The North Face XPLR Pass: Worth the Trek?
🥾The North Face claims that “exploration is their oxygen,” which accurately captures the brand’s vibe. It’s one of those stores where you walk in for socks and walk out questioning your life choices (“Should I spend my time trying to hike Everest instead of watching Love Is Blind season 7?”). From $12 socks to $750 tents, this is gear for the mildly adventurous to the hardcore mountaineer. Or anyone, who wants to cosplay outdoor person.
Previously, The North Face had a loyalty program called VIPeak which we think was one of the best program names out there. It’s since been rebranded to XPLR Pass (also clever, but feels like a typo waiting to happen). Still, we give them credit: at least they didn’t slap on “Rewards” like it was an afterthought. A naming win in our book.
So we set out on our own little adventure… to explore how rewarding this program really is.
Photo credit: Unsplash
🏞️ How it works:
Unlike REI’s program (which costs to join), XPLR Pass is free. It’s also refreshingly simple—no tier hurdles, no crazy math. Just clean, straightforward perks. We love that for us.
What you earn:
🛒 $1 = 1 point on purchases made in-store or online
🎯 100 points = $10 reward
Bonus points for small easy actions like:
o Referring a friend (25 points)
o Downloading their app (10 points)
o Checking in at a store or national park (5 points)
(Note: These extras max out at 100 points or $10/year)
And there’s more:
Birthday gift
Access to limited edition collections
Free product testing (up to 2 items/year, with 30-day return)
Free shipping
New members get $20 off an order of $100+
One downside? Even though The North Face gear is sold at retailers like Macy’s, DICK’s and even REI (their frenemy), you only earn rewards by shopping directly with them via store, outlet, or online. That's a missed opportunity. If brands like e.l.f. and LEGO can reward out-of-channel purchases, so can The North Face. It's 2025. Track the receipts.
All the extra ways to earn points (max 100 points annually)
💸How you Redeem:
Rewards are sent out 3x a year in “earning cycles,” and while we love a consistent cadence, there are a few rules to know:
Max 2 rewards per day (aka $20 off per purchase)
$50 cap per cycle and $150 cap per year
Unused points roll over (phew)
Rewards are stackable with other discounts 👏🏻
You’ve got 11 months to use your Rewards before they expire (generous)
Let’s talk about that $150 annual cap: It’s not great. If you’re spending $1,500+ on serious gear, capping your rewards feels like the brand is low-key daring you to shop elsewhere and take advantage of other programs (just not Bloomingdale’s, see that review for why). Rarely do we see earning caps like this for retailers who are all about getting you to maximize your spending.
what’s the value?
(💡 Quick refresher: When we say return value, we mean how much you get back vs. what you spend to earn it. Spend $100, get $10 back in point value or cash back = 10% return value. Higher is better.)
The math for XPLR Pass is simple with the return value being minimum 10%, but that can go higher with your challenge acceleration (100 points), birthday reward, and welcome gift.
Example: Spend $500 in your first year, complete all bonus tasks, and here’s what you’d get:
$50 in Rewards from spending
$10 from bonus challenges
$20 off welcome gift
Birthday reward (10-20% off)
That’s $80–$100+ in total savings on $500 of spend. A 16–20% return value which is pretty wild for a retail loyalty program. (Looking at you, Nordstrom, with your stingy 1%)
So yeah, major kudos to The North Face on return value… if only they’d ditch that pesky earnings cap.
🕵️♂️ Fine Print
Most of this we mentioned already, but it’s worth repeating:
Max $50 in rewards per cycle, $150 per year
Max 2 rewards can be redeemed per day
Unused points roll over to the next cycle (good!)
2 product tests allowed per year
Rewards stack with promos 👏🏻
Points can take up to 10 days to hit your account
🥊 REI Co-Op vs. XPLR Pass
Both programs are solid, but REI wins on overall perks and less restrictions, assuming you don’t mind the one-time $30 membership fee (which we think is well worth it). XPLR Pass is better suited for low-commitment spenders who prefer fee-free freebies and simplicity.
summary &👩🏻⚖️verdict:
Rewarding! XPLR Pass is absolutely worth joining even if you only shop there once or twice a year. It’s free, the perks are great, and the return value is one of the best we’ve seen in retail. That said, it’s this close to being a great program. All they’d need to do? Remove the caps and open up earning to more channels.
What’s Good:
💰 Excellent return value of 10%+
🗓 3x a year reward payouts
🎉 Bonus perks like birthday and welcome offers
🧠 No tiers, no nonsense
⌛️ Long reward expiration window
What’s Not:
🚫 Earning capped at $150/year
🔒 Can’t earn rewards on The North Face products outside The North Face stores or websites
Leave us a comment! Do you agree or disagree? Any further tips about XPLR Pass?
