When buying Breathable, the quality of the product is going to be one of the factors that you really scrutinise before you commit to buying.

Montane Mens Ground Control Jacket - Electric Blue Montane Mens Ground Control Jacket - Electric Blue

The downside to buying online is that you can’t actually get hold of the product to try it out first. The front zipper is one way only. Even if you are happy pulling the hood over your climbing helmet and lumbering around shouting, ‘The bells! The bell!’ it still won’t make a good belay option. In addition to the elasticated hem, there’s a small press stub that’s handy if you’re trying to close the zip in high winds. How comfortable is the garment, and are the features live up to the promise made by the manufacturers?Many people switch from down to synthetic out of animal welfare concerns and cost reasons. While turning to synthetic does indeed negate the need for down, there are other challenges that loom large in its place. What I do like is that the montane Icarus is an incredibly windproof piece of gear. I’ve worn it on the hills in some very windy weather and did an awesome job of keeping me warm no matter how hard the wind hammered me. There are however some methods that you can use to determine a product’s quality without needing to physically have it. Can it be used as part of a layering system with other clothes when static or in very cold conditions? Breathability: This is strongly related to insulation type. Synthetic insulation that mimics down is less breathable than the thinner panel insulation. It's also important to consider shell and lining material too. Pure nylon fabrics are not as breathable as those that use stretch and fleece-type fabrics.

Montane Icarus Jacket Review: Worth the money? - TrekSumo Montane Icarus Jacket Review: Worth the money? - TrekSumo

The Quantum Eco shell does a great job of repelling a moderate amount rain, but no more. A downpour will (and did for me) soak through the Pertex and leave you feeling a little damp. I feel grateful my body was engineered with its own waterproof shell layer! Sustainability is an important consideration for us too, which is why we have our Tread Lightly award for contenders that do well in this space. With sustainability, it's not just about using recycled materials, it's about eliminating the use of PFC/PFAs and harmful chemicals, ethical labour standards, actively lowering emissions, and other important aspects such as repairability.It is primarily going to be used as an outer layer for belaying/general warmth, however thanks to the relatively trim fit, you're able to slip a shell over the top without an issue if the weather turns foul. It can also be used as an over-layer when stopping to have lunch, coffee etc. To give that price some context we then looked at all of the products available from Go Outdoors in the Breathable category. We found 24 items in total. What’s the price of Breathable?

Montane Ground Control Insulated PrimaLoft® Jacket Montane Ground Control Insulated PrimaLoft® Jacket

We want to find out how well the insulation performs in a mixture of conditions and how well it copes with moisture - both precipitation and perspiration. Another factor that can be a great indication of product quality is the brand. Brands like Montane are of course extremely well known, especially for Breathable. That got us thinking though, that we’re looking at every possible item from Montane so it would be good to narrow our search down even further and only look at Montane branded products within the Breathable category. The cost of Montane Breathable PrimaLoft® Silver insulation in the hood, hips and over the shoulders will help you through cold and damp winter belays, all at an incredible warmth to weight ratio.

How we test synthetic insulated jackets

the Montane Icarus is a capable mid-layer that will protect you keep you warm in some pretty cold temperatures. The zippers have being fitted with fairly coarse zip which I really like as they helps to reduce that irritating cloggin and snagging caused by dirt and grit. A coarse zipper, little chance of clogging. The material the product is made from is often a sign of the quality for Breathable. Take a look at the product details over at Go Outdoors to get a feel for this.