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Montane Khamsin Hooded Softshell Review - “A very comfortable, very functional softshell that works great as an in-between jacket”

Posted by Nick Brown on Sep 30, 2024

New for the Autumn/winter season from Montane is the Khamsin Softshell. It is a lightly insulated, wind resistant, technical softshell that is perfect for those changeable windy autumn days on the hills. It is made from wind resistant Raptor Flex fabric that is 88% recycled and has excellent four way stretch, making it super comfortable to wear. On the inside it is lined with an Octa fl …
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Alpine 850 Down Hoodie Review - “High-performance winter insulation piece, offering a blend of warmth and functionality”

Posted by Andy Neil on Nov 15, 2023

I have to admit that this review is a tad late. In my defence, I was waiting for some appropriately cold weather to test the jacket; thankfully, November has arrived and brought some wintry conditions. Montane has brought two new down jackets to the market this season: the Alpine 850 Lite Down Hoodie, and the jacket I have been testing, the Alpine 850 Down Hoodie. The lat …
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Berghaus Extrem MTN Guide MW Technical Pant Review - “After extensive use, I have found them to be some of the most unrestrictive and hard-wearing trousers I have used.”

Posted by Andy Neil on Sep 29, 2023

At the beginning of March this year, I was fortunate enough to be invited onto a winter skill course by Berghaus. Berghaus were keen to hear our opinions on their new EXTREM clothing range. The EXTREM Range was launched in 1986 and was designed to be used in the World's most extreme conditions, and for nearly four decades the line has advanced and evolved into the brand-new range we ha …
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Rab Vapour Rise Summit Jacket Review - ''The lighter fabric still offers a high level of wind resistance and the breathability was excellent''

Posted by Jamie Mantle on Sep 27, 2023

The new Vapour Rise Summit Jacket is an update on the classic series that has been a constant fixture in the multisport jacket category for years. The reason for this is the high level of versatility it offers not just in the activities that you can use it for but also the conditions that you can use it in. Making it one of the first things you will want to pop into your bag whatever …
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Montane Alpine 850 Lite Down Hoodie Review - ''It is well made and offers leading edge warmth to weight ratio''

Posted by Mark Richardson on Sep 07, 2023

When backpacking I want a very lightweight insulated windproof layer for daytime use and a down jacket for evening, with of course the flexibility to wear them both if it gets very cold. The insulation value I need for the down jacket depends on the temperatures I expect. I took the  Alpine 850 Lite Down Hoodie with me on a recent backpacking trip to the Scottish Highlands at the …
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Montane Fireball Nano Hooded Jacket Review - ''I love the fact there’s no insulation in the arms, I don’t like gilets so the fabric-only sleeves on the Fireball Nano are perfect''

Posted by Mark Richardson on Jul 31, 2023

Daytime insulation is tricky when you’re Backpacking, especially if you’re moving through a mountainous region where you could be slogging up a steep incline one minute then traversing a windy ridge the next. I find the ideal insulation is ‘not very much’, but you do need something to keep the wind chill at bay. As far as  Montane’s Fireball Nano is concerned it seems pretty muc …
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Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex Jacket Review - ''It has become one of our Top Picks because frankly it is so unbelievably good.''

Posted by Danny Pearson on Jul 17, 2023

Every so often a product arrives at the Ultralight office that we all get excited about. That was definitely the case with the  Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex jacket. When our first Torrid Apex jacket arrived, we took one look and immediately knew that this jacket was something a bit special. Using a ridiculously light 7D fabric this jacket weighs about the same as a …
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Rab Mythic Ultra Jacket Review - “The Mythic Ultra has all the things you need and nothing that you don’t.”

Posted by Mark Richardson on Feb 24, 2023

There are so many good down jackets available that it can be difficult homing in on the one for you, not surprisingly your first thoughts should be about how you want to use the jacket, a decent warm jacket is an essential piece of backpacking or trekking kit even in the summer if you are travelling high in the mountains and in this scenario you want something that is lightweight and ha …
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Outdoor Research SuperStrand LT Insulated Hoodie Review - “This synthetic is the closest thing to down I have come across”

Posted by Andy Neil on Feb 13, 2023

Winter arrived early and was cold here in the UK, so I was incredibly grateful to be offered a chance to test out the SuperStrand LT Insulated Hoodie at the beginning of December. I've been using this jacket as my primary insulation for over three months now, not just in the hills but in my day-to-day life as well, and I'm a big fan of this lightweight synthetic jacket from American bra …
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Rab Vapour Rise Summit Jacket Review - ''A very comfortable insulation piece ideally suited to hiking in cool windy conditions at altitude''

Posted by Mark Richardson on Sep 26, 2022

The Vapour Rise series of RAB garments are designed to provide comfortable insulation and protection from the wind without causing you to overheat if you start climbing up something, or the sun comes out. To achieve this Nirvana a garment needs to transfer moisture away from the skin or base layer so you remain dry and comfortable. I tested the Vapour Rise Summit Jacket on a recent h …
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Montane Axis Alpha Review - “A perfect choice for high workloads in unforgiving environments”

Posted by Trek Scotland on Aug 24, 2022

One of the more technical jackets we have used over the past 6 months, the Axis Alpha Down jacket on first appearance is similar in design to the Montane Quattro Fusion, a jacket we very much enjoyed testing and reviewing and have continued to use over the past few years. Montane has a great reputation for creating some very innovative clothing, with a wide mix of materials to produce …
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Rab Xenair Jacket Review - Trek Scotland

Posted by Trek Scotland on Jun 16, 2022

The  Xenair from Rab is a synthetic jacket comprising Primaloft Gold Active+ insulation, in a low profile that can be used as a mid-layer for winter, or as a stand-alone jacket for use in autumn and spring. At 337 grams in a medium size, it’s a fairly lightweight jacket, and certainly feels so when worn. A relaxed, comfortable fit, with a nice amount of length in the arms, …
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