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A waterproof jacket has become a real necessity in the extremely unpredictable weather in the UK, even in the height of summer. The new Torren Waterproof Jacket from Montane has served me well on far more occasions than I’d hoped for in the last few months.

This is the first time that Montane’s new Petrichor waterproof technology has been used to help reduce the impact of PFC/PCAS in our environment, something all outdoor clothing manufacturers are working hard towards. Despite the change in materials and technologies, the jacket still has a hydrostatic head rating of 20,000 and breathability rating of RET <7. This and the large two-way pit zips mean I have never felt like I’ve been sweating inside the jacket, even when climbing a hill in the wet and warm weather, carrying a full 30L rucksack.

The jacket is aimed at everything from walking, climbing and ski touring and is designed to accommodate additional layers. I usually take a medium and found this size was slightly large, but not so much that I would downsize, as I was able to layer up without restricting movement. The toggles on the hem really helped draw the jacket in tight to stop a draft too. I did find the arms a little long but the Velcro cuffs did stop it from getting in the way of my hands, ideal if you did use the jacket for scrambling. I would suggest sticking to the size you would normally purchase if looking at this item.

Another key point I’ve found on this jacket is the helmet-compatible hood, despite not having used it alongside a helmet. As a glasses wearer, I have begun to find these oversized hoods, for hiking, really useful when it starts raining. Pop a cap on, adjust the three toggles and the hood sits nice and tight over the brim of the cap creating a really nice dry space and clear vision during a downpour.

There are two well sized external pockets, which can be accessed even when using a harness and offer plenty of space for guidebooks and maps, as well as an internal chest pocket all using YKK Aquaguard zips. The internal one I found ideal for electrical devices just to give them some extra security from the elements. The main zip is also two-way so this can be loosened from the bottom if you want to add some room when doing a strenuous climb or if you need to keep it on whilst sitting down for a rest.

As with all the Montane waterproofs, the outside of the jacket looks very plain and simple but actually quite smart. It doesn’t scream and shout that it’s a great piece of kit, but once you’ve used it you realise that their choice of materials and the options they have included: Pit zips, helmet hood and even the internal pocket make it a great choice of waterproof.

After several months of use, from low-level walks in the North York Moors to music festivals where it was required all day, to the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales the Torren Jacket has convinced me that this would be a suitable piece of kit for all year round use.

Rob Farquhar
Rob has always enjoyed being on a bike ever since he was a child. It started out with road bikes but he now prefers mountain biking. Since moving closer to the Yorkshire Dales and now the North York Moors he’s started to do more walks and is hoping his 18 month old, stubborn, dog will start to join him on some soon. He has completed the Coast To Coast (C2C) on his mountain bike, the Yorkshire 3 Peak challenge twice, has attempted to hike up Ojos Del Salado; the highest volcano on earth and highest peak in Chile. He also enters at least one mountain bike event a year, just for a laugh. Rob has been working in the outdoor retail industry since 2012. Read more from Rob Farquhar