Its not often that a British clothing brand really 'nails it' in terms of performance, design and price. However Montane has continually bucked this trend and we at Walkhigh Mountaineering have become one of their most fervant supporters. The clothing really works, looks great and doesn't cost the earth - meeting the 3 holy grails for all designers.
Trail magazine agrees with its latest review of general purpose jackets that rates the Montane eVent Venture TRAIL BEST VALUE in the test. And had some very nice things to say about the other eVent jackets in the range too:
General Purpose Jackets
Montane Venture Jacket
rrp: £150 ( http://www.walkhigh.co.uk/acatalog/Montane_eVent.html our price £135)
"Its good: Montane has a knack of simply designing great outdoor kit and the Venture is another pot of gold from this manufacturer's mine of sensible design. It is built around no-nonsense eVent waterproof, breathable material, which sits comfortably at the top of the fabrics league table. For extra durability there are reinforced areas on the shoulders and the scooped tail protects your bottom. A double stormflap protects the front zip from leaks, while a pair of chest-mounted pockets provide ample handwarming or storage for maps. The rolldown hood gets a wired peak with reasonable fit and movement. Sleeve movement is also excellent. All in all, a lot of pluses for a jacket at this price."
"Verdict: Great for general use if you do not need the absolute best performance."
TRAIL BEST VALUE
Multi Purpose Jackets
Montane Quickfire Jacket
rrp: £175 ( http://www.walkhigh.co.uk/acatalog/Montane_eVent.html our price £157.50)
"Its good: A very popular jacket thanks in part to the minimal weight of just 320g (size L). Better still it is made from eVent fabric, which is rated as being extremely waterproof and extremely breathable. The body has a long tail to protect the back when bent over the bike handlebars. You also get a double stormflap over the frontzip to keep the rain out. The jacket has two large map-sized chest pockets that are ideal for maps, and these allow a little ventilation through the body. The rolldown collar has a wired peak and a volume adjuster for when you need just a hood rather than a helmet to protect your head. A little bit of reflective piping adds to safety at night on the road."
"Verdict: A great jacket for biking, hiking, fast packing and running."
Lightweight Jackets
Montane Superfly
rrp: £200 ( http://www.walkhigh.co.uk/acatalog/Montane_eVent.html our price £180)
"Its good: The Superfly has a huge following thanks to the use of eVent fabric and the great design. For 2007 it gets a nip and tuck to improve its performance yet more. A scattering of bonded rather than stitched seams are evident to reduce bulk, while the shoulders are reinforced with a very unusual printed pattern. The most important update is probably the hood though, which now has a better peak that does not flip up in the breeze as it did last year. You still get three large chest pockets, patches of reflective material and an average length on the body. The cuffs and hem don't ride up when scrambling either. It was a great jacket last year and now its even better."
"Verdict: A modern classic lightweight jacket that is now even better than last year."
Winter Jackets
Superfly XT
rrp: £250 ( http://www.walkhigh.co.uk/acatalog/Montane_eVent.html our price £225)
"Its good: A modern classic with a good pedigree. For autumn 2007 the jacket has had a makeover with an improved hood design. The jacket is made from eVent, so it is top-notch for waterproofness and breath ability. The fabric is robust too, so its ideal for trapping air in the worst of the winter weather. The main zip gets a double storm flap, while the chest pocket and the pitzips also have single stormflaps to keep the rain at bay. There are four massive pockets on the chest that are ideal for winter action with the rucksack and harness. The new hood is better than last year, with a much better peak and better movement and fit. A classic just got a whole lot better."
"Verdict: A superb jacket for winter walking and mountaineering, when performance is the key requirement."
