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North Face Nuptse 2 Jacket - Women's Review

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North Face Nuptse 2 Jacket - Women's Review (The North Face Nuptse 2 - Women's)
The North Face Nuptse 2 - Women's
Credit: The North Face
Price:  $220 List
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Manufacturer:   The North Face
By McKenzie Long and Valentine Cullen  ⋅  Nov 7, 2014
62
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Warmth - 25% 8.0
  • Weight - 20% 4.0
  • Water Resistance - 15% 6.0
  • Compressibility - 15% 5.0
  • Style - 10% 6.0
  • Durability - 10% 8.0
  • Features - 5% 6.0

Our Verdict

The North Face Nuptse 2 jacket has replaced the North Face Nuptse. The Nuptse 2 is different from the Nuptse in the following ways:
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Abrasion resistant shoulders
Packs well into stow pocket for being so thick
REASONS TO AVOID
Bulky and heavy
No hood option

The Nuptse 2 is made out of polyester faille taffeta/Bluesign® Approved Fabric and the Nuptse is constructed of plain weave nylon.

The polyester faille taffeta weighs in a little heavier bringing the total weight of the Nuptse 2 almost a full ounce heavier than the Nuptse. The Nuptse 2 weighs 25.04 oz while the Nuptse weighs only 24.7 oz.

Both versions of the Nuptse sport that classic puffy thickness and style and are made with 700 fill goose down. They both have interior pockets that they stow into and have reinforcement materials on the shoulders (great for when wearing a backpack). Neither have a hooded option.

Looking for something warmer or a bit more waterproof, check out the Valandre Split S - Women's. Too expensive? The North Face Aconcagua Jacket - Women's is a better price with similar functional qualities.

Our Analysis and Test Results

The New North Face Nuptse 2 vs. The Older Version


North Face has confirmed that a few updates have been made to the Nuptse 2 including a change in fabric. The fabric on this jacket was replaced by 100% recycled polyester, which also reduced the weight by 20g! In addition, the 700 fill down is now certified by the Responsible Down Standard ensuring that the goose down used to insulate the jacket does not come from animals that have been subject to unnecessary harm. With the new updates, the Nuptse 2 still retails for $220.

Check out a side-by-side comparison below, with the latest version of the Nuptse 2 Jacket shown on the left and the older model pictured on the right.
The North Face Women's Nuptse 2 Jacket
The North Face Women's Nuptse 2 Jacket
The North Face Nuptse 2 - Women's
The North Face Nuptse 2 - Women's

Hands-On Review


A classic down jacket, the Nuptse 2 is thicker and warmer than many of the lightweight pieces in this review. This is an ideal piece for camping and general winter wear.

north face nuptse 2 jacket for women - the nuptse is a perfect all-around winter jacket. it is thick, warm...
The Nuptse is a perfect all-around winter jacket. It is thick, warm, and cozy which makes it good for camping or belaying, or wearing around town.
Credit: Luke Lydiard

Warmth


This jacket is warmer than the light alpine jackets, so it is more desirable in colder weather. It does not have a hood option, which lowers the warmth of the garment considerably. Many people prefer a hood when they are buying a jacket of this warmth and thickness.

Weight


The Nuptse 2 has a lower quality down than others in this review, being 700 fill instead of 800 fill. It weighs 24.7 oz, more than twice as much as the Down Sweater.

Compressibility


For a thick and bulky jacket, this one packs down surprisingly well, stuffing into an interior pocket.

Water Resistance


This jacket has an added DWR for additional water resistance, though this coating does not last very long.

Style & Fit


This thick puffy jacket has a boxy look.

Durability


The Nuptse is fairly durable. It has double layered taffeta on the shoulders which provides extra abrasion resistance when wearing a pack (though this does add some extra weight.) Overall the Nylon material it is made out of is pretty tough and doesn't rip as easily as some of the lighter jackets such as the Down Sweater.

Features


There is no hood, which is a feature we miss. It does stow into a hand pocket, which is quite handy when packing for a trip.

Best Application


Because of its weight, the Nuptse is not the ideal jacket to bring on long excursions, but it is excellent for bundling up on cold adventures where weight matters less, such as a camping or rafting trips.

Value


The Nuptse is relatively inexpensive for what you get, costing only $220. This is one of the warmest and thickest jackets in our review, but it does not have a hood and is on the heavy side. A similarly thick jacket without a hood is the Valandre Split S - Women's, and that one costs twice as much, making the Nuptse 2 a good deal for a thicker down jacket.

—McKenzie Long and Valentine Cullen

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