Compare Women's Best Winter Jackets and Coats: Columbia vs. North Face

Compare Women's Best Winter Jackets and Coats: Columbia vs. North Face

Author: Maurice Savaryego, M.Sc.Eng.

Columbia Women's Gold 650 TurboDown Radial Down Hooded Jacket (Photo Credits: Columbia)

Most people who prefer using high quality sportswear during their various winter outdoors activities will first consider either Columbia or North Face, two very popular brands that make a wide range of high quality apparel for various outdoors activities.

As both companies offer a wide selection of quality jackets, coats and parkas, it can be quite difficult to choose between the two brands and the various types of apparel they make, specially when some are quite similar in look and features.

To help select the most appropriate brand that fits your taste and needs, this article will try to point out some of the differentiating points between the two brands and present you with our selection of the most popular Columbia and North Face women's jackets and parkas bought by Amazon customers.

Columbia was established in 1938, as a hat distributor out of Portland, Oregon and ended up growing into a multi-million-dollar outerwear giant. On the other hand, North Face was first founded in 1968 in San Francisco as an equipment retail store for outdoors fans and grew up to become today one of the largest and most respected names in outwear.

Though the clothes you wear should in general depend mostly on personal choice and fit, you might want to consider the following points before you decide between North Face and Columbia:

In general, if you are looking for authentic sporting wear and not just for something to keep you warm and comfortable, you might want to consider North Face.
But if you are just looking for a high-quality winter coat that will keep you warm and comfy, then do not hesitate to go for a Columbia.
If you have budgeting constraints and still want to get a quality winter coat, you might want to consider a Columbia, as North Face products are in general more expensive. It does not really make sense to pay the higher price tag of a North Face, if you will be using your coat to simply go back and forth to work or do your shopping. But if you will be using it for any sort of winter sports, it is well advised to get a North Face.
If wearing products whose brand names have become a status symbol is something you like, then go for a North Face, as it is more of a status symbol than Columbia, though both brand names have by now become a status symbol.
Many Columbia jackets and coats are built with the proprietary Omni-Shield™ advanced water and stain repellency feature. They also have the proprietary Omni-Heat™ synthetic thermal reflective lining and insulation to keep you warm when it gets real cold. Other Columbia jackets and coats come with TurboDown™ insulation which is a sort of performance enhanced down that fuses with the Omni-Heat™ synthetic insulation for lightweight warmth and heat retention.
Most North Face jackets and coats have high-fill power goose down ranging from 550 to 900 fill, the highest quality commercially available. The insulation provided by this traps hot air for reduced heat loss and increased warmth. In addition, many North Face jackets and coats are built with DWR (Durable Water Repellent) which is applied to the face of the fabric to provide the first line of defense against wet weather. Other North Face jackets and coats come with the proprietary PrimaLoft® feature that offers the lightweight loft, warmth and compressibility of down with the wet-weather insulating performance of synthetics.
Most of Columba and North Face jackets are machine washable. But washing instructions should be carefully followed as some are only washable on cold, without fabric softener, and require to be tumbled dry on low.
North Face products come with a Life Time Warranty, while Columbia has a 60-day return policy.
Note that both companies make their products with 100% responsibly sourced down. They are both committed to ensuring the highest industry animal welfare guidelines.

North Face Women's Gotham Down Jacket (Photo Credits: North Face)

You will find below some of the most popular Columbia and North Face winter jackets and coats bought by Amazon customers. At the time of writing this article, each of these selected jackets and coats had received an average rating of at least 4.5 stars (out of 5 stars) from Amazon customers who have provided mostly excellent reviews. Therefore, we feel that you will probably be quite happy with any of these selections.

If you don't find a coat that you like among those presented below, you can click further down special links that will provide you with ALL the Columbia and North Face jackets and coats for women and men available on Amazon.

When you click any of the Amazon link images below you will be provided with the exact price of the product and with a choice of colors. You will also have to specify your size. Note that Amazon prices often includes a generous discount to the list price. If a discount exists, both the Amazon price and the list price will be displayed when you click the Amazon product link images below.

Finally, you should select the brand that offers the colors and styles that fit best your body type and that you will enjoy to wear.

Selected Women's Columbia Winter Coats

Columbia Women's Mighty Lite Hooded Jacket:

Beautiful, geometric seam details and a long silhouette impart a feminine feeling to this hooded jacket while the Omni-Heat™ thermal reflective lining and insulation keep you warm when it gets real cold; the two-way front zipper facilitates mobility. It comes with the following features:

Shell: Omni-Shield™ 100% poyester water and stain replellent shell with Omni-Heat™ 100% thermal reflective polyester lining.
Insulation: Omni-Heat™ 50% thermal reflective polyester/50% recycled polyester.
Length from center-back: 34 inches.
Water resistant fabric.
Quilted hooded jacket featuring 2-way full-zip front, zippered vertical pockets, and interior media pocket with zipper.
Comfort cuffs and thumb holes.
Machine washable on cold (follow instructions).
Comes in various colors (color choice offered when you click the Amazon link image).
Warranty: Returns are accepted within 60 days of purchase .

Columbia Women's
Mighty Lite Hooded Jacket

Columbia Women's Mighty Lite Hooded Plush Jacket:

This pared down, lightweight winter jacket packs a mighty punch. A silky, water resistant ripstop shell is fortified with 80gsm of Omni-Heat™ thermal reflective insulation and sleekly baffled for a flattering, close-to-body fit. It comes with the following features:

Shell: 100% polyester with 100% polyester Omni-Heat™ reflective microtex light lining.
Insulation: Omni-Heat™ thermal insulation, 50% polyester/50% recycled polyester.
Length from center-back: 27 inches.
Water resistant fabric.
Plush interior. Attached adjustable storm hood.
Interior security pocket. Zippered hand pockets.
Comfort cuffs, Drawcord adjustable hem.
Machine washable on cold (follow instructions).
Comes in various colors (color choice offered when you click the Amazon link image).
Warranty: Returns are accepted within 60 days of purchase .

Columbia Women's
Mighty Lite Hooded Plush Jacket

Columbia Sportswear Women's Hexbreaker Long Down Jacket:

When it gets really cold, this ultralight, surprisingly flattering long down jacket will keep you warm and protected. It battles arctic air with 600-fill-power goose down which reflects your body heat for warmth while maintaining a high level of breathability. The water-resistant shell fabric has a lovely sheen, and the baffling’s quilted pattern goes from larger on the shoulders and hem to smaller at the waistline for a figure-flattering effect. It comes with the following features:

Shell: 100% nylon with 100% polyester Omni-Heat™ Thermal Reflective lining.
Insulation: 80% 600 down fill and 20% feather.
Center back length: 37".
Quilted down jacket featuring removable/adjustable storm hood and standing collar.
Water resistant fabric.
2-way center front zipper.
Interior security pocket. Zippered hand pockets.
Drawcord adjustable waist. Comfort cuffs.
Machine washable on cold (follow instructions).
Comes in various colors (color choice offered when you click the Amazon link image).
Warranty: Returns are accepted within 60 days of purchase .

Columbia Sportswear Women's
Hexbreaker Long Down Jacket

Columbia Women's Gold 650 TurboDown™ Radial Down Hooded Jacket:

550-fill-power duck down meets 100g of superior synthetic Omni-Heat™ insulation in a silky, baffled, mid-thigh design that also happens to be one of the warmest, softest, and lightest jackets made by Columbia. The Gold 650 TurboDown™ jacket’s performance-enhanced down insulation is lined with thermal reflective silver dots throughout for body heat retention. It comes with the following features:

Shell: 100% nylon Omni-Shield™ water and stain repellent with 100% polyester Omni-Heat™ reflective lining.
Insulation: 650 TurboDown™ insulation, 100% Polyester.
Center back length: 34".
Water resistant fabric.
Draw cord adjustable hem.
Drop tail styling.
2-way centerfront zipper, zippered hand pockets.
Drawcord adjustable hem, comfort cuffs.
Machine washable on cold (follow instructions).
Comes in various colors (color choice offered when you click the Amazon link image).
Warranty: Returns are accepted within 60 days of purchase .

Columbia Women's Gold 650
TurboDown™ Radial Down Hooded Jacket

If you have not found a COLUMBIA winter jacket you like among those presented above, you can view all COLUMBIA Women's coats available on Amazon by clicking below:

ALL Women's COLUMBIA Jackets on AMAZON

And in case you are also looking for a Columbia winter jacket for your boyfriend, husband or son:

To view all Columbia Men's winter jackets available on Amazon, please click below:

ALL Men's COLUMBIA Jackets on AMAZON

Selected Women's North Face Winter Coats

The North Face Women's Gotham Down Jacket II:

Coveted and warm 550-fill down insulated jacket stays true to classic mountain styling with high-loft baffles protected by a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish. An elastic-shaped waist and removable faux-fur trim at the hood give this warm insulated jacket a touch of femininity. It comes with the following features:

Shell: Quilted 100% polyester with DWR (Durable Water Repellent).
Insulation: 550 fill down.
Length from center-back: 26 inches.
Zipper closure and internal media pocket with media loop.
Concealed zip at inseam hand pockets.
Removable, zip-off, faux-fur trim on hood.
Encased elastic at waist side panels.
Elasticized sleeve hem and ruched bottom hem.
Embroidered logo at left chest and back right shoulder.
Comes in various colors (color choice offered when you click the Amazon link image).
Life Time Warranty / Machine Washable.

The North Face Women's
Gotham Down Jacket II

The North Face Women's Gotham Parka II:

Coveted 550-fill down insulated jacket stays true to classic mountain styling with high-loft baffles protected by a DWR (durable water repellent) finish to shed light moisture. The elastic-shaped waist gives this mid-thigh length jacket a bubble hem for a touch of femininity. It comes with the following features:

Shell: 100% nylon taffeta with 100% recycled polyester lining.
Insulation: 550 fill down.
Length from center-back: 34 inches.
Mid-thigh length quilted jacket with elastic-shaped waist.
Zipper closure and internal media pocket with media loop.
Adjustable, fixed hood.
Concealed zip at inseam hand pockets.
Encased elastic at waist side panels.
Elasticized sleeve hem and ruched bottom hem.
Embroidered logo at left chest and back right shoulder.
Comes in various colors (color choice offered when you click the Amazon link image).
Life Time Warranty / Machine Washable.

The North Face Women's
Gotham Parka II

The North Face Women's Thermoball Full Zip Jacket:

The versatile ThermoBall™ powered by PrimaLoft® insulated jacket offers ultralight, highly compressible synthetic warmth that's contoured to fit your body and keep you warm in cold, wet conditions. ThermoBall™ PrimaLoft® offers the lightweight loft, warmth and compressibility of down with the wet-weather insulating performance of synthetics. It comes with the following features:

Shell: 100% nylon.
Insulation: PrimaLoft® ThermoBall™ synthetic insulation.
Length from center-back: 26 inches.
North Face's most versatile synthetic-insulated jacket.
Exposed center front zip.
Internal elastic cuff.
Secure-zip hand pockets.
Stowable in pocket and hem cinch-cord.
Comes in various colors (color choice offered when you click the Amazon link image).
Life Time Warranty / Machine Washable.

The North Face Women's
Thermoball Full Zip Jacket

The North Face Women's Miss Metro Parka:

Enjoy full-coverage protection from wet winter weather with this soft, sueded 38-inch long parka that insulates your upper body and hips with 550-fill down. A two-way center front zip makes it easy to ventilate on the go, without removing mid-layers. It comes with the following features:

Shell: 100% polyester iridescent taffeta with 100% nylon satin twill lining.
Insulation: 550 fill down.
Length from center-back: 38 inches.
Removable zip-off hood.
Variegated quilting at body.
Two-way front zip closure with hidden snap placket.
Inseam zip hand pockets and internal media pocket with media loop.
Metal logo rivet at left upper sleeve.
Embroidered logo at left chest and upper right back.
Comes in various colors (color choice offered when you click the Amazon link image).
Life Time Warranty / Machine Washable.

The North Face Women's
Miss Metro Parka

If you have not found a NORTH FACE winter jacket you like among those presented above, you can view all NORTH FACE Women's jackets available on Amazon by clicking below:

ALL Women's NORTH FACE Jackets on AMAZON

And in case you are also looking for a North Face winter jacket for your boyfriend, husband or son:

To view all NORTH FACE Men's winter jackets available on Amazon, please click below:

ALL Men's NORTH FACE Jackets on AMAZON

Finally, if you are also looking for a nice present for the man in your life, you might want to consider the following:

CREED is a French multi-national perfume house, based in Paris. Men's fragrances made by CREED are composed of the most sought-after olfactory ingredients and almost exclusively of natural components of excellence. The following article compares three of the best and most popular CREED men's fragrances:

Best CREED Men's Fragrances: Silver Mountain Water vs. Green Irish Tweed vs. Aventus

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