11 Best North Face Jackets to Keep You Toasty, Even on the Most Frigid Days
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With icy temperatures and precipitation sweeping the nation, it’s not looking like winter is going anywhere anytime soon. So, owning a thick-yet-not-too-bulky, warm-but-you-won’t-sweat-through-it is essential, but searching for that goldilocks of a coat can be almost as intimidating as heading out into the freezing weather.
Luckily, when it comes to outerwear, the tried-and-true favorites are consistently reliable. It’s one of the many reasons The North Face has been an industry leader since 1966—and is only getting increasingly popular. So which North Face jacket is right for you? To save you time on your shopping journey, we’ve narrowed it down to our top picks below.
The Top 5 North Face Jackets at a Glance
Picking the best of the best came down to following the four R’s: research, ratings, recommendations, and reviews. First, we researched the various North Face jackets on the market, looking at overall durability, warmth (aka insulation), water resistance and comfort. Second, we vetted ratings to ensure each product received more than 80 percent five stars. Then, we selected the jackets with over 80 percent of customers recommending the product. Finally, we pored over the reviews to ensure customer feedback was positive overall.
For even more insights on that—including whether The North Face 550 or 700 might be better for you—scroll down to our FAQ’s at the bottom of this story.
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1. Women’s Arctic Parka
94% Customer Recommended
80% Five-Star Ratings
Showcasing over 4,500 five-star reviews, this stylish parka checks all the functional boxes for warmth, water resistance and wind benefits while ticking the style box as well. One reviewer even wrote about how “nice and toasty” it keeps her in the 13-degree Boston weather, adding, “I have had several compliments on it, too!” Between the detachable faux fur hood and chic cinchable waist, can you blame anyone for admiring it?
Materials:
Size Range: XS-XXL
2. Women’s 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket
96% Customer Recommended
91% Five-Star Ratings
For a trendy option that’s maintained its style from the ‘90s to today, you’ll love this retro waist-length puffer. “I would buy this coat 20 more times,” one reviewer shared. And, with it available in nine different colorways, taking home a second (or a third) doesn’t have to be off the table.
Materials:
Size Range: XXS-3XL
3. Men’s 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket
97% Customer Recommended
89% Five-Star Ratings
Guys don’t have to sacrifice style for warmth either, since the 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket comes in their sizes as well. Available in ten different colorways, reviewers are touting it as “the best buy of the year” and revealing their husbands and sons adore the purchase. Plus, like the ladies, the men are tempted to buy it in multiple colors, so you know it’s just that good.
Materials:
Size Range: XXS-3XL
4. Women’s Denali Jacket
97% Customer Recommended
86% Five-Star Ratings
If the style you think of when you hear “The North Face” is this classic fleece, you’re probably a millennial, right? Regardless of what generation you fall into, though, the Denali is a must for every closet. Men, women, kids, everyone. I mean, there’s a reason it has stuck around for so long and maintains its popularity. In fact, one mother wrote about how she bought one for her daughter 15 years ago and a second one for the holiday. Durable, comfy, and timeless? We love it.
Materials:
Size Range: XS-3XL
5. Women’s Hydrenalite™ Down Hoodie
92% Customer Recommended
84% Five-Star Ratings
Flaunt a playful pop of color—like Fiery Red or Misty Sage—while keeping warm in this down hoodie. But don’t mistake the jacket’s short length for lack of warmth, though. In addition to its down fill, it features an insulated, three-piece hood, and one reviewer confirms, “This jacket exceeded my expectations in regard to heat retention and overall comfort.”
Materials:
Size Range: XS-XXL
$200 at the north face
6. Women’s Osito Jacket
87% Customer Recommended
90% Five-Star Ratings
This top-seller is made of “impossibly soft” fleece that makes it ideal for cozying up at home or running errands in moderate temperatures. Like most of the brand’s jackets, it comes in extended sizes for inclusivity, and as far as how comfy and warm it is? Take it from dozens of reviewers who say they’d “buy it again.” (Proceed with caution, though, because owning one may prompt you to order more…in every color.)
Materials:
Size Range: 1X-3X
from $109; $76 at the north face
7. Women’s Aconcagua 3 Hoodie
100% Customer Recommended
91% Five-Star Ratings
An update to the fan-favorite Aconcagua jacket, its hottest highlight might just be that it zips comfortably all the way up to the chin, protecting your neck sans scarf. Its three-piece hood also shapes conveniently around the ears for added protection. And did we mention the secure-zip hand warmer pockets? We wouldn’t want to face a Nor’easter without it.
Material:
Size Range: XS-3XL
8. Women’s 2000 Retro Nuptse Jacket
100% Customer Recommended
87% Five-Star Ratings
Sure, you keep hearing “Nuptse” this, “Nuptse” that, but the truth of the matter is, the trend is justified. We love that this version of the trendsetter has a chic, almost shiny metallic appearance that makes it stand out a bit from the oft-worn ‘90s style. Who says puffer coats can’t be a statement piece? “Makes the outfit stand out,” says one happy reviewer.
Materials:
Size Range: XS-XXL
from $320; $224 at the north face
9. Men’s Summit Series Casaval Hybrid Hoodie
100% Customer Recommended
95% Five-Star Ratings
For the adventurer, this mid-layer hoodie is an essential. It’s the perfect combination of insulated yet breathable and supportive yet flexible so you stay as warm as possible without losing any of your mobility (no matter the activity). It’s also thoughtfully designed without shoulder seams so it’s easy to slip on and off a backpack, should hiking, camping or other such hobbies be your thing. Plus, reviewers can’t stop praising it for its versatility, saying, “it’s great for pretty much every occasion.”
Materials:
Size Range: S-XXL
10. Women’s Mashup Insulated Jacket
100% Customer Recommended
94% Five-Star Ratings
In a beautiful Dusty Periwinkle, this lightweight, insulated jacket is an ideal option for use from season-to-season. For climates with cold, wet winters, it also makes for the perfect layering piece, just ask the customer who wore it under her raincoat on her Scottish vacation, “it kept me warm and cozy.”
Materials:
Size Range: XS-XXL
11. Women’s ‘96 Nuptse Dip Dye Jacket
100% Customer Recommended
100% Five-Star Ratings
Though the price point is certainly higher, this down jacket with a dip-dye design is well worth the splurge. Beyond the guaranteed warmth and water-repellent finish, the unique coloration makes it an instant showstopper. “Everyone thinks I custom-made the coat,” one customer shares, so if you’re looking to hop on the Nuptse trend but give it your own twist, this one’s a must.
Materials:
Size Range: XS-XXL
What’s the Most Popular North Face Jacket?
Step outside and you’ll notice no shortage of North Face puffers. Particularly popular is the Nuptse jacket, whose trendiness knows no bounds when it comes to colors. From classic White & Black to Boysenberry, it’s a jacket that’ll last and remain in style for years to come.
Which Is Better: The North Face 550 or 700?
Put simply, it depends! According to Griffin Post of The North Face Athlete Team, this number, which ranges from 550 to 900, is called the “fill power.” This indicates the warmth-to-weight ratio and compressibility of the jacket and is determined by the volume one ounce of goose down occupies in cubic inches. The lower the number (550), the more down is needed to fill, which makes it a heavier jacket. If weight is a factor for you (like if you’re heading to the mountains where you wouldn’t want to carry the extra bulk), a higher number jacket (700-900) may be more suitable because it’s more compressible and lighter, AKA a better warmth-to-weight ratio.
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PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
