Montane Winter Kit: Flux, Extreme Smock & Lite-Speed
As a prelude to my long overdue Montane extravaganza I though I’d have a quick shufty at the winter test kit that arrived today. Three pieces of very different kit, all made of top materials, with features for the hill and not the high street. And good grief, two came in orange…
The new Flux above really appealed to me when I saw a prototype last year. It’s very different from the previous version, but it’s not just a bodywork restyling job, it’s all been happening under the hood too.
Firstly it’s warmer, with a heavier Primaloft Eco (recycled) fill, which for me makes it a better piece right away as the other features like the hood and pockets have a winter feel and suit its better rating.
The cut has been tweaked, and for me again it’s better. The arm articulation is better I feel, and the arms are longer. The body is also longer, the tail covers more ass than before and the torso is slimmer too. This closer fit will make it a more efficient insulator and smaller packing, making any weight gains from the thicker insulation less that they might have been.
I like the look and feel of this a lot.
I wanted to test a Lite-Speed as it’s a bit like a Featherlite that’s been at the (Crossfit) gym, and the added features like the pocket and hood seem to fit in with it being an ideal winter wind shirt. The arms are longer that the Featherlite too for tucking in gloves, and it’s still light and small packing. This with a lightweight shell should work well.
Of course, both bits of kit above are burnt orange, a fantastic colour, and indeed a proper mountain colour too.
Below we have the wild card, the Extreme Smock. Testing this was all Montane’s idea, and when you think about it, it’s a good one as it eliminates a midlayer and windshirt, as well as a shell in most cases. So what’s in your pack? Well, extra insulation and your pieces & flask. That’s proper lightweight that is.
The fit on me is brilliant with my regular size large. Slim, long bodied with perfect articlulation. It feels pretective and warm, but the venting is good so I’ve got high hopes for this when the temperature dips and stay there.
A real mix of kit, and I’m dead excited to get it out there. More in a bit.
I’m looking forward to your field tests.
No base layer, no fleece, no shell. Just it, a warm /waterproof hat and an insulated jacket for stops.
1. gravity shifts the water down into your undies/trousers/socks/boots – ugh, need to think carefuly what you wear there, and
2. you chill quite quickly once you stop – not good in winter generally, and especially if you’re staying out.
So for me p/p is good for dry cold, dry snow or the odd shower but not for prolonged rain or sleet in near-zero temperatures. I found this out in Norway skiing for several hours in the rain! Fortunately we made the hut without mishap, but if something had forced us to stay out we’d have been in trouble. I moved on to Paramo for those trips after that, and 10 years on I’m still using it :)
Lite-Speed is hands down my most favourite and versatile garment. Cycling, running, backpacking, hiking, fishing, etc, etc….. love it. I could be tempted to buy another one in a brighter colour for this winter.
Placed my order for one of the Haglofs LIM Barrier pullovers, much more like it….
Interesting points about the P&P. I’m new to it so I’ll be watching for the points mentioned, I’ll pack a light shell and extra insulation for sure.
The Flux versus the Photon is a good one. I know where Rab lose the weight, the shell is devoid of structure to the point it’s almost a Pertex bag full of Primaloft. I used one quite happily until I started testing kit. The Flux is a better jacket from a sustained usablity point of view I think as it’s neater (and better) made, but the Photon is warmer.
I concur about Paramo and Cioch, which I’m able and happy to wear all year round (aren’t I the smart arse).
Regarding pile/pertex, I have just taken charge of a pair of pile/pertex booties (custom made for x-large feet), which are rather splendid. Should dry out wet socks too.
In terms of synthetic insulation, I’ve got a Montane Verso, which Montane binned after only a year or so. Don’t know why as it is very warm and fits/layers well. Not ‘technical’ enough? No hood? Average review in tgo so the masses avoided it? Who knows?
I’ll see how I get on rolling up the elastic on these, the Featherlite was fine, much better than the old lycra hair plucker version…
David, I had a Verso, nice bit of kit. Went on ebay like so much kit in the last couple of years.
Montane have changed head designers a couple of times in the past few years, and the range changes with that. Models get dropped or developed in different ways when the new thinking takes over. There’s been a big change at Montane this year with a new designer moving from another UK brand, and it’ll be the end of 2010/2011 before we see the results. It should be exciting stuff.
sbrt, dunno. I haven’t spoken to Salomon for a while, so I haven’t had any work books through for this season.
In general I think the fit is good, just a little short for me at times. Worth a look I’d say.
…maybe I’m not the total gear geek my wife thinks!
While I’m here, how does the Flux compare to the Haglofs Barrier Hood? Worth an upgrade or much of a muchness?
I’ll do a pit to cuff measurement of this new version and see if it’s any different as well.
The Flux is kinda different to the Barrier Hood. The Barrier feels more like a belay jacket, a throw it on over everything affair, the Flux is much neater, more low profile, which in theory makes it something that should work as a winter on-the-move piece.
But I’ve worn both the Barrier Hood and the Flux on the move in winter and they both work well, the barrier being warmer though.
The Flux with a down vest will be the combination of justice, I mostly use the Barrier Hood on its own.
This is the thing, it’s how many degrees of difference there is between similar kit, everything is slightly better somewhere on the scale of use, and it’s all good in its own right.
Its a choice nightmare.
You’re right though, choice is a killer. My search for a waterproof is getting beyond a joke. Talking of which any thoughts on the Atomic 2.0?
The Prism is a great bit of kit right enough, I’ve worn mine plenty. Is the new Flux better? Hmmm.
I won’t mention that looks like the Meteor ;-)
Could I just ask what the sizing is like? I have a large Lite Speed, but needed a XL Prism to get the hood and arms to fit. I’m not sure whether that was due to the Prism being sized to layer under stuff or me having long arms…
Thanks again!
Still, the advice stands!
Where does it fit in the mix?
How doe’s it compare to the RAB pullover?
It’s the best bit of kit I own from a warmth/weight/protection point of view.
It gets packed a lot.
PTC, what’s the neatness etc like on your sample or anyone else.
I would love some feedback. It’s the final part of my Haglofs puzzle and would dearly love it own it.
Mine is a pre-production sample and it’s fine. Samples tend to be either dog-rough for testing or super-shiny to entice store buyers to order them in.
Nothing worse that bringing home a bit of shoddy kit.
I’m even more confused now as I saw a Velez Adventure Light this evening and the fit and hood were good.
Oh what to do…
RAB’s pullover is a similar material and the manufacturing is spot on?
I thought I’d see what you had to say, after all they have you to thank the kit I’ve brought so far. So I hope your on Montane and Haglofs Christmas bottle list.
The sizing is the same as the new Montane sizing like the Halo, long and slim.
They’re actually pretty similar in fit to Rab these days(more on them soon by the way, just to add to the confusion of choice I was talking about winter kit with them today…).
I think if your Lite-Speed is a large then a Montane shell would be a large as well.
It’s a tough call though.
Rab has a tunnel pocket as well I think?
If you did get a Rab one, it’s not a second best choice, just different.
Christmas bottle list? Nah, I just lie low and hope they don’t want the test kit back… :o)
Anyway, after hounding you all afternoon I’m going to hold fire – the Paramo option needs exploring and I still hanker after a Kongur. Neither of them are that light weight, but hey I have to live up to the online monicker now and again…
Bloody expensive though.
Litespeed for Winter and Haglofs Kaza for Summer – surely the way to go?
But that detachable hood – hope its not true!
Not that Paramo might well not be more practical. Must also be a real risk of merino withdrawal syndrome with the extreme ;)
Of course a modern shell over it in horrible rain isn’t likely to hurt either :)
When moving, I’d have to be in seriously cold conditions to wear all that and that’s why I stopped wearing mine for hill bashing. I was usually too cold or too hot unless sitting on a belay.
I did give mine a good try tho. I wore it for years; Alps, Winter climbing, hill bashing even rock climbing ‘out of season’. I recall one cold November day in North Wales on the Cromlech… standard day out; Left wall and Flying Buttress :-) It worked well for that but maybe abit too niche :-)
I’ll do proper photies later on, and it’ll crop up on trips as well.
More good points about the Extreme. I’ll have a merino vest under it at first and I’ll be carrying a light shell, the Oz (if it fits over it) or the Lite-Speed H2O.
I’m waiting for it to get a bit cooler s well!
Not wearing a full baselayer under tells me that it’ll end up minging and getting washed a lot.
And aye, defying convention and wearing a base layer with the P+P does actually keep it clean.
I’ve used the Mountain Shirt from October thru’ to March btw. For folk like me that feel the cold, its’ usable range is surprisingly wide.
The hood, attached or in the pack… Hmmm
As an aside you mentioned the Lite Speed H2O, just how waterproof is ‘moderate’ in the real world? Would it be any good for the summer over the Lite Speed say?
It’s not the most breathable or the most waterproof, but it’s long in the arms and body, so it’s protective enough.
It’s hard to say what’s condensation and what’s water ingress to be honest.
I think for the bike it’s great, and for day trips it’s a winner too. But I wouldn’t take it on an overnighter.
Managed to grab an hour today to try on a wide selection of waterproofs and I have to say Paramo is out – even with a XL the sleeves were too short! Rab is out as I’m not slim enough. Ditto Haglofs and Montane, which is odd as their non shell kit fits me :-( . So I’m left with Mountain Equipment jackets, which fit like a glove and have hoods that even I like. We shall see. Might still try the H2O for summer though. As you say options v cash.
Meant to say good luck on Sunday (or hopefully sooner?). I’m sure you’re still far fitter than most of us!
I’ll be using it for a good while yet.
More-On, that’s the thing isn’t it, you can want something all you like but if it doesn’t fit you’re buggered!
ME’s latest kit is good, you won’t be suffering there.
And, the back is much better, cheers! I might even do some work tomorrow. Oh wait, it’s a holiday…
If you are interested in Paramo but have sizing issues there is always the Cioch-Direct made to measure option (good value too)
Or if it’s just a sleeve length issue on the Paramo and you’re happy with the jacket otherwise, I believe they have a service so they can extend or shorten them for something like £45 if you get in touch.
Still they do seem to base all there clothing on people who bulge lots in the middle and have teeny little t-rex arms.
I’m a medium fit in the body on a lot of their stuff but the shoulders and arms make me look like Norman Wisdom. And the sizes up (xl’s about right for arms) leave me with a whole sack of material around the middle.
David – am I right in thinking Cioch don’t have the Light fabric? I’ve tried the standard fabric and it is too hot and heavy for me.
Benjamin – I’m with you all the way on arm length, body shape etc.
I just felt the Velez was good, but the fit of hood and body, as well as the very short arms, just wasn’t ‘right’ for me. My experience of the standard fabric prompted me to write them off for now. Who knows in the future – Cioch with Light fabric, Paramo revising their fit, or maybe the Quito – anyone tried that?
Mind there’s Furtech, Paramo for folk that folk that are Haglofs shaped.
I’ll be getting the jacket out again this winter.
Any chance you could get a Quito to test PTC*? The sleeve length looks good, but the lack of outer pockets might worry me.
Their sizing is funny, their designer is like whippet, they all generally look like fit folks, but their market is, and I quote “barrel-chested chubsters”. I do hope they keep moving in the recent direction where some stuff is much better cut.
Furtech’s an odd one, took me a couple of goes to get my head round it. It’s nearly there though, a couple of wee revisions away from being spot on. The pants really need tweaking though.
Finisterre say they’re going “all new models” which is interesting, I’ve been promised a jacket for months, I’m still hopefull!
They do have a much better look than the Paramo models.
I’ll be interested to see where everyone is going now that Paramo have released the Light fabric.
Keep us updated PTC*.
Shame to see a surf company has to show us the way for technical ethical stylish gear
The H2O is also trimmer around the torso that the Lite-Speed, which will be its “racer” cut, the Lite-Speed being a more general issue affair and likely to be layered over a fleece etc.
The colour is identical though…
The Lite-Speed has washed well too, I think we’ll be good pals this winter.
You won’t be disappointed with the Lite Speed – I’ve had mine for over a year and it has been a constant companion both on and off the hill. As I’ve said before the only improvement for me would be adjustable cuffs, but then I’m a fussy so and so.
There will be retro days coming.
I also chucked out a pair of Scarpa Fitzroy’s from circa 1980!
The manager gave me the website guff about “popular demand”, so I asked if he’d sold many. His story was that they were flying off the shelves, mainly to people (like me!) who’s waistlines outgrew their old Superstriders after Rohan dropped them. He’d even given one customer a 15% discount for trading-in his old ones which were to be part of a “Rohan gear through the ages” wall display they were planning.
Must say, I’ve never been as comfortable on the hill in long trousers as I was in my breeches days but you do feel a prat on the train! Still, they’ll need more than a 15% discount for me to take the plunge.
[...] Winter is just around the corner and Montane’s new kit is just hitting the shops. I was down at their Lakeland bunker a few weeks back with Craig and Paul showed us what’s happening. The test kit I’ve got for this winter is here. [...]
Oh dear.
I was using their stretch salopettes until 1996… when I discovered the hard way that they weren’t up to the rigours of an Icelandic winter blizzard! :(
I liked them a lot, and I have no idea what happened to them.
I sold mine when they ceased to fit me :(
I layered them with a pair of ME Kongur goretex salopettes for winter stuff (still got those!)
But then I went over to Paramo and those salopettes have done 10 years. And they still work just fine but as a treat I’ve got on order a pair of custom-fit, custom-feature salopettes from Cioch – should be here at the end of the month :))
Softshells, or maybe the Furtech pants?
I’ll maybe need to try and get Cioch’s good side. Again.
[...] and with Chocolate Fish Taranaki merino under neath, the Buffalo windshirt over it and a Montane Flux over that, the only condenstaion I found anywhere despite getting warm on the final couple of [...]