Montane Extreme Smock
Provenance: Bought full Price
Review: Long Term Testing
These seem to have been around forever and there are several manufacturers making things that look similar. So why write a review? Well put simply I adore this jacket – & yet I don’t seem to see many of them out on the hill – and the ones I do are usually on other instructors.
I guess one of the reasons for this is that the jacket seems counter intuitive to what the magazines and gear manufacturers tell us – instead of the usual mantra of layers layers layers – the extreme is one big heavy unit that does it all. The jacket has a system of zips that are the method of regulating temperatures. There’s a fairly deep neck / chest zip, two big side zips that can leave the jacket open to your arm pits (a nice touch is the two way side zips mean that even when only partly open you can still snug up the waist band of your rucksack) and the front hand warmer pocket can also be opened to aid ventilation. However despite being a fan of layers for a lot of the year, in damp British winter conditions it’s become the jacket I reach for again and again. I only ever wear the jacket with a base-layer underneath – though I did meet one hardy soul on Helvellyn last winter who wore it on its own! The pile inner is very warm & seems to dry really fast, the pertex outer is wind & shower proof & again dry’s very quickly. Sure on some big walk ins I’ve been known to take it off – but I run very warm – it’s not unusual to find me in a base layer & body warmer (sorry I just can’t say gillet, grrr) in winter. I find whether I’m setting out across Striding Edge, kitting up on Scafell Pike or sat on a cold belay on Ben Nevis I simply arrive, do up the zips and I’m ready to go – usually whilst my clients, partner or mates are still wrestling with their rucksack.
So how’s it been in use?
Well my current jacket is now two and a half years old and still going strong – it’s been up Pinnacle Ridge numerous times and the reinforced patches on the arms have done their job and kept it in good order. It’s done swift water rescue work at PyB and come out relatively clean (more than could be said for its owner). It goes on most of my cold days and it does the job. It’s never going to be the smartest looking bit of kit on the hills – but the simple design works – & I’m never the person shivering when we stop for lunch on a winter round of the Snowdon Horseshoe. There’s a large chest pocket which fits a map or gloves & a hat – it has a useful attachment point – I use this for my compass lanyard – not sure I’d want sharp keys rubbing against one layer of pertex. The ‘con’ I hear most often is the weight – however its not that heavy (1025g szM ) – and certainly that compares to a couple of layers (example weighed – Patagonia guide hoody & capiline3 base layer – 845g).
Oh – one last thing to mention – the hood. If you’re thinking of getting an Extreme – make sure you get the hood. It’s just awesome – I carry it as my emergency hat for a lot of the year- it has a great bendy peak – does up right round your face & neck and just attaches with Velcro & is very very warm
Pro’s – Quick simple system, Relatively Cheap (+/- £100) very hardy. THE HOOD!!
Cons – Weight?
Verdict – Probably my most ignored recommendation!