I used both the OMM Mountain Raid Jacket and OMM Mountain Raid sleeping bag during the recent Scottish Mountain Marathon. Lightweight kit is important for a mountain marathon because you need to carry all your own items for self-sufficiency over two days. But quality and warmth are also vital, especially if you are like me and get cold easily and quickly.
I also tested the OMM Halo pants and OMM Kamleika Jacket.
On test: OMM Mountain Raid Hood Jacket
The Mountain Raid jacket has a fill of 100g Primaloft synthetic insulation. The Jacket weighs 390g.
Features include:
- PointZero wind shell fabric
- Primaloft GOLD – 80/100g
- Windproof and insulating even if wet
- Fleece-lined pockets
- Chest pocket
- Loose laid outer shell
- Low bulk cuff construction
- Drawcord hem and hood
- Stuffs into a hand pocket for stowing
- Interconnects with the Mountain Raid PA 1.0 to create a versatile sleep-system.
- £190
- See OMM
The OMM Mountain Raid Hood Jacket is a unisex fit so I requested a small size. It is still quite roomy for me but useful for times when I want to add a layer over all that I am already wearing. I always carry this sort of insulated jacket with me on the hills, mountains and during events.
I find that if I can quickly add an insulated jacket over the top of everything I maintain my core temperature. I wish I had discovered this kind of jacket years ago because it would have saved me many chilly experiences.
I really like the fabric of the OMM insulated jackets. It is light and silky feeling but also very hard wearing. I have owned a similar jacket for a couple of years and it has been well worn and washed in the washing machine many times. It is still a favourite layer.
There are many great features of the Mountain Raid jacket. The fleece-lined hand pockets are lovely. There is a useful chest pocket, too.
And the front zip is two-way. This is very useful and many brands have decided not to use two-way zips these days, which annoys me. I like being able to pull the zip upwards when I want to access layers underneath.
There is very little bulk at the cuffs and I appreciate that, too.
The jacket is very easy to wear and to throw on wherever and whenever you need it. It’s lightweight yet really warming. As soon as I add the jacket over all my layers, even when they are wet, I feel a whoosh of warmth.
At 380g and packed away into its own pocket this is an excellent jacket for carrying in any walking or running pack and also as part of the kit for a mountain marathon.
I just wish there was a version of this jacket that is female-specific so it has a more flattering female fit.
On test: OMM Mountain Raid 1.0 sleeping bag
This is a Primaloft Gold Minimalist sleeping bag. I wanted a lightweight sleeping solution and decided that the Mountain Raid pants that fit into the Mountain Raid jacket would not be warm enough for me. So I went for a lightweight sleeping bag instead. I like the idea of being cocooned inside a bag rather than lying down with a jacket and trousers on and no bag around me.
Features include:
- PointZero shell fabric
- DWR treatment
- Primaloft Gold 80g
- Thicker insulation top than base
- Half YKK zip
- Stitched through outer with loose laid outer
- Mummy shape
- Hood drawcord
- Fast drying
- Hang loops at base
- Small storage bag
- Total weight 380g
- £180
- See OMM.
The mountain marathon took place in summer and on a relatively warm night. I mean, warm for a Scottish summer. It has been very wet but it was not windy.
I took an inflatable Thermarest as a luxury item so I was insulated from the cold, wet ground. I wore a thin baselayer, the Mountain Raid jacket, running tights and socks to sleep in.
The sleeping bag was just about warm enough for me. Half-way through the night I found my legs and bum were chilly so I wrapped an extra baselayer around my legs inside the bag for further warmth. This worked well.
Another competitor told me they have a tip for warmth at night, to use a silver blanket as extra insulation. I think that would have been good for me.
Worth considering is the Mountain Raid 1.6 sleeping bag, which has extra Primaloft insulation and weighs 450g. If you get cold at night like me or it is going to be a cold night where you are camping, you might like the extra warmth of he 1.6 bag.
Saying all this, I was pleasantly surprised by how well a lightweight sleeping bag could keep me warm (when wearing all my clothes!). The hood was useful for keeping in the warmth and the zip was perfectly adequate.
I had enough room for wriggling about inside the bag although it’s worth noting I am a slim female.
The bag is easy to stuff into its bag and fits into a small corner of a rucksack.
Also read: 21 top tips for a mountain marathon.