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The Montane Anti Freeze XT down hoodie is not only a highly practical jacket, providing excellent insulation for frosty mornings and cold clear days, but the technical materials and clever design features help the jacket adapt to more dynamic activities. With ExpeDry goose down and a PFC free DWR coated outer, it will cope with the unexpected changes in weather too.

The warmth and fit of this jacket go hand in hand nicely. The large baffles and soft Pertex Quantum 20D fabric keep the down insulation lofted, allowing the jacket to hug the body, keeping out draughts, maximising heat retention, without feeling like the Michelin man! The 145g of down and 800+ fill power provide warmth and packability. The clever ExpeDry down with its chemical-free bonding of gold particles, help move moisture away from the down, thus retaining its thermal properties for longer.

The sleeves have a deep cuff with integrated elasticity that creates a smooth fit and no draughts. The sleeves are attached at the shoulders with Montane REACH construction which adds more fabric to the armpit area, thus eliminating the rise of the jacket when the arms are raised. Reduced seam allowances also help reduce bulk at seam joins too.

Two zipped hand-warmer pockets are insulated on the outer and a zipped inner chest pocket is a great place to keep a phone warm to maintain battery life.

I found the general fit is true to size, with sufficient shaping to make the jacket look good and with the slightly longer cut this is another feature that makes the jacket feel warm. The hood has a stiffened peak and is cinched down with two toggles at the front. A rectangular storage sack also doubles as a replacement baffle, should a repair be required away from home.

As someone who feels the cold, I have great confidence in my Montane Anti Freeze XT Down Hoodie. I feel prepared for winter’s cold and whatever unpredictable weather may come my way. It is equally suited for a trip to the coffee shop or a pub stop after a day on the fells. I particularly like it as a warm layer straight after a run on the beach when I would normally cool down very quickly. This ‘cornflower’ colour is not only eye-catching and well admired but also a little bit different.

Lois Fife
Lois is a keen cyclist and is always plotting a route… either for her next trip or looking for a different way to commute to work! She is regularly seen heading for the hills on a packed-up bike, be it for a quick overnight wild camp, or a longer multi-day adventure. She is currently plotting her route to walk the TGO across Scotland. She is a British Cycling level 2 leader and has been involved with MTB Guisborough encouraging the next generation of mountain bikers. Lois joined Ultralight Outdoor Gear in 2021 and is part of the Customer Service Team. She is always keen to get her hands on new kit to try in the field and share her findings on the website. Read more from Lois Fife