Reviewing The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse - TNF Black, XL - Retailer: Von Maur - Price: $270 (tax/shipping included)

Fit:

Before I start, I'm 6'2 and approx. 230 lbs.

In general, it's pretty hard to find the right fit if you're buying online; but in the case of this puffer, I HIGHLY recommend trying it on in-store, if you're fortunate enough to have a TNF retailer in your area. Even though the fit is a little off, I still feel that I picked the correct size. If I had picked a Large, the sleeves would've been too short and the jacket would've been above my waist, and an XXL would've been ENORMOUS. With this in mind, the sleeves on the XL are still kind of short; my wrists are exposed and I don't think the velcro on the cuffs are going to create a tight seal. The jacket sits slightly below the waist but it still feels short.

Style:

I gotta say that this jacket lives up to its reputation, it is VERY PUFFY! All I had as references were the pictures online so I never got a real feel for how the jacket looked in person. I was actually overwhelmed at how poofy the jacket was, It kind of made me look like the Micheline man in incognito mode. I'm not sure how long this extream puffiness is going to last but I hope it goes down a bit. The hood is pretty cool, though the only structure it has is the elastic cord on the brim; hopefully, it'll stay on during showers and windy days. The TNF black color is very black and I love it!

Materials and build:

Hopefully, the jacket lives up to its name and holds up, but It doesn't look that premium. The first thing that bummed me out was how the nylon felt in hand; it kind of felt like a very smooth construction paper (I don't know how to describe it). Every time I touch it, I'm afraid that it's going to rip and that feeling doesn't sit well with me. The velcro on the cuffs doesn't feel that heavy-duty either. There's only a small strip on each cuff, they should've added a button or something more secure. Speaking of buttons, there's a little button attached to a strip of nylon on every cuff, hopefully, someone can tell me what those are for. The zippers, on the other hand, feel very sturdy. The embroidery looks cool. Loose threads are found throughout. The warmth is pretty good; everything that was covered was very warm (45 degrees today). The pockets are also warm and the right one serves a stow for the whole jacket (it seems kind of impossible to fit it in there though). I haven't tested the water repellency but I've heard that it is not intended for heavy rain. The hood is not water repellent at all apparently ( what's the point then?).

I just got it in today and I gotta say, it's a $200 jacket at most. This is my first TNF garment, as well as my first puffer jacket. It is definitely a warm jacket, but that logo adds a hefty price tag. Hopefully, this information is helpful and it aids you in making an informed purchase. Let me know what you guys think about this review!

Spending 250 on a puffer seems a bit heavy imo are they good quality? Do they keep you warm n dry as well as looking good?

Moving to Alberta from Ontario this fall for school. Planning on buying the Nuptse jacket. I know it’s warm enough but the only downfall is that it is water repellent not water proof. I won’t be outdoors for prolonged periods. Wondering if that would be a good choice for the weather in Edmonton or not!