REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Durable shell
Iconic aesthetic
REASONS TO AVOID
Difficult to pack in pocket
Hood lacks insulation
Short torso
The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse - Women's Review
A stylish winter classic that combines impressive warmth, durable construction, and everyday versatility
Credit: Sara James
By Sara James ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ June 16, 2026
RELATED: The Best Down Jacket for Women
Our Verdict
The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse is a warm, stylish jacket that excels as an everyday winter layer, combining lofty down insulation with iconic looks and durable construction. It's an excellent choice for casual wear, travel, and around-town use, but its bulky fit, limited packability, and less technical design make it a less compelling option for weight-conscious hikers and backcountry adventurers.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Warmest Jacket for Freezing Winters |  Best Budget Upgrade |  Best Down About Town | Best Bang for the Buck | |
| Price | $380 List Check Backcountry (on sale!) | $450 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $259 List Check REI (on sale!) | $379 List Check Price at REI | $119 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A stylish winter classic that combines impressive warmth, durable construction, and everyday versatility | An impressively warm jacket that offers a highly mobile fit, great adjustability, and cloud-like comfort | A lightweight and relatively affordable down jacket that provides excellent warmth for its weight, making it a great option for outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize performance without the bulk | A versatile and cozy jacket ready for everything but the most extreme environments | An affordable, easily packable jacket offering decent warmth and functionality for outdoor adventures or activities around town |
| Rating Categories | The North Face 1996... | Rab Neutrino Pro | REI Co-op Magma 850... | Stio Hometown Hooded | Decathlon Simond MT1... |
| Warmth (35%) | |||||
| Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Packability (20%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | The North Face 1996... | Rab Neutrino Pro | REI Co-op Magma 850... | Stio Hometown Hooded | Decathlon Simond MT1... |
| Warmth Class | Heavyweight | Heavyweight | Lightweight | Midweight | Lightweight |
| Down Fill | 700-fill-power recycled waterfowl down | 800-fill-power European goose down | 850-fill-power goose down | 800-fill-power goose down | 800-fill-power down |
| Hood | Yes (stowable) | Yes | Yes (hoodless option available) | Yes | Yes (hoodless option available) |
| Durable Water Repellant (DWR) | PFAS-free DWR finish | Water-resistant fabric, PFAS-free DWR, PFAS-free hydrophobic down treatment | Fabric treated with PFAS-free DWR, down treated with DWR | PFAS-free DWR finish | PFAS-free DWR finish |
| Fit | Relaxed | Standard | Standard | Standard | Slim |
| Outer Fabric | DRW treated ripstop nylon | 20D recycled Pertex Quantum Pro, ripstop | 100% recycled ripstop nylon shell | 20D recycled plainweave, 100% Recycled Nylon | 100% 15D polyamide (35 g/sqm) |
| Measured Weight | 27.7 oz (Size L) | 19.9 oz (size L) | 11.5 oz ( size L) | 16.0 oz (size L) | 11.3 oz (size L) |
| Hem Type | Straight hem - crop | Drop hem (large) | Drop hem (small) | Drop hem | Drop hem (small) |
| Pockets | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered internal | 2 zippered hand, 1 internal zippered chest, 1 internal stash | 2 zippered hand, 1 internal zippered chest | 2 zippered hand pockets, 1 internal zippered chest | 2 zippered hand pockets |
| Cuff Construction | Velcro and elastic | Elastic and velcro | Elastic | Internal elastic with overhanging baffle | Elastic |
| Adjustment Points | Single hem bungee, hood drawcord, | Dual hem bungees, dual hood bungees, velcro back-of-hood, velcro cuffs | Drawcord hem; adjustable hood | Single hem bungee; single back-of-hood bungee | Single hem bungee |
| Stow Option | Packs into pocket | Packs into internal stash pocket | Packs into pocket | Packs into an included drawstring stuff sack | Packs into pocket with double sided-zipper and attachment clip point |
| Features | Very large horizontal baffles, extra durable material on shoulders and collar, | Helmet-compatible hood, 2-way zipper, wire-stiffened projected hood brim, twisted sleeve baffles for greater mobility, felt chin guard, felt lined pockets large velcro loop at nape of neck. Velcro adjustable cuffs. Durable ripstop outer shell | Draft neck tube. Raglan sleeves. Variable baffles. Bluesign approved material in Fairtrade Certified factory, REI is Climate Neutral Certified | Flurocarbon free water resistant down. Fleece lined hand warmer pockets, internal chest pocket. Interior draft flat on centre zip. Brushed tricot chin guard and interior collar. Hanging loop. | Stuff pocket has double-sided zipper with pull tab. Clip loop for attaching |
| Sizes available | XS - 3XL and 1X- 3X | XS-XL | XS- 3X | XXS - XXL | XS - 2XL |
Our Analysis and Test Results
An iconic silhouette from TNF, the Nuptse combines cozy warmth with street-ready style. Credit: Sara James
Likes
The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse stands out for its excellent combination of warmth, comfort, and unmistakable style.
The Nuptse's retro-looking, oversized baffles are filled with a generous helping of 700-fill power down insulation, delivering impressive warmth for everyday winter use without feeling excessively heavy.
We weren't worried about the material snagging or tearing when taking the dog out for our daily walk. Credit: Sara James
The relaxed fit layers comfortably over sweaters and hoodies, making it an easy everyday piece for cold commutes, ski-town weekends, and casual winter wear.
The Retro Nuptse pairs a rugged 40-denier recycled ripstop nylon shell with reinforced 50-denier shoulder panels, giving it a reassuringly durable feel. Whether tossed into the backseat, worn under a backpack, or subjected to daily winter use, the fabric inspires confidence and does a good job resisting light snow and moisture.
The material of the Nuptse held up well to excited dog paws. Credit: Sara James
A taffeta overlay on the shoulders and collar helps improve durability in high-wear areas. Credit: Sara James
The cuffs have elastic with velcro adjustments. They worked well during our testing period to seal in warmth, but all velcro tends to wear out after a few years of use. Credit: Sara James
Dislikes
While the Retro Nuptse is very warm, its shorter, boxier fit can leave gaps where cold air can sneak in, particularly if you raise your arms. This jacket is not well-suited to activities that involve raising your arms above your head, as this will likely expose your waist.
The zipper pull on the Nuptse is large and easy to grab, even when wearing gloves. Credit: Sara James
Some users felt that it's best to size up in this jacket in order to get better coverage, however the boxy cut can also make it look bulky when worn in a larger size. Its oversized silhouette and heavily retro-inspired styling may also not appeal to everyone, especially those looking for a sleeker or more understated winter layer.
The hood does an ok of blocking wind and light snow, but it doesn't provide much warmth for your ears and head. Credit: Sara James
The jacket includes a stowable hood, but it lacks down insulation. It provides little warmth and only a slight amount of weather protection, so you'll want to wear a beanie underneath to protect your noggin.
The jacket is designed to stow away inside its inner pocket. We appreciate that it can stow somewhere (not all jackets have this feature), but we found it incredibly difficult to pack and would not be inclined to use this feature due to the time it took to stuff.
Packability is not a strong point of the Nuptse. It takes a lot of work to stuff it into its own pocket, but this may not be a big deal if you're wearing it to commute to school or work rather than taking it on an overnight backpacking trip. Credit: Sara James
Should You Buy The North Face Retro Nuptse?
The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse remains one of the most recognizable winter jackets on the market because it successfully blends dependable warmth with timeless style. It delivers enough insulation for most cold winter days, while feeling comfortable and casual enough for daily wear. This is the kind of jacket you instinctively reach for when heading out to grab coffee on a cold morning, walking through town during snowfall, or layering up after a day on the mountain.
That said, the Nuptse is best viewed as a lifestyle-oriented winter jacket rather than a highly technical performance layer. If you regularly spend time recreating in wet or extremely cold backcountry conditions, you may want something with better weather protection, more coverage, and a more performance-focused fit.
The oversized retro baffles create the iconic look that has made the jacket so popular Credit: Sara James
What Other Down Jackets Should You Consider?
If you want something slightly geared more toward winter sports rather than everyday wear, the Arc'teryx Cerium Hood offers a more performance-oriented fit that works well for active winter use. Those seeking a similarly stylish but more affordable everyday option may appreciate the Stio Hometown Hooded, which provides excellent comfort and a softer feel. It's a little warmer and costs a bit less, too.
—Sara James
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