Review: Merrell's Adventure Rest Ridgeland Primaloft Jacket

Whether it’s climbing Morocco’s highest mountain, Mt. Toubkal (4,167m), in the Atlas, skiing down Mt. Apherwat (4,200m) in Gulmarg, India, or exploring the wildlife of Namibia in the winter, Merrell’s Adventure Rest Ridgeland jacket has kept me snug as a bug in a rug.

Slippery, icy, snowy and cold, it takes two days to climb Morocco’s highest peak. I wore the Ridgeland as a mid layer, with a waterproof shell over it the entire time and felt as insulated as a copper wire. Often times, I would shed the waterproof shell, and the jacket would remain relatively dry even in mild snowfall, due to the micro-ripstop polyster shell that with DWR (Durable Water Repellant) technology that resists light moisture.

Mt. Apherwat boasts of the second highest cable car in the world and offers phenomenal piste and off-piste skiing. The skiable terrain of this mountain is pristine but wild and is one of the largest, longest, and highest in Asia. Skiing from the top of the mountain is incredibly steep and often times, nerve-racking. I found myself flat on my back or face for the first few hundred meters. I usually wear a North Face puffy, but this time I was decked out in my Merrell, and I couldn’t feel a difference.

The filling is an artificial version of down feathers (used in much more expensive jackets, for example, the Catalyst Micro Jacket from The North Face), the inner layers of the body are stuffed with a synthetic material called Primaloft (which is an artificial fabric made to replicate the insulation of natural down feathers, but is more water and moisture-resistant than down- which is made from the fuzzy and soft insulating feathers of ducks, and is much lighter). These layers restrict the jacket from letting out body heat.

While photographing the animals in the national parks of Namibia, we regretted not carrying a camera beanbag to support my massive lens. Since I don’t leave home without my trusty puffy, I was able to improvise. The interior stuff pocket lets you convert this Primaloft insulated mid layer into a neck pillow for camping, long flights, or an impromptu camera bag. Also, the colorful stitching makes it aesthetically pleasing, unlike most puffy’s.

SPECIFICATIONS

TECHNOLOGY:

• Merrell Adventure Rest lightweight protection transforms into a neck pillow when packed into inside pocket.

• Primaloft Eco SYNERGY keeps you dry and comfortable, combining 50% recycled materials with 50% Primaloft virgin fibers for high loft, thermally efficient insulation.

INSULATION:

120 g PrimaLoft SYNERGY

FABRIC:

• 100% polyester micro-denier fabric

• Durable Water-Resistant finish sheds moisture from snow and rain
LYCRA bound hand pockets • Durable Vislon zippers • Inside zip-secure chest pocket • Attached LYCRA bound hood seals out cold • Drawcord hem adjustability.

Price: US $169.00 (INR 10,600)

Place: New Delhi, India