You might know Sherpa Adventure Gear best for their hats. These are the famous hand-knit beanies and ear-flap hats that fit snug and keep your head nice and warm on those cold winter days. You might not have realized, however, that these folks also have a wide range of clothes that are perfect for hikers and outdoor types, or wannabes 🙂
In addition to hats, Sherpa produces base and mid-layer clothing, thermals, insulation layers and shells (both soft and hard).
I brought the Sherpa Pasang jacket (considered a thermal) with me to Eastern Bhutan for my group’s trek through the Himalayas. As you might have read in my posts about the Bhutan trek, we encountered colder and wetter weather than we had anticipated. I’d be dramatic if I said this jacket was a lifesaver, but it was invaluable in keeping me warm in the unexpected weather.
The Pasang is a wool blend with both anti-microbial and odor-repellent properties (not bad features when you’re trekking showerless for 6 days!). It kept me warm, even when the rain was coming down, and despite it being made from wool, it is not itchy.
The zippered front reaches up to your chin, so your neck won’t get chilled. And it’s got two zippered pockets for your hands (or goodies) and one zippered arm pocket for keys or other necessities you’d like to access quickly.
But I have 2 favorite details on the Pasang jacket that don’t fall into the practical column. One is the endless knot symbol that is embroidered on the back. In Bhutan, this is considered 1 of 8 auspicious signs. And I considered it very auspicious since I didn’t notice it was there until I was IN Bhutan. The other lovely detail are the 5 prayer flags symbolized on the zipper pull. If you’ve been to the Himalayas, you know that prayer flags flutter throughout the region. I loved that this simple little detail is incorporated into the jacket. It made me feel that much more tied into the mountains.
But the practicality and these smaller details are just part of the Sherpa story.
Owner and founder Tashi Sherpa was moved to start the company in order to help spread the word about the unsung heroes of Mount Everest – the invaluable sherpas who risk their lives to ensure that foreigners may summit the world’s highest mountain.
Sherpa clothes and gear are tested by the sherpas themselves and these ambassadors are paid a royalty. In addition, a portion of every Sherpa product sold goes into a fund to underprivileged children of Sherpas in Nepal.
The Pasang jacket is available at Campmor for about $130.
And if you’re interested in the Sherpa wool hat, there are a variety of styles available on Amazon starting at $17.
Travel Well,
Beth
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