Montane Mens Duality Jacket RRP £280

Product Information

Time and time again Gore-tex shows us that it’s one of the most reliable waterproof technologies on the market. With Primaloft insulation throughout and Gore-Tex waterproofing, Montane's Duality Insulated Hiking/Walking Jacket is a versatile multi-purpose multi-season garment that guarantees substantial warmth and weather protection. Summary: Weight and warmth-wise, the Montane Flux is a good halfway house; with its double front insulation it's slightly warmer than the Generator Alpine, but there's less extra filling than in the Fitzroy. As with the other jackets on test the 100g weight in the body and 60g in the arms and hood are just adequate when stationary without being excessive on the move.

For me at least this is the best-performing hood when wearing a helmet, though perhaps different hoods best suit different head or helmet shapes? An extremely durable 80D fabric has been used in key areas across the shoulders, hips, and elbows, providing the most rugged protection where you need it most. Our team are working extended hours to get through this as quickly as possible, we ask you to be patient during this busy time.I can warm my hands fine in the Montane's more harness-friendly pockets, I don't think their being placed higher hampers hand warming at all. The waterproof and windproof outer helps trap warm air inside the jacket while the synthetic insulation retains heat and keeps the cold at bay.

This is for everyday use, which for me means low-intensity short walks and shortish periods standing around in 0-12 degrees. In our many years of selling samples, we have found that 99% of them are exactly the same as the finished production version. Without a helmet there's plenty of room, the volume is easily adjusted to suit, and the hood is more inclined to move with the head. Of course different days bring different weather, and since I haven't tested them under controlled conditions in a wind tunnel or a giant freezer my impressions of warmth and weatherproofness are just that – impressions.

More heavily-insulated synthetic jackets are available, but the three lightly-stuffed models reviewed here strike a good balance between warmth, weight and packability, and they can be worn on the go as well as when stationary. With its fully seam taped construction and high-performance insulation, this jacket is the ultimate solution for mountain walking. Any time you put it on, the fleece catches and drags up your sweatshirt’s sleeves, and the sleeve cuffs of the fleece always ended up sticking out of the waterproof’s cuffs. As the body begins to sweat, or when you start to overheat, the fabric allows there to be a steady airflow in and out of the jacket, which will work to keep the body feeling cool and comfortable.