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Sherpa Adventure Gear: Nangpala Hooded Down Jacket

posted by gumptiongear September 23, 2014 0 comments

Sherpa Adventure Gear: Nangpala Hooded Down Jacket The Nangpala jacket from Sherpa Adventure Gear offers an ample demonstration on how what’s on the inside a jacket can empower your outside adventure. Featuring PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation Down Blend, the Nangpala represents the peak in down insulation technology, and will have you rethinking what you know about heat and comfort.

On Performance and Design…
From basecamp to the bivy ledge, the Sherpa Adventure Gear Men’s Nangpala Jacket has but one purpose—protect your core from epic cold. Stuffed with PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Down Blend, the Nangpala ($259 MSRP) packs massive warmth in a package that weighs in at just over a pound. Sherpa Adventure Gear: Nangpala Hooded Down Jacket By utilizing the latest PrimaLoft technology, the Nangpala is a prime example of the new trend in performance Down and comfort. PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Down Blend merges Primaloft’s synthetic fibers and a water-repellent down.  This hybrid insulation engineered by intimately blending premium down with moisture blocking, permanent water repellent PrimaLoft ultra-fine fibers combined to give the user the best qualities of both materials.

Sherpa Adventure Gear sent us the Nangpala approximately eight months before it hit retail shelves. During that time, it went through multiple winter storm warnings, one avalanche warning, a few rain showers and an array of backcountry excursions.  What we discovered was the PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Down Blend offers warmth, protection, outstanding dry times and comfort when you’re confronted with a winter tempest most storm chasers avoid. Sherpa Adventure Gear: Nangpala Hooded Down Jacket The design team at Sherpa Adventure Gear wrapped up all this technological innovation in a DWR treated ripstop nylon shell that adds an additional layer of protection against winter’s wrath.  The helmet compatible hood cinches tightly across your head when blustery blizzards try to breeze down your body. Elastic cuffs also seal out those nasty cold fronts, and a draw cord hidden in the pockets helps keep in all that wonderful warmth when you cinch it down.

Notes from the field…
There’s a lot of reasons to love the Nangpala Hooded Down Jacket, but far and away our favorite feature was the slender profile and athletic cut. Anytime you can get the benefits and warmth of down in a jacket that doesn’t make you feel like an overstuffed marshmallow is a win-win in our books.

On the downside, we have noticed that the jacket tends to shed the down insulation at a higher rate than other down jackets in our gear stash. While this can be a common occurrence with down, the fact that we seem to be greeted with new protruding feathers with each wear made the issue worth noting.

Bottom Line…
Cold weather doesn’t mean that you have to commit to a bulky coat for winter warmth.  The Nangpala Hooded Down Jacket featuring PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Down Blend is ready to meet old man winter with warmth and style whether you meet him in the Himalayas or on the city streets.

*Gumption Gear Review received a product sample of the item featured in this review from Sherpa Adventure Gear at no cost, and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The item featured was provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.