I have been sent a Montane Pac Plus XT jacket to test. The outdoors clothing brand describes the jacket – in designs for women and men – as “Lightweight. Waterproof. Reliably Durable.”
Features include:
- 100% recycled 40 Denier GORE-TEX PACLITE® PLUS fabric – waterproof, windproof, highly breathable and abrasion resistant
- Fully taped seams
- Helmet compatible hood – fully adjustable climbing helmet compatible hood with stiffened peak
- Zipped Chest Pocket
- Two-way pit zips
- 2 map-sized, mesh-lined hand pockets with YKK Aquaguard zips
- Adjustable cuffs and hem
- Articulated arms for high reach movement
- Full-length two-way YKK AQUAGUARD® front zip with internal storm flap
- Male and female designs
- Weight: 330g (UK10) (I weighed the jacket)
- Price: £240
- See: Montane and buy here. (I receive and small commission for sales.)
My thoughts: Montane Pac Plus XT jacket
There is a lot to like about the Montane Pac Plus XT jacket. First, the Gore-Tex Paclite Plus fabric is lightweight but practical, too. It offers a god balance of weight with plenty of features. (You’ll find with many lightweight jackets that there are fewer features and while this is sometimes fine, it can be annoying if you want, for example, an extra pocket or a decent hood.)
The Montane Pac Plus XT jacket offers great waterproof and windproof protection, as well as being breathable. It’s the sort of jacket I would have in my rucksack when doing fast and light activities, especially fast hiking or summer hiking.
The Gore-Tex is also made from 100% recycled fabric, which is a bonus environmentally. The 40 Denier quality means it will be durable and long-lasting, which is another tick for the climate in terms of better sustainability.
While the jacket is lightweight, it boasts plenty of great features, including a two-way front zip and two very useful two-way pit zips. The pockets are generous and also zipped.
The hood is large enough to take a helmet (eg for climbing) underneath but can also be adjusted to give a snug fit if worn over normal headwear, such as a buff. The small wired peak is really useful for keeping some of the rain off your face/glasses.
The fit is great and the UK10 is not too tight, nor too baggy for me. The arm and torso lengths are also good; not overly generous but adequate.
There are three colour ways for men and three for women. For once, I prefer the women’s colours, especially the brighter hues of green and paprika.
This is not a cheap jacket but Montane is a renowned brand and the quality is usually great. These days, lightweight often means a higher price tag because it can mean that more design and technology was involved in the making of it.