The North Face Nuptse Purna Review

Name: The North Face Nuptse Purna
Brand: The North Face

the north face nuptse purna winter boots women review — North Face Nupste Purna
Credit: North Face

View at The North Face

Price: $130 List

Manufacturer: The North Face

By Amanda Fenn ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Nov 21, 2016

OVERALL
SCORE

Warmth - 20% 6.0
Comfort - 20% 7.0
Weather Protection - 20% 7.0
Style - 15% 8.0
Traction - 15% 3.0
Ease of Use - 10% 9.0

Our Verdict

The Nuptse Purna is Discontinued as of December 2016

REASONS TO BUY

Lightweight

Not bulky

Cute

Easy to take on and off

REASONS TO AVOID

Not very warm

Uncomfortable footbed

Poor traction

The North Face Nuptse Purna is a mid-height women's winter boot with a faux fur cuff. Its toe box features an abrasion-resistant scuff guard and the rest of the upper is a combination of waterproof velvet suede (which passed our water resistance tests) and a techy-looking baffled nylon accent across the back of the calf. Overall, our testers think that this model looks pretty cute, but it still falls squarely on the "mountain casual" side of the spectrum. On the performance side, the Nuptse Purna does not offer as much warmth as many of its competitors and its footbed is surprisingly uncomfortable. If you're looking for a short or mid-height boot that really provides lots of comfort, we'd strongly recommend the UGG Adirondack II.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Hands-On Review

Measuring 11 inches from the sole to the top of the shaft, The North Face Nuptse Purna has 200g of PrimaLoft ECO insulation. It is easy to slip on and off, offers a fair amount of water resistance, and has a relatively inexpensive price tag. It scored poorly in our traction metric, but otherwise earned average ratings. We neither loved nor hated this boot, but don't recommend it for extremely cold weather.

the north face nuptse purna winter boots women review - amanda tests out the nuptse purna during a long day on campus during... — Amanda tests out the Nuptse Purna during a long day on campus during the first big snow storm of the year. Although we liked this boot overall, it didn't stand out in any of our metrics.
Credit: Emily Gordon

Warmth

During Boulder's first serious snow storm of the year, our lead tester made the mistake of grabbing the Nuptse Purna for a mile-long bike ride followed by 35 minutes of waiting for a delayed bus in three-degree weather. Although this boot was easy to bike in thanks to its compact, lightweight design, it definitely did not keep our feet warm when sitting still for longer periods of time. Likely, the only boots that would have really kept us warm in this scenario would have been the Sorel Joan of Arctic, our Top Pick for Severe Weather or the Vasque Pow Pow II, our Top Pick for Winter Hiking.

the north face nuptse purna winter boots women review - brrr! although our feet stayed dry, this boot is not the ideal... — Brrr! Although our feet stayed dry, this boot is not the ideal choice for frigid days.
Credit: Emily Gordon

Comfort & Coziness

We loved the featherweight feel of this boot; when you're walking longer distances, lighter weight and less bulk definitely equate to increased comfort. That said, the footbed in this product was stiff and unforgiving, even after a fairly significant break-in period. We would probably replace the stock insoles with something more comfortable.

For another boot that's comfortable for longer distances and earned higher marks overall, be sure to consider our Editors' Choice winner, the Sorel Tofino.

the north face nuptse purna winter boots women review - the fluffy faux fux cuff adds some comfort; however, the footbed is... — The fluffy faux fux cuff adds some comfort; however, the footbed is not the coziest.
Credit: Amanda Fenn

Weather Protection

The velvet suede uppers protect from flooding and slow leaks, but once we reached the stitching where the nylon baffle meets the suede, we had problems. This boot floods in puddles that are 4.75 inches deep.

the north face nuptse purna winter boots women review - our feet stayed dry in snow, but in puddles, this boot started... — Our feet stayed dry in snow, but in puddles, this boot started leaking right where the visible dark brown baffles meet the lighter brown suede.
Credit: Amanda Fenn

Style & Fit

Overall, we liked the tech-casual look of this boot. Although we weren't overly crazy about the "calf baffles," the look works with the somewhat beefy toe guard. We also liked the design and feel of the faux fur. This boot runs just a little bit small, so we suggest sizing up, or at the very least trying on a half size larger than you think you might wear. Another tech-casual boot you may like is the Sorel Tivoli High II, which earned good marks across our metrics.

the north face nuptse purna winter boots women review - these boots have a tech-casual look that is perfect for normal daily... — These boots have a tech-casual look that is perfect for normal daily use, but may not go with your favorite sweater dress.
Credit: Emily Gordon

Traction

This product features The North Face's Winter Grip rubber with IcePick lugs. Unfortunately, we found this sole to be sub-par in our traction tests. We slipped more easily on the ice, we lost our footing on steep slush slopes, and skidded on slick logs. Boots that are more designed for winter hiking, such as the Columbia Bugaboot Plus III Titanium - Women's, are better options for high traction performance.

Ease to Take On & Off

Thanks to its lighter weight, easy-to-pull laces, and malleable shaft, this model is one of the easier ones to take on and off. As with the Adirondack II, it's easy to roll down the shaft just a bit and use that as a gripping point to pull the boot on.

Best Applications

We liked this boot for general around-town use; however, it is best saved for days when it's not frigid outside.

the north face nuptse purna winter boots women review - ideal for casual winter use on non-frigid days, the nuptse purna is... — Ideal for casual winter use on non-frigid days, the Nuptse Purna is a good option for those on a budget.
Credit: Amanda Fenn

Value

At $130, this product is on the less expensive side of the spectrum. If you're looking for a casual around-town boot with a little faux fur, and don't mind a lack of extreme comfort and traction, this is a very affordable option. Our Best Buy Award winner, the Kamik Momentum is even less expensive, but offers less style than the Nuptse Purna.

Conclusion

Our testers didn't note anything remarkably great or too remarkably terrible about The North Face Nuptse Purna. It's a decent boot for use around town, but we certainly don't recommend it if you're looking at enduring some frigid weather this season.

the north face nuptse purna winter boots women review - the north face combines attractive suede with slightly "techier"... — The North Face combines attractive suede with slightly "techier" materials to make the Nuptse Purna. While we weren't impressed with this boot, we didn't necessarily dislike it.
Credit: Amanda Fenn

— Amanda Fenn