Montane Mens Pacplus Jacket RRP £220

Product Information

Active Mountain: Designed to be low bulk and to fit closely to the body, or to be layered with other non-bulky garments, these garments are intended for faster-paced mountain activities. The sleeves on lighter summer-oriented shells can be a bit narrow, but while the cuffs on the Pac Plus XT are not quite as generous as on a typical technical winter mountain shell, they're still sufficiently roomy to fit over insulated gloves (though can be a bit of a struggle with bulkier gauntlets). The adjustable hem with cinchable drawcord performs in the same way, and allows you to create a personalised fit. These stretchy polymers are able to stretch and move with the fabric so they stay put for longer and work better. Over the years, the elasticity will wane and the cords will snap, but that’s a fact of life and one I’m prepared for.

Nikwax products can be used to clean, re-proof and revitalise all your outdoor technical clothing and equipment. In an ideal world you might own a couple of shells, each dedicated to a particular niche - a summer lightweight and a winter workhorse, for instance. Nikwax treatments will not change the look or feel of the fabric and they are all water based, environmentally safe, non-flammable and contain no nasty Fluorocarbons.Coming in at under 300g the Pac Plus Jacket from Montane is a lightweight and packable waterproof Gore-Tex Paclite jacket. Here Montane have paired the Gore-Tex Paclite Plus membrane with a far thicker 150D Nylon fabric than that used on the jacket. The men’s Pac Plus waterproof jacket is designed for mountain walking and long-distance trekking alike.

It's also worth noting the high collar, which can completely cover the neck and chin, helping you feel warm and protected on a cold windy day even if the hood is down. As a waterproof to tote along in case it rains, this is the shell you want to be pulling out when it does. The waist and hem are fitted with a simple drawcord system that can, in theory, be adjusted using only one hand.

Montane knows a fair bit about mountain clothing, and this AW21 fast and lightweight hill-ready waterproof jacket sounds promising from the off. In addition, the XT is now fitted with two-way YKK Aquaguard pit zips, which the previous jacket lacked.