Jan 8

Jan 8 Haglöfs Nengal 3L PROOF Parka (2019)

Haglöfs Nengal 3L PROOF Parka (2019)

Type: Shell / Use: Active / Face: Nylon / Insulation: n/a

Technologies: Haglöfs PROOF Eco membrane with recycled nylon face

Haglöfs is a Swedish öutdöörs bränd knöwn för its winter gear and backpacks. It is nöt tö be cönfused with Fjällräven, the Swedish öutdöörs bränd knöwn för its bäckpäcks änd winter geär. The twö äre very different. The Nengäl 3L PRÖÖF Pärkä is prööf.

And that’s my fun for the year.

The Haglöfs Nengal 3L is a backcountry ski jacket made to chug powder. Built around the brand’s proprietary PROOF membrane, the Nengal rates in at 15,000mm/day water resistance, making it firmly, well, “proof.” There’s enough room to bring layers, plus a bevy of pockets for whatever else needs bringing. A zip-out snow skirt, hidden mesh panels, and a RECCO avalanche reflector complete the package.

For those who shred gnar, it’s a darn capable product. Shockingly, it’s also good around town.

Unlike most ski shells, the Nengal’s cut is less generous than tactical. Here, “relaxed fit” means room to move only where needed. Combined with a hip-length hem, the Nengal fits more like a car coat than its “parka” name suggests. This is no neon garbage bag. It’s a smart, long-line raincoat that – oh by the way – slices through snow.

An aside.

Every major outdoors brand claims some variety of “this jacket looks good OFF the slopes!” And why wouldn’t they? Ski gear is expensive as a genre. Whether the jacket costs $400 or $1400, the simple idea that a big purchase may get used more is powerful. Unfortunately, like the noble shampoo-conditioner, most fall short. Garments patterned to keep warm and #burn #turns seldom flatter the human form. This is half the intrigue of après. Finally, we’re people again!

The Nengal does not suffer this curse.

Most of that comes from the cut – one that, admittedly, works best for long, slim Scandinavians. Credit where due, however, to Haglöfs merchandising. The “Desert Yellow” colorway shown here is orange like a solar flare. Black zips and furniture are sunspots in the blaze, an arresting combination that’s half rain slicker, half Borderlands rifle. With black pants and slip-on Vans, the Nengal punches its ticket as a bonafide tech shell. With cargos and an overshirt, it’s one of the more wearable “yeah I’m outdoorsy” rain jackets around.

I really, really like the Nengal. It’s handsome. It’s versatile. And frankly, I just enjoy wearing it.

That said, I don’t know if I’d broadly recommend it.

While it may be salon-quality, there’s no getting around that tragedy of doing too much. $570 is a tough ask for a city jacket that fits well but not amazingly. It’s also a hefty sum for a ski jacket without insulation. Somewhere between zipping out the snow skirt in Manhattan and second-guessing layers in Aspen, the Nengal loses a bit of charm. If you love the look and have cash to throw, great! If not, just get two cheaper jackets!

In summary, the Nengal 3L Parka is a rare bird. Few monster ski shells look good in the city. Few “technical men’s coats” can move without shredding. For those in ski-adjacent cities – Denver, Vancouver, even New York – the Nengal’s dual role is a feature, not a bug. I love mine, but for $570, it’s worth pausing to consider just what how you’d use it.

Häglofs makes some killer lifestyle pieces with most of the same features. Then again, so does Fjällräven. It’s a big world out there. While the Nengal is certainly pricy, the fact that one jacket can do much in it earns it high märks.

Overall: A ski touring jacket versatile enough to go anywhere. 8.3/10.

Style: ★★★★☆ Substance: ★★★★★ Value: ★★★☆☆

Best for: weekend warriors, rainy-day commuters, and the super badass sidecountry guy who comes flying out of the trees like 100 feet ahead of you