Sherpa Adventure Gear Makalu Jacket Review

Materials

The Sherpa Makalu jacket is made of 3-layer laminate which consists of a face fabric, membrane and lining. When I unwrapped the jacket, I was pleasantly surprised by the softness of the material. I immediately noticed that the jacket fells more like a softshell jacket than a traditional hardshell, which is indeed a good thing. The material is also surprisingly stretchy for a hardshell jacket. Now, the Makalu is a 3-layer jacket and weighs 17 oz. (500 grams), which makes it somewhat heavier than lightweight 2.5-layer rain jackets such as my Montane Minimus jacket. Nevertheless, it was clear straightaway that the Makalu jacket is much more robust, sturdy and durable than such jackets. While it might be heavier, the robust material also makes the jacket suitable for a broader range of activities and increases its lifespan. During my initial investigation I also found other parts of the jacket such as zippers and drawcords to be very high in quality. Now, it was time to test the jacket outside on hiking trails and see if the material could live up to my expectations.

Weather Protection and Breathability

To properly test the jacket, I took several hikes in heavy rain and very windy conditions. The jacket always efficiently blocked strong winds and I also wasn’t disappointed with the waterproofness. The DWR treatment on the jacket is incredibly good and it always took very long time before the outer layer of the jacket started getting wet. Like every rain jacket, the Makalu jacket also leaks eventually, but I was impressed how much rain and time it took for it to happen. The membrane and the DWR treatment indeed live up to my expectations. In terms of breathability the jacket also performed great. Of course, it doesn’t provide the same breathability as a softshell jacket, but it’s for sure the most breathable hardshell I have ever tried.

According to Sherpa the jacket has a MVTR of 20.000 g/m2/24h and a hydrostatic head of 20.000 mm. If you are not familiar with these metrics do read my post about them here. I have tested rainwear with the same MVTR and hydrostatic head before, and I can say that the Sherpa jacket provides similar, if not better, breathability and rain protection. All in all, I was very satisfied with both the breathability and the weather protection.

Functionality and Features

The Sherpa Makalu jacket really impressed me with its storage options. It has two zippered hand pockets, a zippered chest pockets and two inner pockets. One inner pocket is zippered and the other is a stash pocket for bulkier items. I really like that the outer pockets are big and thus it’s not a problem to use them for gloves and similar items. All outer pockets have robust waterproof zippers with pull loops for easy handling when you are wearing gloves.

I was also impressed with the hood. The hood provides a really good fit because it’s adjustable from three directions. The drawcords for adjusting the hood are located on either side of the hood opening (i.e. on the front side of the collar) and on the back of the hood. These drawcords allow you to adjust the hood perfectly. Each drawcord is equipped with a pull loop, so you can easily pull it even when you are wearing gloves. Another good thing about the hood is that it has a brim which additionally protects your face against the rain. The hood is also helmet-compatible.

The Makalu jacket has a high collar, which comes all the way up to the nose when the jacket is zipped all the way up. It also has a drawcord at the bottom hem and the cuffs on the sleeves are adjustable with Velcro. Furthermore, the jacket also has pit zips which provide extra ventilation. The pit zips don’t have waterproof zippers but during the testing period I haven’t noticed any leaks in this more shielded area. Overall, I was impressed with the functionality and features of the jacket.

Fit and Sizing

I got the jacket in size M, based on the size guide on Sherpa’s website. The jacket fits me well in length, but it does feel a bit too tight in the shoulders if I wear extra insulation layers under it. My chest diameter is 98 cm (38.5 in.) and I’m 180 cm tall (5 ft. 11 in.). I’m wondering whether it would be better if I got the jacket is size L or would size L be too long for me. In general, it does seem that the jacket is designed for people with a more straight up-and-down torso. I would really love just a couple centimeters more of space in the shoulders so I could also wear it over my CimAlp Primaloft insulated jacket in winter. Right now, a mid-weight fleece jacket is all I can get under it in a comfortable way.

Now, my girlfriend also received the Makalu jacket (see images below), and she wore it on several hikes so far. She has a different experience with the fit than me. According to her, the women’s Makalu jacket is much roomier in the chest and shoulder area but a bit narrow at the bottom hem, around the hips. Apart from that, the men’s and women’s model seem to be identical.

Washing and Drying

The jacket is machine washable at 30° C but you should steer clear of aggressive detergents. It also shouldn’t be tumble dried. Now, I’m not a big fan of washing rainwear in the washing machine because none of my rain jackets provided the same weather protection afterwards, although I re-waterproofed them with DWR. Therefore, I’m planning to simply (and gently) wash the jacket in the sink when the time comes.

Verdict

The Sherpa Makalu jacket is a robust hardshell jacket that feels and wears more like a softshell jacket. I’m impressed by the material which is stretchy but provides great protection against the wind and the rain. The jacket also provides very good breathability and is pleasant to wear even during strenuous activities. The five pockets provide more than enough storage space and the adjustable hood fits perfectly. The only thing that bothered me about this jacket is that it’s quite narrow over the shoulders. Nevertheless, if you have a more straight and less V-shaped torso, I believe the jacket will fit you perfectly.

If you have any questions about this product, drop me a line in the comments below.