Gear Review: Sierra Designs Borrego Hybrid Jacket

Price: $174.95

Weight: 7.25oz (size M)

Materials: Shell: 100% Recycled Polyester Taffeta
Body: 88% Nylon, 12% Spandex 4-way Stretch (Sleeves/Hood)
Lining: 100% Nylon

Circumstances of Review: I’ve worn my Borrego Jacket on almost all of my Fall 2020 adventures in the Colorado mountains. From getting the final few summits in before the snow comes, to casual afternoons spent leaf peeping, I’ve tested this jacket on countless fall trips – both big and small. The temperatures for testing truly represent autumn, in that they ranged from 35-70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Autumn truly is the time of crazy weather here in Colorado. With major differences between day and nighttime temperatures and early season snow storms followed by warm autumn days, I am definitely always in need of gear that’s able to keep up with the unpredictable autumn weather. Layers that are warm for the chilly mornings at camp, but breath with your skin during sunny afternoon climbs are key.

When designing the Borrego Hybrid Jacket, it’s clear that Sierra Designs paid attention to these needs. I found the jacket to be the perfect mid-season layer that I wore on warm afternoons and crisp nights alike. The Primaloft™ Eco Silver insulated core kept me warm and toasty, while the hybrid softshell sleeves were incredibly breathable. This jacket essentially takes the best parts from both a vest and midlayer, and combines them into the perfect mid-season jacket.

The Borrego is also incredibly versatile; I was able to use it for morning hikes, afternoon rock climbing, and everything in between. The 4-way stretch panels meant that almost no activity was off limits, and I could wear the same gear throughout entire trips, which was incredibly convenient. My favorite part about the Borrego is that it’s warm enough to be used as a stand alone piece, but thin enough that I was able to comfortably layer my Whitney Hoodie over it when the temperatures started to drop.

Other notable features include the ability for the front pocket to double as a stuff sack – which makes it easy to throw this jacket into both a daypack or autumn backpacking setup alike. I also appreciated how the shoulders of the Borrego were constructed .