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I was delighted when Montane offered an opportunity to test their Cetus Lite jacket several months before its official release. Since May it’s been put through its paces, and I’ve been impressed with the performance.The Cetus Lite is part of Montane’s new Petrichor range. Petrichor is Montane’s name for its own in-house fabric, which has been developed to minimise the fabric’s environment …

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 ou …

This has been my go-to jacket for the last 5 months (May to September) and has performed well when needed, either as protection from a sudden summer shower or worn for a full day on the Lakeland fells in low cloud and constant drizzle. This Cetus ‘Lite’ jacket in Deep Forest, size UK12 weighs 290g and packs down pretty small for stashing in a backpack. The Montane 3-layer Pet …

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 …

Wild camping is more than just a hobby; it’s an enriching and deeply rewarding experience that allows you to reconnect with nature in its most unfiltered form. Whether waking up to a breathtaking mountain sunrise, listening to the soothing sounds of a forest at night, or simply enjoying the solitude that only the wilderness can offer wild camping provides a unique escape from the everyday hus …

Engineered to excel across multiple activities, the Sirocco Lite combines high-performance fabrics to deliver wind-resistant protection, freedom of movement and breathable warmth for the ultimate versatile midlayer. Wind resistant and highly breathable insulated core protects and keeps the body warm without overheating during more demanding activities. High stretch fleece panelling …

Love for nature and extreme sports is inscribed in the heritage of the Pająk family. It gave rise to the global PAJAK brand, which since 1983 has been constantly developing knowledge and competences to provide all outdoor enthusiasts with professional equipment tested in extreme conditions. PAJAK are from Beskids, where the company and manufacturing factory remains today. From here we se …

Impressively breathable, adaptable and versatile, Xenair is our synthetic insulation collection for mountain ascents. Intelligently body mapping different densities of insulation and air-permeable fabrics, they respond and regulate your temperature. All the garments in the Xenair range have body mapped Primaloft Gold Active+ Insulation in two weights, from the 40g per square metre mapped with …

Sweater Weight Warmth: Light in weight and highly compressible these garments travel well, but when needed deploy easily yielding lofty down sweaters of surprising warmth. Versatile thermal components, these pieces’ shine as a middle layers in shoulder seasons, while proving essential on their own in cool backcountry conditions. Mid-Weight Warmth: Compact and portable these pieces p …

There are basically three types of synthetic insulation used in outdoor jackets: 1. Sheet Insulation – Fibres are woven into a ‘mat’ structure and this is used to fill the jacket, this is the ‘traditional’ way of doing this and provides excellent warmth to weight and is pretty durable. 2. Loose Fill Insulation – This is where synthetic fibr …

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 …

Hiking in the winter can be a magical experience, with pristine, snow-covered landscapes and crisp, invigorating air. However, it also comes with unique challenges, including fluctuating temperatures and unpredictable weather conditions. Mastering the art of layering your clothing is essential to ensure you stay warm, comfortable, and safe during your winter hikes. In this comprehensive guid …