British outdoor apparel and equipment brand The North Face has won the 2006 Polartec European APEX Awards with its Men’s Apex Free Line jacket, which combines the warmth, insulation and breathability of a soft shell with the added comfort and water resistance that comes from welding technology.

The jacket has no stitched fabric overlaps to cause bunching or friction and no stitching to allow water to penetrate. Utilising Polartec’s Power Shield fabric it features sonically welded seams with external tape, a fully adjustable hood, two welded Napoleon chest pockets, a water-resistant front zipper, two hand pockets, Velcro adjustable cuffs and a single-hand adjustable hem cinch cord.

Nominations for the Polartec APEX Awards are selected for consideration by Polartec APEX secret shoppers. The products then undergo field testing and are reviewed by an independent panel of judges.  Products are measured against their intended end-use and are judged on their innovation and versatility; functionality, fit and comfort, which includes performance and wear qualities; and aesthetics, which includes beauty, style, flair and the fundamentals of good design.