This is an independent and honest review of the Montane Women’s Spirit Waterproof Jacket. I lent the jacket to a friend, Katy, to try while she was walking on a day of wet and windy coastal weather in northern Scotland. I also wore the jacket during a very wet and windy mountain hike.
Features of the Montane Women’s Spirit Waterproof Jacket:
Montane state: “The Montane Spirit Waterproof Jacket is a lightweight, packable waterproof jacket for walking and general outdoor use.”
- Waterproof fabric: 75 Denier Gore-Tex Paclite®
- Fully seam taped construction
- Two map sized hand pockets with YKK Aquaguard zips
- Adjustable hood with stiff peak
- Adjustable hem
- Cinchable drawcord
- Reverse hang loop on the back of the neck to easily hang your jacket without damaging the fabric
- Hydrostatic head: 28,000mm H/H, RET <6
- Four colourways
- Weight: 405g
- Sizes: UK8 to UK16.
- Male and female designs
- Price: £190.
- See Montane Women’s Spirit jacket and men’s.
Note there is also a Montane Alpine Spirit jacket that is worth consideration.
What is Gore-Tex Paclite?
Packable and lightweight, Gore-tex Paclite offers durable waterproof and windproof protection while keeping weight to a minimum. Utilising a 2.5 layer laminate construction, the fabric can provide durability and next-to-skin comfort without the need for a separate lining.
The GORE-TEX membrane is bonded to the robust outer shell fabric, then a durable protective layer is applied to the inside to provide comfort next to the skin and oil repellency.
On test: Montane Spirit jacket
I am a big fan of the Montane Spine Gore-Tex jacket, which I use for running. The Spirit jacket could also be used for longer distance running in cold weather, as well as for general hiking. It’s a more robust and durable jacket with more features.
My first thoughts are that price point is good. A durable Gore-Tex walking jacket for less than £200 is excellent.
The fit is roomy. I am a small/UK 10 and there is room for extra layers under the jacket. This is different from the running jacket, which is a neater fit.
The arm and torso length are also good. The cuff with Velcro adjustor is a nice extra feature because it allows you to wear thicker gloves under the arm cuff, or tighten if you want the fabric closer to your wrists.
There is a good choice of colours, although I would never choose black. Darker colours are not easy to be seen if you get into an emergency situations on the hills. Red and berry are the best colours in my opinion. I have been sent the eucalyptus colour, which I like, but I also think it is a bit “camouflage” for the hills.
The zip is easy to use and when required the hood has a neat fit. Even when zipped up to the top the jacket felt comfortable. The jacket didn’t irritate my face skin thanks to a nice soft strip of fabric at the top inner of the zip. Overall, I felt very well protected from the elements.
While walking in heavy rain and strong winds, the Gore-Tex and jacket design did a very good job of keeping out the wet. I didn’t notice any sweat build up, although it was a chilly day, and by the end of a long mountain hike, my top clothes were still very dry. Katy found the same and said she was impressed with the jacket.
The jacket fabric feels soft and it is low on noise. This might sound odd but jacket fabrics can be loud when they rustle, which ends up being annoying. The Gore-Tex Paclite fabric is lovely and quiet!
Katy and I do have a few criticisms, however. While the hood peak is stiff, it is quite short. The peak sits neatly against the forehead but it could do with being a few centimetres longer for great protection.
While I like the hand pockets and the size of the pockets, Katy would prefer that the pockets were at chest height.
I’d like to see a two-way front zip. I say this about a lot of jackets these days!
For winter and summer walks where you require protection from heavy rain, wind and cold, the Montane Spirit jacket is a good choice. The price is reasonable, too, especially for a Gore-Tex jacket. Choose brighter colours for better safety in case you need to be found on a hill or mountain.
I can also see this jacket being useful for ultra runners who will be out in tough weather conditions for sustained periods. It’s heavier than a Montane running jacket but lighter than a heavy duty winter Gore-Tex jacket. It sits in the middle and this makes it very versatile.
Note: There is also a Montane Alpine Spirit jacket that is worth consideration.