Montane Mens Pacplus Jacket RRP £220

Product Information

Two mesh lined hand pockets that are capable of storing a map take care of both storage and ventilation. When it comes to recycling these fabrics however, polyester is far cheaper and easier to recycle than nylon. And to provide you with another layer of protection, there’s a storm flap fitted inside the zipper – it may look narrow, but it’s highly effecitve. They focus on making innovative, lightweight, breathable clothing and equipment for endurance sports and activities in extreme environments. layer laminate construction, the fabric can provide durability and next-to-skin comfort without the need for a separate lining.

This makes it more comfortable and less clammy than many competitors, although it does sometimes feel a bit slick compared to a 3-layer shell. A decent hood is essential on any mountain shell, and with an all-rounder it's got to work both with and without a helmet. In fact I think the description is slightly misleading, in the sense that these feel more like mountaineering overtrousers than something you'd wear running. I have already worn it out in very heavy rain and it wicked off great but the breathability was noticeable too. The main zipper is a YKK AQUAGUARD, which not only keeps out all but the hardest rainfall and, when zipped closed, seals tight to prevent drafts coming through the zipper teeth.

I have quite a fast pace and it doesn’t take long for me to break a sweat, so the pit zips were fully open, so were the adjustable velcro cuffs at the wrist to allow as much hot air as possible to be dumped. Making use of Gore's new PFC-free technology, this is an interesting lightweight mountain shell, says Dan Bailey - and one that treads that bit lighter on the planet, too. Washing can be done in a machine according to the manufacturers care guidelines (on the internal label). I've used the hood with a helmet when winter mountaineering, so I'd concede it will just about do for an occasional such day, but if you're regularly climbing in the Pac Plus XT I suspect it'd get annoying.

At 395g in my size L review jacket (Montane say 375g, size not given) this counts as a light-midweight shell. But if it hadn’t been for the high functionality of the jacket, Id of been much wetter underneath from sweating, but that wasn’t the case because the features did a great job of allowing me to ventilate and dump the heat. They are also mesh-lined, which helps with the jacket's overall breathability (better than two layers of Gore-Tex), and means they provide a bit of ventilation if left open. It features two waist pockets which sit above a harness, a chest pocket the perfect size for even the largest of modern smart phones, vents running along the under-arms and a helmet compatible hood.The men’s Pac Plus waterproof jacket is designed for mountain walking and long-distance trekking alike. Thinner than any of my full-blown winter mountain shells, but beefier than summer or running-oriented lightweights, the fabric strikes a good compromise for a shell that you could happily wear year-round, in a variety of settings from walking to climbing, but one that's also light enough to pack just in case without paying too much of a weight/bulk penalty. It's easy to build up a sweat in the Montane Pac Plus XT Waterproof Jacket, but to be fair it is in any shell if you're pushing on uphill, and it certainly keeps the windchill at bay, which is a major plus. Montane Pac Plus Black Waterproof Pants The Montane Pac Plus waterproof pants are perfect for your face paced mountain activities!