This North Face jacket was named the hottest product in the world: Here’s our review

Interest in this celebrity-approved puffer has skyrocketed, but does it live up to the hype? We find out

The boxy jacket has been spotted on everyone from Kendall Jenner to Hailey Bieber and Kanye West (iStock/The Independent)

From Ugg boots to velour tracksuits, 2020 was a year typified by unfashionable items that, thanks to the pandemic, ended up in fashion once more.

But, there is one garment that has truly out done them all, becoming all anyone has worn, talked about or posted on their social media feeds for the last few months. We are, of course, talking about The North Face puffer jacket.

Read more: 10 best men’s fleece jackets that are functional and retro-cool

While padded coats are always considered a savvy investment and an ideal ally for combating cold temperatures, the brand’s nuptse coat has reigned supreme to officially become “the hottest product in the world”.

Lyst, the global fashion search platform, published its latest quarterly index, which uses its own data taken from its 100 million unique annual users, as well as Google search data, social media mentions and engagement statistics worldwide, to report on what's in and what's out in the fashion world.

The North Face nuptse jacket was found to be the most-searched product, and it is the first time the same item has topped both the Lyst Index’s hottest women’s and men’s products rankings.

These results follow a similar report by Lyst in November, which stated that search for the North Face puffer jackets was up 150 per cent month-over-month, while demand for the nuptse puffer, in particular, grew by 71 per cent. Similarly, Depop saw interest in the jacket increase by 500 per cent, while on eBay The North Face brand was searched for every three seconds.

Despite being first introduced in the Nineties, the popularity of this sporty puffer jacket has not weaned, having been spotted on influencers, celebrities and models alike. Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, A$ap Rocky and Kanye West are big fans, just to name a few. And where the sartorially elite lead, it’s only right we should follow.

At £250 this puffer is quite an investment, so it’s worth considering if the most popular product in the world is really worth the hype. To find out why the nuptse has returned to the fashion spotlight, we put it to the test.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

The North Face nuptse 1996 down jacket: £250, The North Face – buy now

(The North Face)

The OG nuptse, which is characterised by its colour-blocked two-tone design, featured in our round-up of the best men’s puffer and down jackets that help keep out the cold.

Our reviewer highlighted the garment’s popularity over the years, describing it as “more than just a piece of outerwear.”

“It’s a piece of design history,” they said. “This instantly recognisable puffer jacket has achieved legendary status in both the mountaineering world and the fashion world with its oversized baffles, cropped cut and boxy fit.”

The jacket was praised for being “supremely warm” and “tough as nails”, as well as having “timeless appeal”, meaning that, while it might be pricey, it’s a piece you’re likely to still be reaching for in 20 years from now.

“A really robust jacket that can happily take years of abuse and still come away looking like new,” our reviewer concluded.

Buy now

We’ve seen plenty of women rock the men’s version of this jacket when wanting an oversized fit, but there’s a women’s style available too, in plenty of prints and colours including a pale purple, yellow, black and mint green.

For more winter fashion inspiration, read our guide to the best loungewear pieces for keeping cosy yet chic at home