I have been testing Montane Women’s Featherlite Trail Running Jacket. It is a lightweight and close-fitting zipped jacket that is designed for mountain trail running.
Features include:
- Fabric: 100% wind barrier dynamic 20 denier, nylon mini rip-stop
- Treated with DWR
- Stretch properties and excellent breathability
- Zipped mesh-lined external chest pocket
- Ergonomic lightweight zip pullers for ease of use when wearing gloves or mitts
- YKK full-length front zip with with internal wind-strip
- Roll over chinguard lined with brushed fine microfleece
- Adjustable hem with cinchable drawcord and cordlocks.
- Low-profile stretch bound cuffs with thumb loops
- Underarm vents
- Articulated sleeves and elbows for freedom of movement
- Packability
- Reflective VIA Trail Series logo details
- Stuffs into own chest pocket
- Weight: 100g (I weighed it at 95g)
- Price: £75
- See: Montane Women’s Featherlite Trail Running Jacket and men’s version. There are currently discounted jackets for sale on Wiggle and SportShoes. (Note that I gain a small commission for sales through these websites.)
My thoughts: Montane Women’s Featherlite Trail Running Jacket
The jacket is ideal for days when you are looking for windproofing but not waterproofing. While the jacket has a DWR treatment, which will keep light rain and damp off for a while, it is mainly a wind-protecting layer.
The Featherlite Trail Running Jacket is excellent at keeping out the wind. It is also very breathable.
I have the size small and I am usually a UK10. It fits neatly and maybe a little tightly on my shoulders. There is enough stretch in the fabric to give good freedom of movement.
There are thumb loops on the arm hems but the arms are too short for me to use these comfortably. I do have long arms though.
The fabric is lightweight and quiet. When running you hardly know you are wearing it, which is ideal when it is windy. It is annoying to have a noisy/rustling fabric and thankfully the Featherlite Trail Running Jacket is fairly quiet.
There is only one pocket, at chest height, but this is meant to be a pared down jacket so that is fine. I would be happy with zero pockets.
However, the pocket is useful for packing away the jacket when not in use. This is useful when stashing it in your rucksack.
I use the jacket on chilly winter days both as an external layer and as a mid-layer (beneath a lightweight waterproof jacket, such as the Montane Spine Gore-Tex jacket. It is also a great jacket for popping on when you are running or hiking at higher altitude and it sudden feels chilly.
For such a lightweight product, it is really effective at keeping off the wind and chill.
I am not sure I would be so keen to spend £75 on the Montane Women’s Featherlite Trail Running Jacket but I notice that some retailers are selling it at a discounted price.