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If you’ve spent any time in the mountains recently, then you’ve quite possibly noticed the eye-catching Montane logo zip past you on some craggy trail or other. Founded in 1993, Montane has grown from a small British label into one of the most respected names in performance outdoor gear in the western world. Their secret? Simple – a relentless focus on lightweight materials, technical innovation, and quality gear that performs where it counts — out in the wild.
While not as urbane and ubiquitous as “fashion friendly” brands like Patagonia or North FaceMontane has well and truly made a name for itself among trail runners, mountaineers, climbers, and endurance athletes who want to move fast and light. From waterproof jackets to trail packs to thermally efficient layers, their products are built for people who demand more from their kit. They also have a strong environmental ethos, leaning into sustainable materials and PFAS-free waterproofing wherever possible.
In this Montane gear guide, we’ll walk you through ten of Montane’s best and most beloved products. Five of these are jackets—because when you’re British and outdoorsy, you know how to make a rain shell—and five are other essential items ranging from backpacks to pants.
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Top 5 Montane Jackets
To be honest, I have been very impressed by all of the Montane Jackets that I had the opportunity to try and test, but these are 7 of the absolute stand outs.
Montane Torren Waterproof Jacket
- Waterproof: PFAS-free PETRICHOR™ (20,000mm)
- Fabric: Recycled nylon shell
- Weight: ~350g
- Price: £300
The Torren is Montane’s flagship eco-friendly waterproof rain jacket. Made with patented PETRICHOR™ technology, it offers storm-level waterproofing while being completely PFAS-free. Ideal for hiking, scrambling, or just dealing with a rainy daily commute, this jacket proves you don’t have to compromise on sustainability to get top-tier performance.
Its lightweight construction makes it very easy to pack away when not needed, and the articulated design ensures it moves with you—not against you. Helmet-compatible hood, harness-friendly pockets, and reinforced zips round out the package. If you need one shell to do it all, the Torren should be on your shortlist.
In terms of downsides, well it is not cheap. It can also get a bit warm in those weird sunny but rainy days we tend to get in Blighty.
Alpine 850 Nano Down Jacket
- Insulation: 850 fill power goose down
- Shell: Water-repellent outer fabric
- Weight: 405g
- Price: £210
This is Montane’s premier alpine insulation piece, built for the serious cold. Stuffed with 850 fill power goose down, it offers phenomenal loft and warmth without ever dragging you down. The outer shell is water-repellent (but not fully water proof), and the construction has been fine-tuned to minimise those pesky cold spots.
It’s cut (stylishly) slim to fit easily under a shell but warm enough to wear as an outer layer on dry, cold days. Whether you’re bivvying at altitude or trudging up a glacier, the Alpine 850 Nano is the kind of layer you’ll thank your future self for packing. If you need a hardcore winter jacket then consider this.
Resolve XT Down Jacket
- Insulation: 750 fill power duck down (RDS-certified)
- Shell: Gore-Tex Windstopper
- Weight: 568g
- Price: £350
For those deep winter conditions, the Resolve XT is a heavyweight champion. It combines 220g of high-quality down with a nifty Gore-Tex Windstopper shell, giving you both warmth and weather resistance in equal measure. This is the jacket you wear when you’re not moving fast but need to stay warm.
Its box-wall construction eliminates cold spots and traps heat exceptionally bloody well. It’s certainly bulkier than some of Montane’s other pieces, but that’s the trade-off for expedition-level warmth. It also looks pretty damn good for a puffed-up powerhouse. Finally, while the price tag is considerable, it’s still £100 – £200 less than similar pieces from the well loved jacket brand Arcteryx.
Minimus Lite Waterproof Jacket
- Fabric: Pertex Shield 2.5-laye
- Waterproofing: 20,000mm
- Weight: ~200g
- Features: Full zip, packable, reflective
- Price: £185
The Minimus Lite is a little featherlight storm shield, perfect for fast and light missions. Using Pertex Shield, this 2.5-layer jacket strikes a fine balance between breathability and waterproofing. It’s popular among trail runners, fastpackers, and anyone who wants to save grams of carry-weight without skimping too much on protection.
The fit is athletic and wonderfully unrestrictive. Yet despite its low weight, it has all the essentials you need in a lite jacket – a fully adjustable hood, zippered chest pocket, and reflective detailing. You can toss this one in your pack and almost forget it’s there until the heavens open.
Anti-Freeze XT Hoodie
- Fill: 750 fill power down
- Shell: Windproof nylon
- Weight: ~550g
- Features: Internal stash pockets, elastic cuffs, adjustable hem
- Price: £280
An updated take on a Montane classic, the Anti-Freeze XT uses 750 fill power down in a baffled construction that maximizes heat retention. It’s built for alpine conditions, ski touring, or any situation where staying warm matters more than looking sleek (although to be fair, it still looks great).
You get excellent wind resistance here, internal dump pockets for gloves or skins, and a slightly longer cut for core warmth. It’s not ultralight, but it is definitely ultra-reliable.
Cetus Jacket
- Fill: 75
- Weight: 360g
- Features: PETRICHOR Technology
- Price: £250
The Montane Women’s Cetus Lite Waterproof Jacket is a lightweight, high-performance shell designed for active outdoor pursuits. Constructed with Montane’s PETRICHOR 3-layer technology, it features a 100% recycled 21D ripstop nylon face fabric, a hydrophilic membrane, and a tricot lining.
The jacket includes some nice practical features such as a fully adjustable hood with a stiffened peak, articulated sleeves with adjustable cuffs, and two large YKK Aquaguard hand pockets.. However, some users have noted the absence of underarm ventilation zips, which could be a drawback during more intense hot and heavy activities
Other Montane Essentials
Now before we go home for tea, lets quickly look at a few other choice Montane pieces.
Trailblazer 25 Backpack
- Capacity: 25L
- Features: Vest harness, multiple pockets, hydration sleeve
- Weight: 800g
- Price: £100
Perfect for fast hikes or long trail runs, the Trailblazer 25 is a smart, close-fitting pack that hugs your back like a hydration vest. It features a vest-style harness system for stability, several stash pockets for snacks or electronics, and room for a full-day load.
The design prioritizes movement and balance, making it ideal for uneven terrain or technical ascents. If you need one pack that can do it all for day missions, this is your go-to.
However if you want something more robust or something that can double as a day to day commuter pack,, look elsewhere.
Terra Pants
- Material: Tactel nylon with Cordura reinforcements
- Features: Zipped vents, articulated knees, five pockets
- Price: £85
An icon in the Montane lineup, the Terra Pants are tough, adaptable trousers built for trekking and scrambling. They feature a durable nylon blend with reinforced panels at the knees and seat, and they breathe surprisingly well for such a robust pair of pants.
They’ve been field-tested all over the world and come with articulated knees, ventilation zips, and an adjustable waist. If you only buy one pair of hiking pants, make it these. The only downside is that they can look a bit “geography teacher chic” and I personally would not want to wear them in urban settings.
Final Thoughts
The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more.
As you can see, Montane doesn’t mess around when it comes to gear. These aren not flashy, over-engineered pieces. Rather they’re dialled-in, ready to use bona-fide outdoor tools made by people who quite clearly spend a lot of time in the elements. Whether you’re climbing, backpacking or fast tracking, or simply trudging through a storm, this gear doesn’t let you down.
If you’re upgrading your kit or building it from scratch, any of these featured pieces are a strong investment.
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