Montane Spine Jacket – Review

Montane Spine Jacket.

I was very excited to be given the opportunity to wear and review the Montane Spine Jacket – a super light and packable Goretex waterproof running jacket, close fitting and designed for mountain trail running. 

It is their most breathable and waterproof jacket yet. With my training this year aiming at starting (and finishing?) the Dragons Back Race, this would be a perfect bit of kit to have in my rucksack. 

The first thing I always do with a new piece of kit is to weigh it! I had the men’s medium jacket and it came up as 247g (declared as 245g on their website.) The retail price is £250 so I expected great things from this jacket…and I wasn’t disappointed. 

Montane with its 100% Nylon GORE-TEX Active shell gives the Montane Spine Jacket a waterproofness at 28 000mmHH, most events want a minimum of 10 000 so this fits the bill and more. For a mountain ultra, I want the best I can get, not what just passes the kit check. 

Features include:

• High weather protection, their best waterproof, windproof and breathable jacket
• Formed peaked hood, snug-fitting with an elasticated portion on the back, drawcords to synch the hood internally so they don’t flap around in the wind
• Hand pockets which fit a map and also are mesh-lined so act as ventilation if you leave the zips open
• Full length YKK aquaguard front zip with internal storm flap with the addition of 2 press stud fastenings. This allows you to undo the zip and wear undone without the jacket flapping about or maybe wearing it like a cape over a rucksack.
• Fully taped seams, elasticated cuffs, reflective details
• There are no pit zips but this allows the jacket to be lighter and there are plenty of other ventilation options

The jacket feels really lightweight but not fragile, it seems like it should stand up to most mountain challenges. It packs down small (I tend to roll jackets into their hood, there’s no stuff pocket) and put it in a stuff sack in my rucksack.

The first run I did with this jacket was up on the hills of Moel Famau, it wasn’t raining but it was incredibly windy. The ambient temperature was about 4C but the windchill made it more like -1C. The jacket kept the wind completely at bay, it felt comfortable to move and run in and didn’t feel restrictive. I kept it on for the whole run, even when working hard uphill.

I didn’t overheat, as I could open up the various ventilation options and kept a comfortable temperature. A Fully adjustable hem really helped to minimise any heat loss. The hood felt secure in the wind and there were no annoying toggles bashing me in the face. Usually, for me, I start in a jacket but end up taking it off as I overheat. It was interesting to be in the jacket for the whole run and staying a comfortable temperature. A great start. 

My next outing was a real test for the jacket. I attended an official recce day for the DBR taking in Tryfan up West Gully (also known as waterfall gully!) and onto The Glyderau and down to Pen y Pass. The weather was atrocious. Truly horrendous. There would be no way I would head into the mountains in those conditions…normally! Yet here I was, in my Spine Jacket. This was only the second time ever I have run in full waterproofs.

The wind and rain were incessant, with no let-up in the day at all. We were out for 6 hours and by the end, I must admit, I was a bit soggy underneath the jacket. Initially, I felt a bit disappointed. I was expecting to stay dry…but no one else in the group was dry either, whatever jacket they were wearing. The wind just drove the rain into you at every point possible. No jacket could withstand that onslaught. When fully zipped with the hood up, I felt a bit claustrophobic and restricted in my breathing so I had to lower the zip.

This was fine but just one of the ways water can be driven inwards. But I was warm, toasty warm and that was key. I kept a good temperature throughout the day even when working hard uphill or going slower on the ankle-breaking descents. The windproofness truly kept the chill away and allowed me to concentrate on my movement in the mountains. 

In summary, although seemingly expensive, I feel this jacket offers so many great features and is really comparable in price to other similar jackets on the market. Actually, after getting soggy in Snowdonia, my confidence in the jacket has increased as if it can keep me moving in that weather in the mountains then I can cope with anything the weather can throw at me with my Spine Jacket on. 

Kit review by Kerry Allison