Supreme x The North Face Base Balaclava
The original behind the Supreme x The North Face Base Balaclava is the The North Face Base Balaclava — $40 retail vs Supreme's $88.
Supreme vs. Original
Supreme version
About the original
The North Face Base Balaclava is a close-fitting face and head covering made from recycled polyester fleece, designed to layer under climbing helmets, ski helmets, and hoods for cold-weather and alpine use. The cut follows the contours of the head and face with a single opening for the eyes and nose, so it sits flat under a shell. The North Face was founded in San Francisco in 1966 and has produced climbing and mountaineering gear since the late 1960s. The SS20 Supreme collab was part of a climbing-focused RTG (Ready To Go) capsule built around fitted base layers and technical construction.
About The North Face
The North Face is an American outdoor apparel and equipment company founded in 1966 by Douglas and Susie Tompkins as a mountaineering retail store in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood. The company introduced the Sierra down parka in 1968 and the geodesic Oval Intention tent in 1975, and its Nuptse down jacket, released in 1992, is named for the 7,861-meter Himalayan peak. The brand now produces the Summit Series, Steep Tech, and Denali fleece lines under VF Corporation ownership. Supreme and The North Face have run one of streetwear's longest ongoing collaborations, releasing seasonal capsules each spring and fall since 2007.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $88 |
|---|---|
| The North Face retail | $40 |
| Hype tax | +120% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x The North Face Base Balaclava just the regular Base Balaclava?
The Supreme x The North Face Base Balaclava, released in Spring/Summer 2020, is based on The North Face Base Balaclava. Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, The North Face Base Balaclava is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is The North Face Base Balaclava than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $88 for the Supreme x The North Face Base Balaclava; The North Face Base Balaclava retails for $40. That's a 120% markup — buying the original saves you $48, or 55% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy The North Face Base Balaclava?
You can buy The North Face Base Balaclava direct from The North Face or from Running Warehouse. Retail price is $40. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
Related items
All The North Face items · All Accessories · Spring/Summer 2020