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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.
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 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.
Performance Comparison
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.
