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Walking, Hiking & Trail Running

Montane Alpine Equaliser Jacket | Review

The Montane Alpine Equaliser jacket is the smart choice for anybody who loves scrambling and climbing

If you’re mountaineering, climbing, or just being active outdoors, a good softshell jacket is a great thing to have in your wardrobe. Usually less heavy, less bulky and less expensive than a full-blown waterproof hardshell, they’ll nonetheless offer a degree of protection against the elements.

Montane’s Alpine Equaliser Jacket is a classic softshell. It’s not stupidly light, but at 456g it’s not going to be a deadweight in your rucksack and it packs down reasonably small too so it won’t take up a ton of space either.

So that’s it packed away, but what about when you’re actually wearing it? The outer shell is made from some smart nylon material called Wind Barrier Dynamic. You can probably guess that this makes the jacket windproof, but it’s also super lightweight and very stretchy, so it’ll move with your body, not restricting it.

“The Alpine Equaliser Jacket has clearly been designed with climbing, scrambling and mountaineering in mind.”

Montane have added DWR coating to the outer, to keep you dry should you get caught in a brief shower. It’s not waterproof in the same way as say a Gore-Tex hardshell jacket, but the Alpine Equaliser Jacket does dry quickly so even if you do get wet you won’t stay wet for long.

Inside, the Thermo Plexus lining will keep you snug and warm. Its brushed microfleece inner traps warm air and wicks away moisture. Putting this jacket on feels pleasingly like wrapping yourself in a snuggly jumper.

The Alpine Equaliser features a quick drying DWR coating, which will keep you dry should you get caught in a shower. Photo: Chris Johnson.
The Alpine Equaliser Jacket is designed with climbing in mind, with a fully adjustable hood that's compatible with a helmet. Photo: Chris Johnson.
The smart brushed microfleece inner traps warm air, and wicks away moisture Photo: Chris Johnson.

The Alpine Equaliser Jacket has clearly been designed with climbing, scrambling and mountaineering in mind. The arms have been cleverly tailored so that when you reach up for another hand-hold, the lower hem won’t ride up. Exposing your torso to the elements will be a thing of the past. The hood is fully adjustable, and compatible with a climbing helmet, while the tall collar will protect your face from harsh storm conditions.

On the front, there’s a zipped chest pocket, ideal or keeping your mobile, a GPS, or any valuables you want handy. The two pockets on either side of the jacket have been specifically positioned to be accessible when you’re wearing a backpack with a hip belt or a climbing harness.

At the same time, even if you’re not doing anything extreme enough to require a harness, you’ll still appreciate the versatility of this well-made, stylish softshell.

Montane Alpine Equaliser Jacket

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