North Face Nuptse Jacket - Women's Review

Comfort & Coziness
The North Face Nuptse is significantly thicker and warmer than the light alpine jackets such as the Catalyst or the Nitrous and has soft material on the collar for extra comfort.

Compactness & Weight
It has a lower quality down, being 700 fill instead of 800, however for a thick and bulky jacket this one packs down surprisingly well, stuffing into an interior pocket. It weighs 24.7 oz, more than twice as much as the Down Sweater or the Nitrous.

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 when they are buying a jacket of this warmth and thickness.

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.

Style & Construction
Made out of plain weave nylon, this jacket is sewn-thorugh. The 2012 version, the Nuptse 2 is constructed from polyester faille taffeta.

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

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 $199. The other jacket in this review that is comparable in thickness and warmth is the Sub Zero SL, which is $280. The non-hooded version of the Sub Zero is less expensive, however the Nuptse has a higher quality down at 700 fill instead of 650 like the Sub Zero.

Other Versions
The North Face Nuptse Jacket – Men's