I bought this jacket for the Manaslu Circuit Trek in Nepal and could not have been happier. In fact, I have been using it for many other things once I returned home as this is easily one of the best purchases I have ever made.
They boast “A piece of high-tech magic from Patagonia.” and I have to say that it definitely lives up to that statement. It weighs about the weight of a chocolate bar but is probably one of the warmest jackets I own, aside from my Spyder Ski jacket. How this works is way beyond me, but I can attest to it effectiveness. Additionally, it can be packed and folded up into one of the jackets pockets for easy storage and packing.
How light is it actually?
I bought the Balkan Blue Medium jacket and it weighs a total of 289 grams, after using it for a while. Can you believe this! This thing kept me completely warm even when I was at the top of the Larke Pass which is approximately 5,160 meters. I have worn it skiing, hiking, and just generally around. I was even out the other evening in it for a night hike and it was -15 Celsius. I actually found myself sweating at times. This thing is crazy good and I cannot say enough good about it.
If you are considering a new jacket for an Alpine trek, I highly recommend this jacket. I will definitely stand behind my recommendation with the statement that it one of the best purchases I have ever made. I admit, it is pricey, but the technology behind it and the effectiveness is beyond crazy. I know, I know, I have raved enough about it and no this is not some sales pitch. I just wanted everyone to be aware of a jacket that is great for the outdoors and will not disappoint you at all.
Here are a few shots of me wearing the jacket on my trek and also how it packs up.
I bought mine at MEC but I have found it is sometimes available at Amazon as well. Click here for an Amazon search for this jacket. I have found hat it usually just the women’s version that shows up on Amazon, but sometimes the men’s shows up. It wasn’t available on Amazon when I needed it, so I was really glad when I found it at MEC. 🙂