When adventuring in the mountains, an insulated mid-layer jacket is essential gear. While down jackets are super warm, they don’t insulate when wet, so synthetic is always better when weather gets cold and damp. These days, I’ve been taking the Sherpa Adventure Gear Om Jacket along with me because it is a super light-weight synthetic puffy jackets that I like for its versatility and packability.
Sherpa Adventure Gear is a small outdoor gear company founded by Tashi Sherpa, an actual Nepalese Sherpa dedicated to the betterment of his small Himalayan nation through his gear company. As a result, I can appreciate the fact that the company supports the Sherpa community by donating up to $.50 from every product sold to a special fund for the underprivileged Sherpa children of Nepal. I’ve also always liked the stuff Sherpa puts out because it’s high quality, but generally less expensive than many of the major brands.
As for the Sherpa Om Jacket, I’ve been wearing it on backcountry ski trips and winter hikes since October, and have a huge appreciation for how warm such a light jacket can be. Picking it up, it almost weighs nothing, and doesn’t inspire much confidence when heading out into a storm. But I soon discovered, while on a freezing, windy day atop Rocky Point in the Alta backcountry, that the Om Jacket is remarkably warm when layered underneath a shell. That warmth comes courtesy of 40 grams of PrimaLoft® Eco synthetic insulation, which I’m always impressed with. Although that amount of insulation isn’t really enough for the jacket to be used alone on a super cold day, when layered during aerobic activity like skiing, the Om jacket is a good piece that gives me lots of options depending on the situation.
Not only is the jacket warm, but when not in use the Om stuffs down to almost nothing and takes up very little room inside my pack until needed. Also, the cuffs and hem of the Om are elasticized to keep out the wind and trap warmth along with a collar that zips up to cover the neck with a nice patch of fleece to soften the zipper and keep the chin warm and cozy. Plus, the exterior shell features mini-grid ripstop that is very smooth for good, uninhibited movement beneath a storm shell. I also dig the prayer-flag inspired zipper pull, a cool reminder of the company’s commitment to helping the Sherpa people.
My only complaints about the Om Jacket are that when worn alone out on the town or at work, the collar, when unzipped, sits a bit weird and can get in the way. It’s lower than a standard jacket collar, and doesn’t know where to go if it’s not zipped all the way up. Also, the cut isn’t really athletic as there’s a lot of room in the stomach, giving the jacket a baggy look. Maybe Sherpa is trying to accommodate the growing waistlines of the American market.
Overall, the Sherpa Adventure Gear Om Jacket is a competent micro-puff mid layer that is warm, well built, and costs less then well-known competing brands. So if you’re looking for a puffy to round out your winter wardrobe, take a look at the Om. You’ll not only get a quality piece for less fundage, but you’ll also et warm fuzzies knowing your money is going to help a good cause.
Thanks for the review… I saw the Sherpa booth at the OR Show and was astonished… I have been wanting to check out their stuff ever since.