North Face vs. Columbia Hiking Shoes: Which One Is the Winner?

This article will cover the head-to-head comparison of North Face vs. Columbia hiking shoes. If you are interested in this topic, let’s read on to see more!

Top Rated Best Budget North Face Hiking Shoes for men and women

Top Rated Best Budget Columbia Hiking Shoes for men and women

Comparison Table: North Face vs. Columbia Hiking Shoes

Before going any deeper, let’s check this detailed comparison table. It will give you an overview of North Face vs. Columbia Hiking Shoes.

Columbia Hiking Shoes North Face Hiking Shoes
Founded 1938 1968
Warranty Limited Warranty (requiring proof of purchase) Limited, one-year warranty
Products
  • Footwear.
  • Outerwear.
  • Sportswear.
  • Camping equipment.
  • Footwear.
  • Jackets & vests.
  • Bags & gear.
  • Outdoor clothing.
Customer Service           
  • Not a great experience.
  • Returning items.
  • Decent customer service.
Pros
  • Durable
  • Snug fit
  • Lightweight
  • Versatile footgear
  • Comfortable cushioning
  • Durable
  • Snug fit
  • Lightweight
  • Versatile footgear
  • Comfortable cushioning
Cons
  • The soles might be a little hard.
  • The stink might be challenging to remove.

North Face vs. Columbia Hiking Shoes: What Are Key Differences?

I hope that the provided comparison table can give you an overview of the core differences between the North Face vs. Columbia Hiking Shoes.

Now let me walk you through their basic advantages and setbacks in detail.

Brand Overview

  • North Face

This brand was launched in 1966 and is known for offering backpacking and climbing tools. After that, it started to deliver other products.

This company quickly became popular and is known for providing high-quality items to its clients. It also offers high-performing jackets, which are available in various shades.

The jackets of this brand have become very popular because of their sports brands and functionality.

  • Columbia

Paul Lamfrom founded this brand in 1938. Though it has grown and is one of the famous brands in the market, this brand still operates as one family-owned business. It is one of the reasons this brand is an approachable and popular place to buy items.

This brand is also known for its intense testing of products to ensure its customers can get the best materials and products.

Environmental Awareness

  • North Face

This brand has been working on some programs to fight waste, including its Renewed Collection, Limited Lifetime Warranty, and Clothes the Loop program.

One of its main goals is to build systems that reuse materials and prevent them from getting into many waste locations.

  • Columbia

This brand has a robust focus on the environment and implementation of one team that works on improving and assessing the impact of its manufacturing of products.

It has been working on these improvements since the early 21st century and working with the Apparel Impact Institutes’ design program since 2019.

The Items They Manufacture

North Face

  • Footwear.
  • Jackets & vests.
  • Bags & gear.
  • Outdoor clothing.

Columbia

  • Footwear.
  • Outerwear.
  • Sportswear.
  • Camping equipment.

North Face vs. Columbia Hiking Shoes

Hiking gear is a larger part of what these brands are known for. Hiking shoes should always be reliable and comfortable, which these two brands know well.

Columbia products are very prevalent among trekkers and hikers. They are reliable, sturdy, and well for wide feet! It is especially good for hikers as a pair of narrow shoes might lead to a lot of pain during long hike trips.

The hiking shoes of North Face are popular because of their lightweight. They don’t feel heavy on your feet during one long hike trip but don’t give up any traction.

North Face boots are ideal for people who prefer to keep their hiking gear as light as possible.

North Face vs. Columbia Hiking Boots

Regarding hiking boots, Columbia and North Face are both famous among climbers and hikers for their shoe options. Both brands offer excellent hiking boots that withstand elements and the weather well.

Columbia hiking boots typically feature the Omni-Heat inner lining, which serves as a waterproof liner and keeps users’ feet warm.

Meanwhile, the North Face hiking boots come with PrimaLoft insulation which is on par with the Omni-Heat liner of Columbia hiking boots.

Whichever product you choose, you’ll get the ideal option for warm-weather hikes as their insulation doubles for cooling.

Pros and Cons

Pros

North Face Hiking Shoes

  • Durable
  • Snug fit
  • Lightweight
  • Versatile footgear
  • Comfortable cushioning

Columbia Hiking Shoes

  • Lightweight.
  • Waterproof.
  • Great traction.
  • Durable and comfortable.
  • Fit perfectly to narrow feet.
  • Perfect for all your trekking activities.

Cons

North Face Hiking Shoes

  • The stink might be challenging to remove.

Columbia Hiking Shoes

  • The soles might be a little hard.

North Face and Columbia Hiking Shoes: Our Verdict

After considering both brands with our own experience, we tend to buy Columbia hiking shoes over North Face models for our hiking adventures and trips.

Both companies deliver models that are good quality and can last as long as they are correctly taken care of.

Even though we typically opt for Columbia items, it greatly depends on which kind of gear you are considering. We have talked to other climbers and trekkers that love North Face hiking shoes over Columbia ones.

FAQs

The answers and information below will help you gain more insights into the traits and qualities of North Face and Columbia Hiking Shoes.

Is Columbia a Good Brand for Hiking?

It is a good quality brand that creates affordable and comfortable gear.

Compared to some other popular brands in the outdoor gear industry, this brand provides affordable, effective, and durable products.

It is also often considered a budget brand when talking about outdoor apparel due to how comparatively affordable its prices are.

But it does not mean that this brand sacrifices the quality of its products. The fact is that Columbia still makes it a point to thoroughly test its products and the material used to create them.

Are North Face Boots Any Good?

If you want comfortable and reliable hiking shoes that deliver excellent grip and protect your feet, you can’t go wrong with products from North Face.

We particularly prefer North Face Hiking Shoes for any summer hike and consider them some of the best hiking boots for warm weather on the market.

Are Columbia Hiking Boots Good for Cold Weather?

Columbia does not yet create snow boots or models designed for going through deep snow.

Instead, you might consider its winter boots designed for various winter activities (especially hiking) in cold conditions and do not involve wading through deep water and deep snow.

Is the North Face a Good Brand?

Regarding brand-name products, The North Face has built a robust reputation on the market. It is one of the brands that you likely have known in the past and have considered purchasing.

North Face has worked hard to appear as one of the best brands when talking about performance.

It produces clothing for hiking, running, training, climbing, and the cold weather.

Through many years, it has expanded from making some decent fleeces and jackets to delivering shirts, pants, and even travel gear. Customers who prefer this brand now can fully dive in and immerse themselves in those products.

It is one well-established brand. So it’s no surprise that they charge high prices for their products.

Who Owns the North Face?

This brand is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the VF Corporation. It is currently based in San Leandro, California, near JanSport, its corporate sibling.

Do Europeans Wear North Face?

North Face is sold worldwide. So, yes, Europeans might wear North Face.

Are Columbia Boots Good for Winter?

Yes, they are ideal for people who are looking for comfortable winter boots to help them embrace the unpredictable weather of winter.

Is the North Face a Luxury?

North Face is a well-established brand and offers brand-name products. But it doesn’t tend to be luxury brands because their products are often affordable.

Why Is North Face So Popular?

Here are two main reasons why North Face is so popular:

  • Know how to create new and decent designs.
  • Understand marketing better than most.

Are Columbia Shoes Made in the USA?

Columbia makes accessories and equipment in over a dozen countries, including China and Vietnam.

North Face vs. Columbia Coats: Which is better?

Columbia and North Face coats feature superb quality.  North Face products may be a bit more expensive, but the quality makes up for it.

The coats of these brands are available in many styles and insulation levels, allowing you to find a model that works best for you.

If you are searching for a decent coat, you might try some in both brands to get an authentic feel for the length, material, and thickness!

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