The North Face Has a Message for You: Go Touch Grass
Picture the scene: It’s dark. You’ve been lying in bed for hours. Your laptop is open, your iPad is next to it, and your phone is millimeters away from your face. The glow emitting from every device lights up your bedroom like it’s a scene from a horror movie and you’re so lost in the reality-distorting scroll-bin that it may as well be. You’re deeper than deep in the comment sections, drowning in the noise of nonsense, reading between the lines, making connections that aren’t there, and starting fights in empty rooms. You’re addicted to the online and the doctor says it’s chronic.
Luckily, there’s a cure. You need to touch some grass.
We’ve all been there. It’s easier today than ever to get sucked into the digital abyss and forget that there’s a whole world of real out there, just waiting to be explored. And then The North Face enters the chat, and it’s brought everything a nascent offline era could need along with it.
The North Face has always been brilliant at blending high-performance functionality with city-ready aesthetics, and this season is no different. The brand’s new Touch Grass campaign, co-created by Zalando and Highsnobiety and starring Berlin’s fave DJ LOVEFOXY, is stacked with looks that’ll easily take you from the city to the trail. Starting from the ground up, because every budding adventurer needs great shoes.
Take the Glenclyffe Low Shoes, for example, which are the stars of the new collection. They’re inspired by pieces in The North Face's more hardcore techy products like the ones in its Summit Series, but adapted for everyday exploration rather than intense mountaineering trips. The upper is built from abrasion-resistant textile, the midsole is molded EVA foam, adding premium comfort, and the outsole is Vibram XS Tek rubber with a 4mm lug depth to give good grip on a range of different terrains. The toe guard and reinforced heel enhances their durability, a stretch ankle construction gives a cozy, sock-like fit, and they arrive in a range of muted colorways for versatile styling, so they’ll slide effortlessly into your rotation. The Glenclyffe Low Shoes also come in an “Urban” version with a suede upper, and as a boot if you’re looking for something more #serious to tackle the wilds.
Elsewhere in The North Face's footwear offering you’ll find the Clyffe series — another solid lifestyle shoe upgraded with outdoor tech. Durable, breathable, and comfortable, these sneaker-style silhouettes also come with a Vibram outsole that delivers good grip on wet, slippery surfaces. They’re a great everyday option for light trails, especially when you don’t want to buy full-on hiking boots. Then you have the Hedgehog, another outdoor shoe that sits somewhere between a trail runner and a proper hiking shoe. The silhouette puts its emphasis on comfort, weather protection, and durability. It's sturdy and, most importantly, reliable, which is a must if you’re planning deeper outdoor adventures. It also comes in an 06 RVST Gore-Tex version and a non Gore-Tex version.
And last but not least, you have the Nuptse Traction Chukka, which is perhaps the biggest statement shoe of the bunch. Inspired by the brand’s iconic Nuptse puffer jacket, here we have a warm winter boot that’s giving city to aprés-ski. They boast a 700 fill goose down, abrasion-resistant ripstop textile, and a rubber outsole. Realistically, they’re probably more flex than function — unless you’re out and about in icy conditions and then you’ve got a foot hug and a strong style statement in one. Win win.
Shop The North Face footwear selection here. Then go touch grass.
