Ternua is an outdoor gear company I had heard little about until the Outdoor Retailer 2016 Winter Market. At the Ternua booth I got to try on a few key jackets and shells in hopes of finding the best choices for backcountry skiing. Ternua is a company from the Basque region of Spain that is just recently gaining a foothold in the U.S. market. Looking at their website, they also have a history with and love for whales (hence their whale tail logo.) And from what I can tell on the OR show floor, Ternua has some high quality stuff. Here are my favorite pieces:
LADAKH 300 DOWN JACKET
The Ternua Ladakh 300 is a lightweight, down hooded jacket built for aerobic winter activities. According to the company, it is filled with 300g of 100% recycled down that is treated with a Nikwax® PFC-free DWR to make it water resistant and maintain its thermal properties, even when wet. The outer shell is made with Pertex® Endurance fabric that is water resistant, and the interior is made with 30D recycled polyester. All fabrics are Bluesign certified. It has a ton of features, including articulated elbows, 3 front zipper pockets, helmet-compatible hood with visor, cuff with inner elastic and adjustable hem with cord. MSRP: $350.00
The big story about this jacket is that Ternua is the first outdoor brand to feature water-repellant down that is 100% eco-friendly recycled. It comes from used down products where the down is collected and sanitized. They then treat it with Nikwax® PFC-free Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish on each individual down filament, keeping it dry and lofty so it can trap heat and provide warmth even in wet conditions.
SUNLIGHT JACKET
The Sunlight Jacket is a hybrid form-fitting jacket made with Pertex Quantum on both the inside and outside, and is insulated with Polartec Alpha. Polartec Power Stretch Pro side panels allow for more mobility. This seems to be an excellent mid-layer piece for high activity. MSRP: $225
YANGRA JACKET
The Yangra Jacket is described as an elastic, thermal jacket. It is made with “Miti Thermoroubaix” (say that seven times real fast) which Ternua says makes it warmer, faster, more moisture wicking, and super stretchable. The thin hood can be worn under a helmet and used as a balaclava in extreme conditions, plus it stows away in the collar with a zipper. It also features two zippered pockets on the chest and sleeve, contrasting flat lock seams, and reflective logos. The perfect piece for nighttime running or skinning in cold, clear weather. MSRP: $250
QUANTUM JACKET
The Quantan is Ternua’s first recycled hydrophobic down jacket. The 800-fill down is sourced from recycled down products that have reached the end of their original product life cycle. The down is then washed and treated to be water resistant so it stays warm even when wet. The shell is made of recycled Pertex Quantum that has a PFOA/POFS free DWR. Polartec Power Stretch Pro side panels allow the jacket to stretch. MSRP: $225.00
ASCENT GTX PRO JACKET
The most technical shell in Ternua’s line is the GTX Pro. It is made from Gore-tex 3-layer Pro, with articulated elbows, a 3D adjustable hood that can accommodate a helmet and double water resistant YKK zippers. It has adjustable cuffs with Velcro, venting underarms, and four water resistant zippered pockets – two on the front positioned for compatibility with a harness and/or backpack, one on the chest and another one on the left sleeve. The hem is adjustable with elastic cord and it weighs only 550 grams (size L). MSRP: $550.00
For a list of retailers in the U/S. where you can buy these and other Ternua gear, head over to their website.