Since its inception, the modern outdoor industry has been built around a fairly specific idea of who its gear is made for: able-bodied, highly mobile, and often experienced athletes. But a growing number of buyers are pushing back on that assumption, and brands are following suit. The latest step in the right direction comes from The North Face (TNF), which recently introduced a new line of adaptive camping gear designed to make the outdoors more accessible for more people.
Photo: Roman Zaiets/Shutterstock
A Major Outdoor Brand Is Finally Making Adaptive Outdoor Gear
Called the “Universal Collection,” it’s a line developed with input from TNF adaptive athletes and the broader adaptive community. The line was developed with a focus on making “functionality easier” — essentially, removing some barriers that may make it harder for adaptive athletes to use outdoor gear.
While The North Face has long used the motto “Never Stop Exploring,” the new line likely reflects a wider economic reality, rather than just matching the brand’s ethos. In the United States, more than one in four adults lives with a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At the same time, organizations like Disabled Sports USA and the Outdoor Industry Association have noted growing interest in adaptive outdoor recreation.
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Photo: The North Face
The North Face’s new collection appears to address that gap. Items in the collection include:
- A three-person tent ($435), with equal-length poles and highly visible sleeves to reduce confusion during assembly, which can be helpful for users prone to frustrations with multi-step processes, as well as those with low vision. It also has a wider doorway to make it easier to enter for campers using mobility devices, such as wheelchairs.
- A sleeping bag with magnetic closures ($270-$280), aiding people with motor control issues who may have trouble using a traditional zipper. It also has features like oversized adjustment loops to make repositioning easier, especially at night.
- A universal daypack ($140) that can be carried on the back or attached to a wheelchair. Like the sleeping bag, it has magnetic closures, and internal structural elements allow it to stand upright on its own — ideal for users with issues bending down.
- Universal mules/camp slippers without a distinction between the right and left foot. They’re designed for users with visual impairments or limited dexterity, and have easy pull-on loops to reduce the hand and arm strength required.
Interestingly, a few other outdoor brands have introduced new sleeping bags without zippers, including Marmot (The Wraptor) and Sierra Designs. However, they’ve thus far been positioned more around comfort and temperature regulation, rather than being designed for adaptive athlete use.
Adaptive outdoor gear isn’t entirely new, but it has typically come from niche brands or been so specialized that it feels almost made-to-order. Companies like GRIT, for example, have long produced all-terrain wheelchairs for rugged landscapes, while adaptive ski and cycling equipment is available, but often developed by brands focused solely on that space. What makes The North Face line different is that it comes from a major outdoor company, and considers adaptive users in the same category as non-adaptive users.
While these products are built with adaptive athletes in mind, many of the features have broader appeal. They can just as easily be used by any hiker or camper annoyed with tiny tent entrances or wanting more comfortable camp shoes. In that sense, the collection reflects a noteworthy change: adaptive athletes are no longer being treated as a separate category, but as part of the wider spectrum of outdoor users. 