The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket vs Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket

The Patagonia Down Sweater is the better pick for most shoppers: it weighs about 369 g against 775 g for the Nuptse, packs into its own chest pocket, and uses 800-fill down against 700-fill. The Nuptse is the warmer, tougher option with a stowable hood, oversized baffles and a boxy hip-length cut, and its 4.8 rating from about 13,000 ratings shows how consistent owners find it. Reviewers of the Down Sweater praise its warmth-to-weight but report pinholes, thin fabric and a looser fit on newer versions.

• Choose the North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse if you want maximum warmth, a hood, and a durable ripstop shell for cold city winters or mountaineering.
• Choose the Patagonia Down Sweater if you want a light, packable layer that works under a shell, travels easily and comes with a repair patch.