OP here. Thanks for the feedback. I was just curious. I am fine with paying extra (to a certain point) for quality and durability. For example, I love the Lands End fleece jackets for my kids and feel they are much more durable and long-lasting than something I'd pick up from Target. So I just wondered if you really got your $$ worth if you purchased North Face.

It seems that real winter sports folks probably get their money's worth from a durable and functional product. But since I'm not a winter sports person....I'll probably never buy it.

And part of this is my 10 year old daughter starting to make some noises about wanting a NF fleece jacket. It's out of my price range for kid clothing anyway, but it piqued my curiosity.

I don't know what the warranty policy is on LL Bean, Patagonia etc. but North Face has a lifetime warranty. I bought a coat from them and something went wrong with the zipper - they sent it back to be repaired, no questions asked.

http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/contact-us/warrantyproduct-guarantee/

We are skiers and have a number of North Face ski pants and parkas. The ski stuff is actually quite good and they have a couple of different lines of it. The higher end line seems to largely be sold in ski shops or in NF stores at ski areas. They don't sell it at the mall stores, which tend to be focused on backpacks and casual wear. While my DS has a NF jacket that was very expensive, mine was much less expensive than normal ski brands like Spyder, Kjus, etc.. So it all depends what you are comparing to I guess.

I have a long black puffy coat - the same one that every suburban mom has - bought it from Lands End on sale for $40 2 years ago. It is sooo warm and delightful. I really cannot imagine that the NF one is any better for $200 more.

I have had my goretex north face jacket for 18 years and it still looks brand new. I don't have a comparable LL Bean or Columbia jacket to compare but my North Face jacket has definitely held up.

It's funny that my DH couldn't wait to get a North Face jacket (he actually has quite a few), while my DS who is in high school did NOT want one because he said everyone has them! DH likes the N.F. jacket he uses for hiking, because it has a lot of zippers for ventilation.

i am disappointed in my north face jacket, which was a gift. i don't think it is as good as ll bean. if i were looking for quality, i would go with bean or patagonia.

My favorite is the North Face store in Tysons Galleria: I tried to buy some technical base clothing there, and realized they had absolutely nothing but jackets and hats. I asked the guy behind the counter if they had any socks, and he pulled out a package of cotton tube socks.

NF is for suburban poseurs whose most grueling expedition is going to be from the spot where their Suburban is parked to the entrance of the Whole Foods.

I just saw my 72 year old aunt wearing a north face jacket. I think it is over.

Not necessarily better than Columbia or L.L. Bean, depending on the product, but definitely well-made and worth good money.

Depends on what item you are talking about. For running around town, any one of those four brands is great. Get whichever one fits you best in a color you like.

I find that North Face ski jackets and pants are better designed for actual skiing than LL Bean and Columbia. I've never had Lands End ski gear, but haven't been impressed with the descriptions in their catalogs.

I bought my jacket late in the season and paid about the same as for an LL Bean jacket. The ski pants were a bit more expensive than the REI house brand, but are more windproof and fit me better.

That said, I've never bought a NF fleece jacket. The only reason I would is that it would zip into my ski jacket shell. I do have a Patagonia fleece that was probably a similar price point when new and I've had it close to 20 years. But my DH and I have Lands End and LL Bean fleeces for that length of time, too. For fleece, I think it comes down to fit and features (pocket locations, hem type, etc). Some of the nicer ones also don't hold odors or have the static problems as cheaper ones.

Funny - my DH and I were walking past a North Face store the other day and I asked if he wanted to go in and look around. His response - nope, EVERYONE has North Face, I can't stand to see that label any more. I think the label is just VERY prominent. And my opinion is that if the quality of the brand is good, who cares? Buy it and wear it. OP what are you looking for specifically? That might help narrow it down.

I was about to say that it is just a label, but then I remembered that I have a North Face fleece that I bought 10 years ago that looks pretty much the same as it did the day I bought it. Washed a zillion times (and line dried). The fleece has never pilled up, unlike lots of other fleece items I've bought over the years. No experience with LL Bean or Lands End so can't compare to those brands.

It's just a name. Same reason why Gucci costs more than Coach.
All three of the ones you mentioned are quality products. Why not just buy the one you prefer if you don't care about brands?

Why is it so much more expensive than things like Columbia or LL Bean or Lands End? Is it more fad than function, or is it truly a high-quality product?