lululemon Wunder Puff Jacket vs The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket

The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse is the safer pick for most shoppers: 700-fill down beats the Wunder Puff's 600-fill, it packs into its own pocket, and it has a huge track record with 4.8 out of 5 from about 13,000 ratings. The lululemon Wunder Puff is the better choice if you want a cinched, shaped silhouette and a longer hem that covers more of the body. Both are warm, water-repellent winter puffers; the Nuptse is boxier and more abrasion-resistant, while the Wunder Puff is softer and more tailored. Owners of the Wunder Puff report it runs tight in the shoulders, so size up if you layer heavily.

• Choose the Wunder Puff if you want a longer, cinchable puffer that you can shape at the waist and hem and wear over bulky layers.
• Choose the 1996 Retro Nuptse if you want more down loft, a packable jacket, and a proven design with a long record of owner satisfaction.