The North Face Nuptse Black Friday 2026: 1996 Retro and More

The North Face Nuptse is a cropped, boxy puffer filled with 700-fill down, first released in 1992 and best known today in its 1996 Retro form. For Black Friday 2026, decide between the jacket and the vest, then check the fill, the size chart and the inside label of any listing before you buy.

What makes a Nuptse a Nuptse

The Nuptse takes its name from the peak next to Everest. It came out in 1992, and the 1996 version is the cut most stores carry now. Its look comes from wide, sewn baffles that keep the down spread evenly, plus a glossy shell.

The 1996 Retro Nuptse uses 700-fill down, which is recycled down in newer versions. The shell is a 40-denier recycled ripstop nylon with a water-resistant finish, so it handles light snow and drizzle, not a downpour. The hood is stowable in the collar but uninsulated. The jacket also packs into its own hand pocket, although it takes some effort to fit.

The North Face Nuptse styles to compare

Check the style name on the tag, such as 1996 Retro Nuptse, and whether it is a jacket or a vest. Look for photos of the tags and the inside label.

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• 1996 Retro NuptseBrowse →
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Jacket or vest

The Nuptse comes as a full jacket and as a vest. The vest keeps the same 700-fill down in oversized baffles, the same 40-denier shell and a stowable hood. It is one of the warmer down vests around, which also means it is too bulky to wear as a mid layer under another coat. It works best as an outer piece over a sweater or fleece.

Getting the size right

The cut is short and wide. The hem sits around the waistband, and the body is roomy enough for a sweater underneath. Men’s and women’s versions differ in cut, and kids’ sizes use the same name, so a listing that just says “Nuptse” is not enough. Check the gender, the size on the label and, if the seller gives them, the pit-to-pit and back-length measurements. Compare those with a jacket you already own.

Colors and versions

The Nuptse comes in plain black, bright colors such as yellow and orange, and two-tone colorways. The brand has also made anniversary reissues that recreate the original design. If the photos show an extra logo or special label that the title does not mention, ask the seller which version it is.

For other cold-weather shells and insulated pieces, see The North Face jackets, and for longer coats see The North Face parkas. The brand overview is on The North Face Black Friday.

Before you buy a Nuptse

1. Match the style name, gender and size on the inside label to the title.
2. Look for the fill power on the label or care tag.
3. Check the photos for flat or empty baffles, which suggest clumped or missing down.
4. Ask whether a used jacket has been washed, and how.
5. Compare the logo embroidery and zipper pulls with the maker’s photos.
6. Read the return policy, since a boxy cut is hard to judge from photos.