $200. Also got another $200 something jacket for $60-$70. If I bought this stuff from another retailer or even northface.com, I would have spent over $500 easily. Staff was friendly and helpful, I'm sure it's because they probably make commission or something, but none the less very knowledgable about the products. Ps, I don't know how long this is going to last but I got an extra 10% of my entire order if I checked in on Facebook and showed them. You just have to spend $125 or more! read more

I would give this place 10 stars if I could. From the outside, this spot is janky looking. But when you step inside, you realize very quickly you've hit a gold mine. I shopped here for the first time in mid-May and most of the deals were 50% off. I can only imagine the holiday sales. The selection is awesome and the workers here are actually helpful in finding sizes/styles. The biggest problem here is u don't know what to buy bc you want to buy everything. The place can get hectic and sometimes it's a bit messy, but when you look at those prices, u forget about these things. Wish they had a north face outlet like this in SoCal! read more

I seriously love this place. I was introduced to this place back when I was in college, and since then I've scored some excellent deals here. Spent the day in Berkeley with some friends and decided to stop by this store to see if there were any good deals. I was able to get a light weight jacket for half off, and that was off the outlet discounted price! That means that it was well over half off the retail price. On top of that, I was able to nab the same great deal on the men's version for the bf. My friends were so amazed at the deal that I got on my jacket that they each bought one too. The employees at this store are all super nice too, whether you need a changing room or just checking to see if you need any help. Sometimes the discounts aren't dramatic, and sure some of it is from past seasons, but if you keep an eye out you can get some great stuff for an awesome price! read more

This is an outlet in the true sense of the word, you'll find excess North Face stock here at a reduced (but still not cheap) price and it's very hit or miss. North Face gear is expensive, it happens when you put together a popular brand name, and we all need our zip up fleeces to go hang out in the Marina. So anytime you might be able to get a discount it's worth checking out. If I'm shopping for outdoor clothing I'll stop by here to see what they have. I know the odds are against me, but you never know what you are going to find. I scored hiking boots here at about 40% off and my wife found a messenger bag for $30 down from $150 (it did have a broken strap adjuster, but the length was perfect as is). Often you'll find only random jackets and sweaters in colors that explain why they are in an outlet, but every now and then you can score a great deal here. If you can't find it, at least REI is right up the street... read more

They seemed to have good deals, but I'm not an average shape. I'm tall and skinny. Most things were waaaay too big for me. No XXL for me, thanks! Parking is not great, and getting back out on Gilman is a nightmare. Don't even try to turn left. I don't anticipate a return. read more

Came all the way here from Sacramento to check out the hype. The whole store was essentially on sale. They had a great selection of fleece, jackets, sports attire and other random stuff like garmin GPS watches, scarves, compression socks, and earwarmers, also. Hard to find a medium for the great deals but I managed to find the women's Windwall I for only $50. :) They had fleece specials for $29, $39, and $59 as well. Will come back again!!! read more

Being an "outlet" doesn't mean it's either B-Grade or irregular sizing. It's an definite PLUS! The best thing to do is to buy the off-season items during..well, off-season. Everything is a bit cheaper on the regular, but nobody hates seeing the mega sale! read more

I never fail to find great deals here. Today was my fourth time visiting and I picked up some women's snow pants, a fleece, and some insulated gloves for $80. Just insane! I completely agree with other reviewers that it's not necessary to go during the big blowouts. I've been once, and it was hectic, stressful, hard to find parking, and ended up being pointless since all of the women's gear left was either XS or XXL. I have found that swinging by early afternoon during the week is GREAT - nearly empty store, helpful staff members, and everything is organized. Today everything was an extra 30-40% off the already lowered price (plus my fleece was a weekly deal at $19.99), so plenty of crazy savings to be had at all times. Another benefit to going during a non-blowout time is access to the few fitting rooms that they have. Most people try on jackets/fleeces out in the main rooms by the wall mirrors, but for pants or bibs it's nice to have the fitting room without a gigantic line. Even though items purchased here are not under the normal North Face warranty, there is still a 60-day return policy if tags are on. In addition, my friend had a problem with a jacket where it totally got distorted and weird when he washed it (according to the tag instructions) and they took it back and allowed him to exchange for a new one. Really good service. read more

I'll admit it, I'm a city girl who has enough North Face to climb Mt. Rainier (I'm from Seattle after all). But I'll admit my North Face hasn't seen much action apart from cold days in the city. But I love it none the less. The outlet is fun to shop, but don't go expecting to find specific items. The best deals are often items no one really wants or can fit. I'll admit I kept trying to figure out if I could rock the puffy purple vests two sizes too large, but i just couldn't. I was the Auntie of the year giving my nephew a cool Denali jacket i got for only $30...well at least his parents were impressed. He's 6, he didn't care because it wasn't a hamster (what he really wanted for Christmas) read more

Pros: North Face at slightly cheaper then retail prices and usually another 20-40% off of that price depending on the store promotion. Cons: Crowded, minimal parking, might not have your size and a long line, that takes about 20 minutes to get through. Overall: If you must have North Face gear and you don't want or can't pay full price, the Outlet is worth the visit. read more

Parking is atrocious - there are only 5 spots in their whole lot! The store looks shabby on the outside, but once you get in.... ....it's heaven! Okay, I admit I'm a huge huge huge North Face person, and I basically go broke everytime I go to the non-outlet store at Union Square. But that's before I discovered this little place, where I can get everything for so much cheaper! Case in point, I bought myself a nice fleece zip-up for 30 bucks. They also have this cool little rack for rejected clothing. It's final sale, but it's cheaper because it's defective or something. Some of these clothes's originals aren't on sale, so you Usually the stuff in this rack is crap, but you'll find something really good if it's you're lucky day! It's more centered around clothes, but you'll find the ocassional backpack and tent. Totally worth a visit before that camping/skiing/hiking trip. read more

I hate going into this store because I know each time that I do - it's going to cost me. I've always found myself there on days when they have these major sales and I find all sorts of things - like 5 pairs of pants at half off $35 in the same color, a red rubberized messenger bag for taking my laptop into SF for meetings on my motorcycle in the winter, a bivy sack for $20, thermals, sport bras... and if I don't find the exact size I need, even during a clearance sale, the staff will go search the storage area and FIND IT for me! The staff are very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable - I always enjoy going into this store and finding great bargains with their tips and help. read more

It's def a hit or miss. Parking is a pain in the butt, you're dealing with hoards of angry customers, and they are alwaysssss out of women's size smalls! BUT you feel so accomplished when you find that one jacket that fits perfectly in your size :) I love my NF finds and I wear them all the time... but it was also because I was there in the morning right before the store opened so I had first dibs. The good sales are also pretty random, so you might not find anything good some days. The store is pretty big and they definitely try to keep it as organized as possible, so not too bad esp if you've been in a F21 clearance area. You'll also know if the warranty is void if they sharpie in the small 'o' of 'North Face' on your jacket tag. My friend found one without the 'o' colored in and apparently it still works for warranties, but I'm guessing that's pretty rare. read more

Came here to find a nice jacket for myself and my mom but ended up leaving with a jacket for me and my brother. The selection is both so huge and so limited here - huge in the sense that there is a lot of different styles to choose from, but limited in their sizes. If you are a girl, GOOD LUCK and may the force be with you if you ever try to buy a jacket here, especially if you are petite. I'm lucky in that I'm pretty tall, so if I wanted a comfier jacket, I could get a large if I had to. The two jackets I bought were both over 50% off retail price, so I was very happy :) If you are looking for the 'classic' black North Face jackets, though, don't be expecting as much of a discount. They are also most likely to come in only L and XL sizes. read more

Your diamond in the rough! My mecca, I love this place, I even took the Bart and the bus here from SF! You can spend the day here, and I literally did (well, the better part of the afternoon). I really didn't want to spend time after dark in this area... The times, that I went they had plenty of things that tickled my fancy, not just NEON items. They also have a Blems or returns rack that has some pretty deep discounts, if you can handle what happened to them. I came here for the Sleeping bags and the Flight series shell hooded jackets. They have pretty much the full complement of items that a retail store might have, just last seasons stock and all, Sizes can spotty, and you have to see, if you are lucky and are early when they receive their new stock.! I will admit that it's hit or miss with the stock. It's an outlet store, don't compare it to the retail store or a knock-off shop! The discounts are the huge discounts, that we come to expect, but, a price that I am willing to spend for quality gear that I use on my travels! If you are in the Bay area, and enjoy North Face gear, then this is a place not to be missed! read more

I can't give a thorough yelp review because I never went into the store. I showed up at the store at 5:05 on a Sunday and this place was closed. I understand that Sunday is the Sabbath, and people want to spend time with their family.....but IIIII wanted to spend time with MY family too!....in the Northface Outlet Store!!! Ugh! So annoyed! read more