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Montane Dart XT Zip Neck Review - ''I tested mine during an August Munro bagging backpacking trip and was comfortable all day''

Posted by Mark Richardson on Sep 07, 2023

For me, a baselayer is all about comfort, and that means high wicking, odour control and those details that make a garment fit well.

Montane’s  Dart series are great examples of an ideal baselayer, the fabric has 4-way stretch and flatlocked seams which means they can sit against your skin without feeling restrictive in any way, and without the irritation that a conventional seam can have. A close fit is essential for wicking sweat away from the skin, and Dart does this really well, I tested mine during an August Munro bagging backpacking trip and was comfortable all day whether I was climbing, descending or trekking at altitude. In windy conditions I added an outer layer, but even with that on I didn’t sweat or overheat.

To my eternal shame, I wore the  Dart XT Zip Neck for 3 days straight, not even swapping shirts for sleeping, I remained comfortable and largely odour free for the whole time. Either that or others were being polite.

It feels good close to the skin and the pattern on the outer surface is attractive. Dart and Dart XT come in various guises, long sleeved, short sleeved, crew neck, zip neck etc. I always prefer the zip neck as this allows me to vent when I need to and long sleeves as these keep my arms at the same temperature as my body. My only niggle is the length of the zip, personal preference, but I like a longer zip to give me more flexibility.

The Dart XT uses a heavier weight fabric which was perfect for my trip to the Highlands, in hot weather though, with less wind to contend with the standard weight Dart would have been the better choice. Personally I find  Montane to be small fitting so I generally have to go up a size.

  
Mark Richardson
 

Mark was the founder of Ultralight Outdoor Gear back in 2006 and has completed long distance backpacking routes in some of the remotest parts of the world. His favourite hikes have been Torres del Paine (full circuit), the John Muir trail and the Markha Valley trail (Ladakh, India). Although semi-retired Mark has not lost any enthusiasm for minimalist backpacking and is tackling Scotland’s Munros choosing multi-day backpacking routes over the more usual guide book excursions.

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