HIMALI Accelerator Down Jacket Review

You’ve probably heard of HIMALI by now. They’ve made waves in the news with their high-end technical apparel which is positioned (very literally) to take on the biggest premium names. They also have a social good mission, not least because one of the cofounders is legendary high altitude mountaineer Tendi Sherpa. I haven’t been up any 8000 meter peaks in the Accelerator Down Jacket, but I’m into my second season putting this head-to-head with the best mainstream down garments on the market. Here’s the story of how it holds up.

HIMALI Accelerator Down Jacket (Hooded) Features:

• Approx. 4 oz. of RDS Certified 850 fill power HyperDRY™ down
• Fleece lined mouth guard & a soft chin panel
• Pertex® Quantum fabric with ECO-DWR treatment
• Synthetic insulation in underarms and chin
• Features an athletic, articulated fit
• Hem and hood drawcords for customized fit
• Internal zippered pocket
• Zippered hand pockets (stuffs into the left pocket)
• YKK® zippers
• Average weight: ~ 12.2 oz
• MSRP: $330

High-end puffy with all the features:

The HIMALI Accelerator is built with high-end materials and thoughtful tailoring. We’ll work through the materials, then the design, then some real-world comments.

The foundation of the jacket is its fabric and its insulation. The Pertex Quantum fabric is an unusually good fabric. Nylon fabrics on puffy jackets have a few things they’re trying to balance, namely light weight, strength and ‘stopping power’ (weather resistance and downproof-ness).

The Pertex Quantum feels smooth and light like a low-denier weave should, and I haven’t seen any down leakage at all. It’s woven out of a diamond-shaped thread rather than a traditional round one, and the idea is that this allows the threads to slot together more closely. The result is a light, strong fabric with plenty of ‘stopping power.’ Water sits on the surface quite well on it even after being pressed against, which is where the DWR usually gives out.

The next crucial element of the Accelerator is its 850-fill goose down. This is the real deal. It’s hard to say much about the performance of this goose down except that it’s just about the best you can get outside of rare specialty products. The 4oz of down (on average) make this a lighter weight jacket overall. Maybe something in the ‘Accelerator’ name speaks to it as a jacket for people on the move. I wouldn’t choose this as my belay parka on really cold days.

HIMALI also built in synthetic insulation in high-perspiration zones like the armpits and chin. This is great because goose down looses its warmth when wet, and those areas can wet out quickly. When you couple this with the  HyperDry DWR-treated goose down and the Pertex Quantum high-denier fabric, the Accelerator is going to fend off water as well as any down jacket.

For climbers and skiers, the hood adjustments are important. The hood isn’t really helmet compatible but you could probably stretch it. I like the pull cord adjustments and they do their job of keeping your peripheral vision clear. For climbers, the jacket isn’t really helmet compatible (pockets are too low). It’s not meant to be a dedicated belay parka. I do appreciate the inner zippered security pocket for valuables.

I have really enjoyed the tailoring of the Accelerator. This is one of the hardest things to get right on a jacket. It’s also one of the things that separates the really premium brands. HIMALI nailed it: the Accelerator feels light, trim and ready to move. It’s warm and functional enough for adventure, but sleek enough to wear out in town. That’s pretty much the combo everyone is looking for.

I used the Accelerator in Washington, Idaho and Oregon during the winter and shoulder seasons over this past year. My main activities were ski touring and backpacking, and really I spent the most time on skis. I loved how packable the Accelerator is, and it was a no-brainer to throw it in the pack. Personally I like the integrated stuff sack, but some will prefer the minimalism of a design that stashes in its own pocket. I think the benefit of the integrated stuff sack is that it spares hard wear on the hand pocket zipper, while the drawback is the ‘extra’ stuff sack fabric.

Buy Now: Visit HIMALI.com