North Face Vs. Columbia Winter Jackets (Men’s & Women’s)

The North Face Jackets

TNF Gotham

I did a more detailed review of this jacket a while back, so be sure to check that out if you’re really interested in it. There are some interesting differences between the men’s and the women’s versions, but I don’t really have space here to tell you every single one.

The most obvious difference between the two jackets is the design of the exterior – at first glance, you can’t really tell that they are the same jacket.

Basically, the men’s version is the third iteration of the jacket, while the women’s version is only the second. This means that the men’s Gotham jacket has quite a few features that the women’s don’t. For one thing, the men’s Gotham is completely waterproof and windproof, unlike the female version. Then again, the women’s version is so much lighter than the men’s – nearly 30 oz.

But both jackets are insulated with 550 fill power down, and the women’s jacket also features an additional 160 grams of Heatseeker – TNF’s proprietary insulation material. Both are also really warm jackets, and suitable for really cold weather.

The women’s Gotham jacket is also available in a parka version, so be sure to check that out as well. A parka just does a better job at keeping you warm, simply because it covers more of your body.

You may also check out these links below:

Gotham Women’s Jacket

Gotham Women’s Parka

North Face Thermoball

The ThermoBall jacket is for those of you who are looking for something that’s not ridiculously warm. This is a jacket for places where the temperature rarely drops below zero in the winter, or for people who want to wear this underneath another jacket.

Don’t get me wrong – it is a warm jacket, it’s just not warm enough for super cold weather. But on the upside, it is really thin, lightweight, and stowable. I really think that this is a great choice for travel – it takes up barely any space in your luggage, and it’s thin enough that you can wear it underneath a bigger jacket if you need the extra warmth.

The jacket gets its name from the insulation – PrimaLoft ThermoBall. This is synthetic insulation, which does a good job at keeping you warm, but also offers an excellent weight to warmth ratio. Which is obvious from the specs of this jacket.

The men’s and women’s versions are the same – both have one internal and two external pockets, as well as elastic cuffs and a hem cinch-cord. Both are also water and wind-resistant, which in combination with the weight and overall portability makes these a great choice for hiking. However, neither of these has a hood, so keep that in mind.

The North Face Thermoball jacket also compares closely with the Patagonia Nano puff.

North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse

Puffy jackets with oversized sleeves are super popular this season. Not only did they make appearances on runways and in fashion magazines, but they are pretty much everywhere. And if you want to be on trend this winter, then the 1996 Retro jacket is the perfect choice for you.

And it’s not just a trendy jacket.  It is insulated with 700 fill power goose down, so it’s also super warm. The boxy silhouette allows you to wear several layers underneath this jacket, which can be pretty useful in really cold weather.

I think the only downside to this jacket is the length. It’s pretty short and it stops around your hips, so it does nothing in terms of keeping your thighs warm. But, you can cinch in the bottom cuff, to keep any draft out. Additionally, the hood can’t be fully removed, but it does stow into the collar.

It is both wind and water-resistant, so you’ll be fine in both snow and light rain. And one thing I really like about this jacket is that it packs into its own pocket! That’s actually really surprising, considering the size of it. But it makes it super convenient for travel since it takes up so little space in your luggage.

See the women’s version here.

North Face Corefire

The Corefire is the North Face version of a ski jacket. Which you can also wear on a daily basis, simply because it looks so damn good. But in terms of skiing or snowboarding features, the jacket has ski to pant integration, as well as several rally roomy pockets for your necessities on the slopes.  Plus, there’s plenty of color variety, and you can easily pair it up with your ski pants.

This jacket features two types of insulation. Its main body is insulated with a 550 fill power goose down, while the hood, underarm, and seat are insulated with PrimaLoft Black synthetic insulation. The combination of these two makes this a super warm jacket. Additionally, the exterior of the jacket is made from Goretex, which significantly helps keep you warm and dry.

It’s not a 100% waterproof jacket, but it is water-resistant, as well as wind resistant. Which is perfectly fine for the purpose – you won’t be skiing and heavy rain anyway, and the snow can’t really permeate the outer shell of the jacket.

This is a standard-fit jacket, so you can wear several layers underneath it. It is a really good choice for winter sports – I particularly like the dedicated goggles pockets and the addition of a zippered wrist pocket with a goggle wiper. There is a spot for everything you would want to have on the slopes, and you can even organize all of it neatly in your jacket.

North Face ThermoBall Snow Triclimate

I dare call this the ultimate winter jacket. For one thing, you actually get two jackets for the price of one, and you can wear these three different ways. Just the outer layer, just the inner layer, or both. Which is pretty cool, and actually more useful than you might think.

The outer shell is 100% waterproof and windproof, and it has all the pockets for your skiing gear. And the shell alone is actually an awesome windbreaker, that you can wear in spring or autumn when it gets really rainy outside. It’s coated with DWR, which further ensures that no water can permeate it.

The inner jacket, on the other hand, is what keeps you warm. It is insulated with PrimaLoft ThermoBall, which is super warm. The women’s jacket also features Heatseeker on some parts, mostly the side panels, and sleeves.

But what I really like about this jacket is that you can actually zip up the inner layer into the outer layer, and wear it as a single jacket instead of two. And I think that’s the best option for skiing or super cold weather.

You get a bunch of pockets on both the shell and the inner jacket, so you will have plenty of space for your gear even if you do combine the two jackets. Also, only the outer shell features the hood, which is not removable. But overall, this is definitely one of my favorite jackets out of the bunch.

See also the women’s version here.

Columbia Jackets

Columbia Alpine Action

The Alpine Action jacket is Columbia’s version of a versatile ski jacket. With pockets for goggles and a ski pass, it’s obvious that this jacket was designed for the slopes. But, the overall appearance of the jacket, as well as the fact that it is fully windproof, also make it a good everyday jacket.

It features Omni-Heat thermal lining. That’s Columbia’s proprietary material – it includes reflective dots throughout the fabric that help retain your body heat. Which makes the jacket super warm, even though it’s pretty thin. Additionally, it is also seam-sealed, so it is completely waterproof, but also breathable at the same time.

The jacket is insulated with polyester microtemp – a synthetic insulation that does a really good job at keeping you warm. It is not as fluffy as goose down, but it is much lighter. And it works really well in combination with the lining.

Overall, it is a pretty versatile jacket. And it also has a bunch of different internal and external pockets, which is useful not just on the slopes but also in the city. Plus, it’s a standard fit jacket, so you can easily wear a few layers underneath it. Just go a size up, since it tends to run somewhat small.

The cuffs are elastic and they will keep the cold out, and so will the adjustable hem. The storm hood is also removable, which is actually pretty helpful since it could get in the way while you are skiing.

See also the women’s version here.

Columbia Boundary Bay

The Boundary Bay is more a parka than a regular jacket since it is pretty long. It has a waterproof shell made of Omni-Tech polyester, which is also breathable. In addition to that, both the men’s and the women’s jackets are insulated, but with different technologies. The men’s Boundary Bay features microtemp polyester, while the women’s has thermarator polyester.

Both of those are synthetic insulations, and both do a really good job at keeping you warm. This is actually a pretty versatile jacket – you can wear it in the winter, but since it’s waterproof it’s also a good choice for spring or fall. Just wear lighter clothing underneath and you won’t be too warm.

The men’s and women’s jackets differ in the number of pockets – the jacket for the ladies only has two zippered external pockets. They are pretty deep though, and can easily fit your phone and gloves. But the men’s jacket also has two zippered chest pockets, and a media pocket as well.

Both of them have elastic cuffs that keep the draft out, as well as an adjustable hood. Also, the hood is actually pretty large, and it does a great job of protecting you in wet weather. Even if you forget your umbrella, Boundary Bay will have your back.

Columbia Snow Rival

The Snow Rival is another good option if you want to get a versatile ski jacket. It features Omni-Heat reflective lining, which does a great job of keeping you warm. Especially when you combine it with Omni-Heat Thermal insulation.

Both are Columbia’s proprietary materials, and they work together to retain your own body heat and allow it to circulate. But, they also allow the jacket to breathe, so you don’t get too hot and sweaty when you’re wearing it. Overall, it’s a really good choice for the slopes, but also for the city, if you live in a really cold area since its design doesn’t scream ’ski jacket’.

Both the cuffs and the hem are elastic and adjustable. Not only does that keep the draft out, but it also allows you to make the jacket fit you really well. The storm hold is also adjustable, removable, and helmet-compatible.

Other ski features of this jacket include a ski pass pocket, media, a goggle pocket, and a drop tail. Additionally, there’s also an internal media pocket that can easily fit your phone, and the thumb hole on the cuffs ensures that the sleeves stay in place. Overall, this is definitely one of the top Columbia jackets you can buy – and the one you’ll probably wear most often.

Columbia Pike Lake

You can tell from the design that this is an everyday jacket. It looks pretty puffy and a little oversized, which is actually super popular this season. The men’s and women’s versions of the jacket are pretty much exactly the same, but with some differences in color variety. The ladies have a few more options to choose from.

But, in terms of the features that actually matter, they are very much alike. Both jackets are insulated with Polyester, which does a good but not really great job at keeping you warm. However, the Omni-Heat reflective lining pretty much does all the work anyway, so you should stay toasty while you’re wearing this jacket.

Other features of the Pike Lake include an internal media pocket, zippered hand pockets, and an adjustable hood. It’s not removable, so you are stuck with it. Additionally, the hem and the cuffs are elastic, and they should keep the draft out.

One downside of Pike Lake is that it is not waterproof, which we actually see pretty often with these puffy jackets. It is pretty breathable though, so even if it gets wet, it should dry out quickly. Overall, it is a great choice for cold areas, and it is actually pretty affordable!

Columbia Barlow

Columbia calls this jacket ‘a down jacket on steroids and I just had to share that. That’s because the insulation of the Barlow includes 450 fill power down, as well as 100 grams of their synthetic insulation. That, in combination with the thermal-reflective lining, is a recipe for supreme warmth. So I get where they are coming from, with the steroids comparison.

There is such a thing as being too warm, and this might not be a great jacket if you live in an area where the winters are pretty mild. But if you are looking for something that will get you through days of temperatures below zero, the Barlow is an awesome choice. Especially because it’s almost as long as a parka, and it will also keep part of your thighs warm.

The Sherpa-lined collar will kind of seal in the warmth around your neck and ensure that your body heat can’t escape. The elastic cuffs and adjustable waist also help seal in the heat and keep all the draft out.

The hood is removable, and so is the synthetic fur trim. Oh, and the jacket is waterproof, and it keeps you warm even if you get it wet, which is pretty cool. I don’t think it’s a great choice for heavy rain still, but that certainly helps in snowy weather.

Also, the men’s version only has one pocket more than the women’s version – both jackets feature an interior security pocket, zippered hand pockets, and zippered chest pockets.