Perry Ellis Men's Lightweight Puffer Jacket vs The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket

The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse is the warmer, more durable jacket and the better pick for cold weather and real outdoor use. The Perry Ellis lightweight puffer is a thin transitional layer for mild days and light rain, not winter cold. The Nuptse's 700-fill down, ripstop shell and stowable hood justify stepping up if you face genuine cold; owners rate it highly across a very large number of reviews. The Perry Ellis is simpler and lighter, but its synthetic fill and thin nylon shell suit only mild conditions.

• Choose the Perry Ellis lightweight puffer if you want a thin, packable layer for cool spring or fall days and light rain, and you don't need real winter warmth.
• Choose the North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse if you want a genuinely warm jacket for winter, mountaineering or cold city days, with a hood and a shell that resists abrasion.