Gear:30

The North Face is attempting to do something that many have tried, but few have succeeded: compete head-to-head with Gore-Tex in the waterproof / breathable fabric category. So we talked with Scott Mellin, the Global General Manager of Mountain Sports at The North Face, about their new fabric technology, Futurelight; the ideas behind it; what sets it apart in the crowded waterproof / breathable fabric market; sustainability practices related to Futurelight; some stories from athlete testing, and much more. TOPICS & TIMES:Scott’s background in product innovation (5:55)Why was Futurelight designed? (9:20)Futurelight vs. Polartec Neoshell (19:45)“Tuning” Futurelight for different designs (21:22)Durability? (29:55)Athlete testing at The North Face (36:40)Competing with GORE (55:32)Sustainability & Futurelight (59:30)  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.