Sherpa Adventure Gear Hones Line for Alpinists for Fall '13
Sherpa Adventure Gear (Outdoor Retailer Booth 3000) is setting its sights on alpinists in its new Fall '13 Khangri Alpine line, with technical styles that amp up the use of textiles including eVent fabrics, Polartec and PrimaLoft.
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The word Khangri—in the Sherpa language—means mountain, so it is apt that Sherpa Adventure Gear hones its focus for Fall ’13 on technical apparel worthy of the unsung Sherpa heroes that make high altitude ascents possible. The Khangri Alpine Series is the pinnacle of the company’s apparel line, with essential products intended for core alpine, ice and high altitude climbers. Khangri base and mid-layers, insulation, soft and hard shell jackets and pants are designed to work in concert as a system, and consistent color stories can be easily merchandised by retailers.
The company will exhibit at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer trade show in Booth 3000.
In the Khangri collection, Sherpa Adventure Gear paid special attention to the functional details that make a difference in ease of use and comfort in the high mountain environment. Features are easy to find and intuitive, from zipper pulls, to drawcords, to pockets. For example, pockets on insulated layers are located on the right side of the chest—opposite from pockets of the jackets—for optimized volume while minimizing bulk. Drawcords tuck out of the way in hidden alcoves. Horizontal thumbholes hold layers readily in place. And of course, all products are harness, helmet and pack compatible.
New products for both men and women include:
The Thorong Jacket is the ultimate fitted soft shell jacket for on-the-mountain pursuits where high breathability and warmth is essential but added water resistant protection for very unpredictable weather is also required. Sherpa Adventure Gear chooses Polartec® NeoShell®—with a fast-drying high thermal pile interior—to take on the task. It’s meant to be worn over base layers, with an athletic fit that offers full mobility for alpine or ice climbing. Additionally, Polartec® Wind Pro® side panels provide an extremely breathable yet durable and windproof area under the arms and along side the body.
When the weather gets truly rough and protection is required, climbers can throw on the Lakpa Rita eVent 3-Layer Jacket and Pants – a fully waterproof but breathable storm shell made of 40-denier ripstop eVent fabric. The jacket is named after company ambassador Lakpa Rita Sherpa, an acclaimed professional mountain guide who has led over 225 people safely to the summit of Everest in 16 summits and has also orchestrated rescues in the wake of high altitude tragedies. The jacket is designed for the best possible movement when wearing a pack and harness. Large venting hand pockets allow cooling air in, and two Napoleon pockets make access to essentials easy. Arm panels are patterned for maximum mobility without lifting the body of the jacket, and a lower hem gives full coverage. Bonded zippers, stitched seams absent of topstitching, reinforced intersections and stress points, and 40 denier 3-layer eVent fabric combine to balance weight with durability.
The insulated Manaslu Jacket might be worn underneath the Lakpa Rita Jacket, or by itself. This hybrid lightweight design offers warmth for the body’s core with 40 grams of PrimaLoft® One insulation under a light Pertex Quantum triple ripstop shell. Underarm panels are Polartec® Power Stretch for all-way mobility, a great fit and exceptional breathability. The hybrid combination makes the Manaslu a versatile, everyday climbing jacket that can be worn in place of other mid-layers but eliminates the overheating caused by a fully insulated jacket. Close-fitting cuffs, hemline, and hood—wear it under a helmet—make up the streamlined design, and minimal quilt lines allow insulation to trap the most air possible.
Another new mid-layer option for climbers is the Palden Jacket. Bridging the gap between soft shells and fleece mid-layers, the Palden capitalizes on the wind-busting and durable attributes of Polartec® Wind Pro® Hardface®, which offers four times more wind resistance than a traditional fleece, yet is highly breathable and abrasion resistant. Four-way stretch on the side panels comes from Polartec® Powerstretch. Pared down details make the full-zip Palden the essential mid-layer for climbers: no hood, a slim fit for layering, thumbholes, and pockets that are out of the way of a harness or pack.
Three other new products round out the Khangri Alpine collection for Fall/Winter 2013: the full-length Tenzing Down Suit, a 100% Merino wool Khushi Zip Tee base layer, and the 800-fill-power Cho Oyu Down Sweater.
About Sherpa Adventure Gear
Sherpa Adventure Gear was founded in 2003 by Tashi Sherpa, who was inspired to start the company when he discovered that his uncle was one of the Sherpa on Sir Edmund Hilary’s celebrated, first-ever expedition to the summit of Mount Everest in 1953. Sherpa Adventure Gear—which manufacturers apparel for mountain and outdoor adventures—honours the unsung Sherpa heroes who make high altitude Himalayan climbs possible by carrying the loads, laying the ropes, and guiding the way. Sherpa athlete-ambassadors test and help design Sherpa Adventure Gear products, most of which are manufactured in Nepal. The company employs over 150 people in Nepal, and in 2009, furthered its local commitment when it opened its downtown Kathmandu headquarters, which houses its offices, a flagship store and The Terrace bed and breakfast. Two more stores opened in 2010, in Namche and Pokhara, Nepal. The company’s marketing, sales and North American distribution is based in Renton, Washington. Sherpa Adventure Gear gives back to the Sherpa community through its Paldorje Education Fund. A portion of every sale funds educational and social initiatives, such as providing scholarships to deserving Sherpa children.
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