The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket vs Columbia Women's Amaze Puff Mid Hooded Jacket

The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse is the better-built, more iconic jacket: 700-fill down, a ripstop shell that resists abrasion, and a stowable hood, backed by 13,000 ratings averaging 4.8. The Columbia Amaze Puff Mid is the longer, more practical everyday coat: thigh length, a removable hood, a two-way zip and thumbholes, with 650-fill RDS down. Buy the Nuptse for cold city winters and a boxy retro look; buy the Amaze Puff Mid if you want more coverage over the hips and a hood you can take off.

• Choose the Nuptse if you want the warmer, tougher, shorter jacket with the stronger track record and a hood that tucks away.
• Choose the Amaze Puff Mid if you want thigh-length coverage, a removable hood and a two-way zip for everyday wear.