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Hailing from Cheshire, Mountain Equipment should know a thing or two about wet weather and protecting you from it – and they do. One of the pioneers of British outdoor manufacturing, Mountain Equipment were one of the first outdoor brands to experiment with a new fabric membrane - Gore-Tex. Quickly gaining cult status in the UK outdoor scene, M.E became known for their burly Gore-Tex shells often found in typical-of-the-era colourways. Fast-forward 60 years and they’re still at it – earlier this summer they kindly sent us their  Firefly Gore-Tex Jacket for testing, read what we thought about it below;

Excited to get out and put it to the test, I didn’t foresee having to wait nearly three weeks to give it a spin – that’s England for you. That being said, this would quickly underline exactly the type of jacket it is; when you’re not using it for wet weather running, the Firefly makes for the ideal emergency shell to throw into your rucksack/boot of the car/bottom of the pram on days when the weather can’t quite make its mind up. It’s lightweight, waterproof and packs down incredibly small, I’d struggle to pick fault with it.

Size & Fit

I’ve always had an issue with sizing; too big for a small and too small for a medium, call it small-and-a-half. Intended for the most exposed mountain running, the fast-moving active fit meant I required a UK Medium which allows just enough room for some light layering come the colder months. If a looser fit is preferred or if you are going to use it with heavier mid-layers then sizing up would be advisable. The sleeves are a little longer than I’d prefer but the half-elastic-half-velcro cuff can be cinched tight to the user’s preference.

Features

Straight out the bag it feels sleek and fast, the Acid colourway pops against the murky grey North-East skyline. The stripped back design draws your focus towards the many well-thought-out features; A slightly dropped hem at the rear provides enough coverage to prevent a soggy bottom whilst taking a well-earned rest against a wet rockface. The drawcord hem can also be cinched tight for a more compact fit. The single chest pocket keeps weight to a minimum and provides easy access whilst on the move.

The ear-hugging hood can be secured to your head, using a round-the-head cord adjustment. This means you can freely move your head to take in your surroundings without the annoyance of a hood obstructing your view.

Performance

The 3-layer GORE-TEX Active 2.0 fabric performs exactly how you would expect – an extremely breathable fabric which encourages sweat and perspiration outward whilst keeping you dry as you would expect from GORE-TEX.

The  Mountain Equipment Firefly Jacket is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a basic, lightweight, high performance shell which guarantees to keep you dry on even the wettest of days.

Mathew Garbutt
Mathew is an avid sports fan who plays football semi-professionally for a local team. As a child, Mathew and his family would Car Camp in the Lake District regularly, which is a tradition he has passed-on to his own young family. He is a strong advocate for the outdoors and the importance of his children being outside and exploring the many wonderful places on offer around the North-East and beyond. It was through working at Ultralight where Mathews love for the outdoors and particularly wild camping flourished, taking up many of the opportunities presented to him through his work. Trips to Scotland are a regular occurrence, from taking-in Munros to the snow-capped mountains of the Cairngorms for winter-skills training. More recently, Mathew has re-found his love for running and particularly enjoys meeting with a group of friends on a Sunday morning trail run. Mathew joined UOG in 2017 and is a Purchasing Assistant in our Buying Team. Read more from Mathew Garbutt