Patagonia’s High Alpine Kit is a highly engineered, integrated layering system — just nine garments from baselayer to belay parka — designed following minimalist design principles and carrying forward the brand’s leadership in lightweight and ethos rooted in functionality and efficiency.
Patagonia asked its team of ambassador athletes to imagine pieces of clothing they could use individually and as components of a system specifically when climbing in high alpine zones. Much like The North Face did with Conrad and Jimmy’s Summit Series last winter, pieces in the kit are patterned to work as a system for flawless integration. And by default, simultaneously kick ass as individual pieces or layered with other favorites.
“Our team of designers and ambassadors field tested the High Alpine Kit in just about every region with notoriously horrendous weather from Mont Blanc to Ben Nevis to Cordillera Huayhuash,” said Patagonia lead alpine designer Eric Rice,
The kit includes the men’s and women’s Merino Air Hoody and Bottoms; the Nano Air Light Hoody and Pants; the men’s M10 Anorak and women’s M10 Jacket; the men’s and women’s Galvanized Pants; the Grade VII Down Parka; the Hybrid elephant-foot Sleeping Bag; and the Ascensionist pack.
Patagonia launched the kit direct through it’s website and at select brand stores last week. We’ve been testing it since early spring and have been impressed with every piece, some of which were not new but were carried over into this line, like the Merino Air products; and some were lightened up and tech-ed out for this collection. People are stoked on the lighter version of the hugely popular Nano Air puffy, and weight weenies are even more impressed with the M10 pullover anorak (although personally I wish men also had a jacket like the women). The pieces can definitely be mixed and matched into your existing kit. The sleeping bag is a new must for ultralight expeditions of all types.
Product Details:
MERINO AIR HOODY AND BOTTOMS (Men’s and Women’s):
Quick-drying, unique knitted seamless baselayers that provide exceptional warmth and breathability across a variety of temps. Try these if you haven’t already!
NANO AIR LIGHT HOODY AND PANTS (Men’s and Women’s):
Warm, stretchy and highly breathable mid-layers for high-output endeavors in cold climates. The pants have an invisible crotch zip that pairs with the Galvanized Pants for full alpine performance. A spin on the original Nano Puffy, now with pants you’ll wear on lifts as well.
M10 ANORAK (Men’s) and M10 JACKET (Women’s):
The lightest 3-layer waterproof/breathable shell Patagonia has ever made. The deep-venting pullover stuffs into it’s single chest pocket and has a tapered, climbing-specific fit. Women get the full-zip M10 Jacket.
GALVANIZED PANT (Men’s and Women’s):
The Galvanized Pant uses a new soft, stretchy, durable 3-layer waterproof/breathable H2No polyester/spandex fabric, and have a high waist with suspenders (men’s only), thigh pockets, a through-crotch zip and tapered cuffs.
GRADE VII DOWN PARKA:
Patagonia’s warmest-ever 800-fill down parka. Fully baffled construction (laminated in critical areas for water repellency) and differentially cut shell and liner keeps filling in place while eliminating cold spots.
HYBRID SLEEPING BAG:
The minimalist “elephant’s foot” style bag is paired with the Grade VII Parka to create an ultralight (41-oz.) bivy/belay kit. The Hybrid Sleeping Bag uses 850-fill traceable down in a Pertex Quantum shell with DWR finish. Above the insulated lower portion the bag continues with a single layer of windproof Houdini fabric creating a cocoon when paired with parka, rated to a 10-degree sleep system.
ASCENSIONIST PACK
A 35 and 45-liter “clean” backpack with a few alpine climbing specific features.