New for Spring, Sherpa Adventure Gear is launching a lightweight, packable 3-layer jacket called the Resham. I first saw this jacket last Summer and have been anxious to give it a whirl. After a few months of use, it’s time for the verdict.
Sherpa Adventure Gear Resham Jacket Features:
- Light, 3-layer highly water resistant breathable fabric, fully seam sealed
- Longer cut in the back for additional protection
- Tall collar for extra face coverage
- Waterproof interior pocket
- Adjustable hood
- Cinchable hem
- Mesh-lined hand pockets double as extra ventilation
- Longer contoured cuffs have both elastic and Velcro for optimal fit
- Weight: 12.6 oz. (Men), 10.7 oz. (Women)
- Available April 2011
- MSRP: $199
Sherpa Adventure Gear Resham Jacket Review
For the money, it’s hard to beat the products coming out of Sherpa Adventure Gear. I first saw the Resham Jacket last Summer while at Outdoor Retailer. I shared my thoughts on the cool story that is Sherpa Adventure Gear, you can read it here. Basically, much of the profits go to support the Nepalese Sherpas and their families.
That said, the Resham Jacket is not your typical Sherpa AG piece, but it fits in the lineup nicely. At $199, the lightweight Resham Jacket features proprietary 3-layer stretch fabrics for an uninhibited fit and feel. The fabric feels ultra-soft (hence Resham meaning “silky” in Nepalese.
Lightweight enough to stash away as an emergency piece, yet breathable enough to wear trail running or on other aerobic activities without bogging down. In fact, the fabric does a great job of shedding water on the outside, but allows for high volumes of perspiration to evaporate back out. Much of this is due to the airflow that the Resham’s exterior provides. You’ll notice on highly-windy days that a small amount of air flows through the fabric. This is OK since that only aids in the moisture management process, yet still remains waterproof and durable.
The Resham packs down well and stashes at the bottom of my backcountry ski pack in a pinch. I pulled it out on a ski tour in the Uinta Mountains a few months back and loved how light and comfortable it was with a pack on. It also breathed extremely-well and provided excellent coverage from the elements. Water beads up on the exterior and seems to evaporate quickly.
I appreciated the articulated cuffs with elastic on one side for a solid glove/jacket interface. The adjustable hood was also simple to cinch down and adjust on-the-fly.
The size Large sample did seem a bit baggy overall. I would suggest a little more streamlined fit. The only other real gripe was that the drawcord hem only cinched on one side. While it was nice only having a single pull to seal things up, the extra drawstring got quite long and sometimes interfered with my ski poles.
Good Resham Jacket
- Very soft feel to the exterior
- Breathes extremely-well
- Provides excellent protection from the elements
- Softshell fabric allows just a tad bit of airflow to enhance breathability
- Ergonomically cut cuffs maintain a solid glove/jacket interface
- Full-coverage hood and collar keeps the cold out
- Excellent, functional zipper pulls
- Respectably-light at just over 12 oz
Bad Resham Jacket
- Needs a 2nd drawcord on the left side to minimize excess on one side
- Fit could be streamlined just a bit in the body
- Can’t figure out why the drawstring pulls for the hood are fixed in place (e.g. you can’t pull them, you have to pull in the middle).
Bottom Line: Sherpa Adventure Gear Resham Jacket
The Resham is a really great piece for Spring weather or highly-aerobic activity when the weather is not so good. I pulled it out on backcountry ski trips for a breathable, comfortable softshell. I love the comfortable, soft fabrics and well-designed hood.
Buy Now: Search for Sherpa Adventure Gear at Backcountry.com
