ProView – BlackYak Men’s Nelore Jacket

Looking for a versatile, insulated jacket to romp in the mountains with? Look no further than the Black Yak Nelore Jacket.

Throughout my years of climbing it has become more and more apparent that layering is paramount for performance and that all begins with your primary insulation. That’s why I decided to put the Nelore jacket to the test and what better way to do it than a stroll up Longs Peak in January.

Performance

Departing from the Long’s Peak trailhead by headlamp, my partner and I were surprised by the unusually warm temperatures that would force me to stow the jacket until we reached treeline. However, once we had reached treeline, Rocky Mountain National Park did not disappoint and the temperature dropped due to the absurd, yet reliable, winter windchill. The form-fitted Nelore is insulated with 700 down fill, water repellent treated, traceable goose down. It offers superior insulation yet still allows for proper breathability as it is equipped with stretchable CORDURA Fleece on the underarms and sides. This allows you to thermoregulate in a large range of temperatures from belay stations to hiking uphill with a pack. There’s nothing worse than high output rendering you drenched in sweat then getting blasted by winds when you stop. I was delighted to not be drenched in sweat during my climb.

Having made good time to the base of the iconic Diamond of Long’s Peak, it was clear that only one route was in condition and we started up the classic Alexander’s Chimney which we would link into Keiner’s route to the summit. My initial fears with changing my layering system were overheating and a limited range of movement for climbing. Those fears were alleviated by the time we had reached Keiner’s route.

Features

In addition to good breathability, the stretchable CORDURA Fleece allows for a range of unrestricted movement whether I was climbing thick, easy ice or pulling through thin, precarious, mixed moves.

The sleek design integrates well with any shell due to its form fitted cut and non-bulky zippers. This has a lot of value when you need visual confirmation that your crampon front points are where you want them. 

One of my favorite features is the thin CORDURA cuffs that cut down on bulk when wearing gloves and layering. I did, however, find it difficult to wear with a base layer underneath as my forearms wouldn’t fit in the sleeve. Unless you’ve been bouldering for 14 years, this shouldn’t be an issue. Overall it ended up not being a deal-breaker as the Nelore provided adequate insulation for the day.

Overall, I was very impressed with the performance of the Black Yak Nelore and look forward to integrating the layer into my regular alpine getup. Let the durable, efficient, and versatile design of the Nelore jacket work for you and let you concentrate on whatever task is at hand and enjoying the views.

Shop the Men’s BlackYak Nelore Jacket on Outdoor Prolink. Not a member? Apply today!