The Sherpa Nangpala Jacket

PrimaLoft has revealed what it says is the world’s first hybrid insulation.

The US-based brand said its Gold Down Blend filling fuses 70 per cent water-resistant goose down, equivalent to 750-fill, with 30 per cent ultrafine PrimaLoft synthetic fibres.

The result, it said, is an insulation that retains 95 per cent of its warmth when wet and which dries four times more quickly than untreated down.

The company said the down is purchased from socially responsible sources and has been treated with PrimaLoft’s unique and patented, ecologically sound fluorocarbon-free process. “The materials have been intimately bonded together to give permanent performance for up to ten machine washes,” it added.

PrimaLoft Gold Down Blend will be used in outdoor brands’ jackets appearing in UK shops this month.

The Sherpa Adventure Gear’s Nangpala is a hooded jacket with a water resistant outer ripstop shell fabric with a tight weave and micro-grid structure to ensure no feathers escape; hood adjuster; chest pocket; internal mesh pockets; hem adjusters; elastic cuff binding and a built in stuff-sack.

The Nangpala comes in women’s and men’s sizes and sells at £250.

grough has got its hands on a Nangpala jacket and initial impressions are good: lightweight and very compressible, with good styling. We’ll be submitting it to a thorough test in the coming weeks as the weather cools.

Black Diamond Hot Forge Hoody

Another garment using PrimaLoft’s Gold Insulation Down Blend is the Black Diamond Hot Forge Hoody.

PrimaLoft said: “The outer shell of the jacket is completely windproof, showerproof and fast drying. The highly packable design layers easily for a trim fit, while maintaining a full range of motion for any chosen outdoor activity.

“The Hot Forge Hoody also works perfectly as a lightweight midlayer.

“Features include a zip chest pocket, two internal drop pockets and hand pockets for optimal storage when on the move, drawcord hem and stretch gusseted cuffs. The low-profile jacket incorporates an adjustable helmet-compatible hood, making it perfect for a variety of outdoor activities such as ice climbing and Alpine and ski mountaineering.”

The Hot Forge Hoody also comes in women’s and men’s versions and retails at £279.

Salewa's Fusion -8 sleeping bag

Salewa’s new Fusion Hybrid Sleeping Bag range uses PrimaLoft’s Silver Down Blend, consisting of 60 per cent duck down and 40 per cent PrimaLoft ultrafine synthetic fibres.

PrimaLoft said: “By combining eco-friendly engineered water-resistant down with PrimaLoft hydrophobic fibres, the Fusion Hybrid sleeping bag is highly compressible, lightweight, water-resistant and warm, equivalent as a 650 down fill power.

“There are two sleeping bags in the range: Fusion –8 Hybrid with a temperature rating of –8C, and Fusion –2 Hybrid with temperate rating of –2C.

“Other features include a single hand draw string, three-quarter-length zip and interlocking draught tube which locks out cold and moisture. The nylon double ripstop outer adds to the bags durability and softness.”

Salewa said the Fusion Hybrid Sleeping Bag range is suitable for activities including mountaineering expeditions, big-wall climbing and camping in cold conditions

Both models weigh 950g and have a body size of 185cm. The Fusion – 2 sells for £260 and the Fusion –8 £340.

PrimaLoft has renamed its whole range of insulation, which still includes its fully synthetic polyester fibres.

PrimaLoft One has now become Gold Insulation, which the company says is the benchmark in synthetic insulation.

The PrimaLoft range also includes Silver and Black Insulation, the Eco versions of which use post-consumer recycled polyester.

Sherpa’s Kailash Jacket, which comes in both hooded versions and models without a hood, uses PrimaLoft Gold Insulation, a highly compressible 80g/sq m filling.

Sherpa Kailash Jackets include a water resistant and windproof stretch ripstop outer shell fabric; two zip handwarmer pockets and one Napoleon-style side entry chest pocket; stretchy Lycra fibre bindings at the cuff to trap warmth; and a cinched hem to seal out draughts.

Kailash Hooded Jacket, which has an adjustable hood, has a price tag of £160, and the Kailash Jacket sells for £150. Weights are about 380g and 345g respectively.

The Sherpa Gombu Jacket also comes either with or without a hood.

Using 40g/sq m PrimaLoft Gold Insulation, the jackets have a water-resistant and windproof stretch ripstop outer shell fabric with similar features to the Kailash. The hooded version sells at £160, and the Gombu Jacket costs £150. Each jacket weighs about 420g.

Montane Men's Spitfire One Jacket

Montane’s Spitfire One also uses the Gold Insulation and is described by the brand as the ultimate mountaineering belay jacket for men that has been specifically designed to stand up to tough and cold mountain conditions.

Montane said: “Heavily featured to cater for extreme technical climbing, the Spitfire One has supreme warmth-to-weight ratio due to the lightweight PrimaLoft Gold Insulation.

“The Spitfire One Jacket is highly breathable, incredibly fast drying, wind resistant, water repellent, outstandingly soft and extremely packable.”

It said the jacket is constructed by using 200g PrimaLoft Gold Insulation in the front and back, zoned with 170g in the sleeves and forearm. An extra layer of 40g PrimaLoft Gold Insulation has been added to the front of hand pockets, which have a fine microfleece lining, for added comfort and extra warmth in extreme conditions. Additional pockets include two napoleon chest pockets with zips, and internal right and left hand mesh pockets for glove and water bottle storage.

The jacket has articulated elbows to maximise arm reach for freedom of movement and to minimise lower hem lift. It has an adjustable climbing-helmet-compatible hood, which stiffens with a wire on the lip to provide shape and enhance visor protection.

The Spitfire One weighs 877g and sells for £200.

Rab’s Xenon X Pull-On uses 60g PrimaLoft Gold Insulation and has a deep YKK chest zip, internal insulated baffle and chin guard; two YKK zipped handwarmer pockets elasticated cuffs, hem drawcord and comes in a slim fit. The Xenon X weighs 365g and is on sale at £125.

Rab said it is ideal for use in the mountains and belaying, warm enough for winter yet still light enough to be carried and worn year round. The Vest version costs £95 and weighs 220g.

Rab Xenon X Vest, featuring PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation, is new for Autumn/Winter 2014.

The Montane Flux Micro Jacket uses 40g PrimaLoft Silver Insulation ECO to provide performance in cold mountain conditions. The fibres are made with 70 per cent recycled materials, and offer good insulation in both wet and dry conditions.

The jacket has a compressible structure and packs down neatly into a stuff sack.

The design incorporates articulated arms for reach high movement and has been tailored specifically to reduce hem lift.

Montane Women's Primino Zip Neck

There are two deep A-line hand-warmer pockets positioned well clear of backpack or climbing harness belt, which are both encased in PrimaLoft Insulation for extra hand warmth in cold conditions.

The outer shell of the jacket is windproof, showerproof and fast drying.

Other features include: full-length, reversed and baffled YKK front zip; lower-bulk and low-profile Lycra bounds cuffs which can be pulled up to forearms to aid cooling PEAQ Synthetic liner that is comfortable next to the skin, highly breathable and fast drying

The Montane Flux Micro Jacket weight 420g and costs £100.

Montane Primino baselayer range also features PrimaLoft fabric in the shape of Silver Performance Yarn.

The range is a new baselayer line that provides fast drying, warmth and a soft handle.

PrimaLoft said Silver Performance Yarn is a performance yarn that exceeds the softness of cashmere and merino wool while still maintaining superior warmth and durability.

Designed for active winter use from mountaineering, climbing to hillwalking and cold weather expeditions, the Primino range comprises Crew Neck, Zip Neck and Long Johns in men’s and women’s sizes and colourways.

The 140g Crew Neck costs £42.00; the 140g Zip Neck £60.00; Long Johns are £50.

Finally, PrimaLoft Gold Insulation is used in a Keela top designed to keep younger hillgoers warm.

Keela Youth Belay

The Youth Belay Expedition Jacket is packable, which means it can be stuffed into schoolbags and rucksacks when not worn.

The Fife-based company said: “Providing superior warmth for many activities from winter walking to keeping warm on a chilly summer night, Keela Youth Belay Expedition Jacket has reflective piping to increase visibility and ensure safety, plus Lycra cuffs and adjustable hem to ensure an all-round perfect fit and two hip pockets provide storage space.”

The jacket costs £44.95 and comes in children’s sizes 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14 and 15/16 years.