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When a jacket is advertised as offering “unflinching protection for mountain missions in any weather”, it sets some very high expectations. Over the past few months, I have had every opportunity to see whether the Rab Latok Mountain GTX Jacket lives up to that promise. I picked it up back in August and, thanks to an unseasonably mild autumn, I found myself actively chasing rain clouds just to give it a proper workout. A few wild camps provided early impressions, but the real testing came more recently during a week in the Yorkshire Dales, facing true winter conditions with snow, freezing winds, sleet and relentless driving rain. After this mix of gentle showers and full-on storms, it is safe to say the Latok Mountain GTX Jacket has faced the best and worst of British weather, and Rab’s bold claims are not exaggerations. The Latok is a serious, hard-wearing mountain shell built for year-round use and real-world abuse.

The Latok line takes its name from the Latok mountain range in the Karakoram, a notoriously complex and jagged cluster of peaks famous among alpinists. While this particular jacket, the Latok Mountain GORE TEX Pro Jacket, is not an alpine climbing piece in the purest sense, the name does hint at its ambition, which is robust protection, reliability and readiness for steep weather-beaten terrain. The Latok is ideal when you need breathability, durability, and protection in equal measure for year-round mountain adventures. It easily deflects wind, rain, sleet and snow while managing moisture effectively, helping to keep you comfortable regardless of what the weather has in store. The adoption of the new GORE TEX Pro ePE membrane marks a modern step forward in both performance and sustainability.

GORE TEX Pro ePE: Modern Membrane, Classic Reliability

The jacket uses GORE-TEX Pro with the newer ePE membrane, Gore’s latest fluorocarbon-free technology. It delivers the same weather protection as the classic Pro versions while reducing environmental impact. I will save the deep dive, but our full ePE article can be found here. The short version is that performance has not dropped, and, like all modern fluorocarbon-free waterproof fabrics, it simply benefits from regular washing and reproofing to keep water beading and breathability at their best (we have a washing and reproofing guide here). In terms of feel, the ePE-based fabric seems lighter and less crinkly and rustly than previous GORE-TEX Pro jackets, while still feeling reassuringly robust.

Even in prolonged, wind-driven rain and wet snow, the jacket stayed completely dry inside. Its 28000 millimetre hydrostatic head rating translates into dependable real-world protection, especially across the shoulders and sleeves. Breathability is also strong. GORE TEX Pro is still a firm and durable fabric, but it vents well on the move, and the pit zips make a noticeable difference when working hard uphill.

Construction: Dual-Weight Durability

One of the most impressive aspects of the Latok Mountain GTX Jacket is its dual-weight fabric design. Rab paired durable 80D reinforcement panels on high-wear areas like shoulders, hood, and sleeves with lighter 40D fabric around the torso. This setup offers excellent abrasion resistance where needed while keeping the overall weight manageable, making it ideal for long mountain days with heavy loads and rough terrain.

In practice, this works brilliantly. After months of use, including long days carrying a fully loaded winter pack, the reinforced 80D panels show no noticeable signs of wear. Meanwhile, the lighter 40D fabric helps keep the overall weight reasonable. My size Large weighs 421 g, which is impressive for something with this level of protection. For reference, I’m 6 feet tall, and the Large fits perfectly with room for winter layers.

Protection, Fit & Features

For a jacket marketed toward walkers and mountain trekkers rather than technical climbers, the Latok Mountain has a well-judged design. The fit is regular and very accommodating for layers, with excellent sleeve articulation that prevents the hem from lifting when reaching. The arms are slightly longer, so if you sit between sizes, you may find the sleeves a bit generous. Speaking of the hem, it is also a touch longer than many alpine shells, which is ideal for hiking as it offers more coverage and helps stop water from sneaking in under hip belts.

The hood is substantial and highly protective, and it is also fully helmet-compatible. Despite this, it still provides a secure, well-shaped fit when worn without a helmet, sitting neatly over a beanie or insulated hood without feeling oversized or loose. The adjusters are easy to use with gloves, allowing quick fine-tuning, and the laminated brim provides enough structure to deflect heavy rain and improve visibility in poor weather.

In biting wind, the jacket feels bombproof. The cuffs extend slightly over the back of the hand and work beautifully with gloves, sealing out drafts. All the closures, zips, toggles and hem adjustments are easy to operate with winter gloves on. For a jacket that offers this level of protection, it packs surprisingly small. I roll mine into the hood so it is quick to deploy when needed, and most of the time it lives in the front mesh pocket of my rucksack, where it is easy to grab the moment the weather turns.

Pockets & Practicality

Rab has given the Latok Mountain a practical pocket layout. You get:

• Two large hand-warming pockets
• A chest pocket
• An internal zipped pocket

The hand pockets are huge, easily big enough for gloves, maps or even a compact camera, and they remain fully accessible while wearing a rucksack. The chest and internal pockets are practical and secure. The only thing I missed was an internal dump pocket, which would’ve been perfect for stashing gloves or keeping a power bank warm to prevent freezing in winter. Not a dealbreaker, but it would have rounded the feature set off nicely.

RECCO: A Small Feature That Could Save a Life

One noteworthy inclusion is the integrated RECCO reflector. RECCO is a passive safety system, a tiny transponder built into the jacket's sleeve that can be detected by professional search-and-rescue teams using RECCO detectors. It is a system that has been widely used in the skiing community for many years, and while it does not replace avalanche transceivers or actively emit a signal, it requires no batteries or maintenance and adds an extra layer of searchability in an emergency. For UK mountain walkers, it is a nice safety bonus. For international trekking or ski touring, it adds an extra layer of security in the event of an emergency.

Verdict

After months of testing in everything from autumn drizzle to winter storms in the Dales, the Rab Latok Mountain GTX Jacket has proved its worth repeatedly. It is a tough, highly protective shell that kept me dry and comfortable throughout, demonstrating its reliability in real-world mountain conditions. It is a jacket for people who want the complete protection and durability of GORE-TEX Pro without moving into the more specialist world of climbing shells, and it sits in a very useful space because of that.

At around 400 grams for a medium, it is not an ultralight option, but it is still lighter than many jackets offering a similar level of protection. The price and the choice of GORE-TEX Pro make it clear that this is aimed at people who spend a lot of time outdoors, regardless of what the weather has in store. 

Would it be my first choice for a thru-hike? It is on the heavier side for that, but I have carried heavier jackets on long trails, and if I were setting off on something like the Pennine Way with a forecast of prolonged rain, it would be the jacket I would choose. If I were counting every gram on a multiday hike in spring or summer, I would opt for a lighter shell, but for day hikes at any time of year, this has quickly become my go-to shell.

If you spend most of your time in the hills, walk in all seasons and want a shell that feels ready for whatever the British weather decides to throw at you, the Latok Mountain GTX Jacket is a superb and confidence-inspiring choice.

Andy Neil
Andy has been a keen long-distance hiker and wild camping enthusiast since he completed the Cleveland Way in 2015. Since then, he has walked thousands of trail miles all over the UK and is an active member of the Wild Camping UK community, being an admin of the largest wild camping community on Facebook. He strongly advocates for responsible wild camping and believes it is important to leave no trace when camping in the wilderness. He joined the UOG team in 2021 and works as a website developer and content creator. Read more from Andy Neil