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Montane are involved with a number of trail and ultra running races as a sponsor, and one benefit of this seems to be that they get to name their products after the races! Their latest lightweight waterproof jacket is named after one such race - the Spine - which since 2012 has been beasting entrants who attempt to run its course along the length of the Pennine Way. Naturally this jacket is aimed at runners, but of course fast hikers (or even medium and slow-paced ones) will also be interested in the Spine Jacket due to its low weight and performance. Making use of Gore-Tex Active, which is the most breathable membrane in the Gore-Tex line-up, Montane have opted for a 13-denier face fabric that's
very soft to the touch, and feels incredibly comfortable next to the skin. It's also noticeably 'crinkle free, one of the scourges of some Gore-Tex jackets in the past. Weighing in at below 250g, the Spine Jacket really does balance performance with weight to perfection, and it achieves this not just by the hoice of fabric, but by keeping the feature set simple. For example, there's elasticated cuffs and hood, instead of Velcro tabs, and there's just the two hand pockets, with mesh inside for extra ventilation. Seams are taped, but with micro tape. The designers haven't taken
the minimal ethos too far though, and there's plenty of useful features that could have been left out to achieve an even lower weight: the wired peak, for example, which is such a bonus when in rainy/windy weather, and the adjustable toggles on the hood and hem. There's Aquaguard water- resistant zips too, with an internal stormflap behind the main zip, so this is a properly waterproof jacket. In use the Spine is a pleasure to wear; the feel of the fabric, the fit and the breathability combine for a very enjoyable experience.