Montane Extreme Jacket v North Face Mountain Guide Jacket (Summit Series)

[richardfaeayr]

Montane Extreme Jacket v North Face Mountain Guide Jacket (Summit Series)

I have the montane jacket but im wanting to go ahead and look for a better jacket and this north face one looked ok, can anyone tell me if its worth to go for another jacket or the north face one is a great buy?

[Martin]

North Face will be great for braving the shopping centre. Montane is a more serious brand in my opinion.

Martin

[JEEP]

It is true that The North Face makes quite a few jackets, that are nothing more than fancy looking street jackets, with outdoor-ish sounding names. But, having said that, they also produce some very serious outdoor jackets aswell. The Mountain Guide Jacket being one of these.

The North Face Mountain Guide Jacket i s classic two layer GoreTex jacket; rugged, waterproof and breathable to some extent. It will, if maintained correctly, keep you dry for many years.

The Montane Extreme Jacket is a more "modern" Pertex based softshell jacket. It is a lot more breathable than GoreTex, but no near as rugged - and not as waterproof, nor will it stay waterproof for as long.

Try looking at the Haglöfs Couloir - it is an excellent jacket, based on the GoreTex softshell. It is best described as something in between the two jackets mentioned above - taking the best features from either.

[IBrown]

Are you just comparing those 2 Jackets or would you consider other makes? If so you should have a look at Patagonia Jackets. They have just bought out a new range I think they are called Guidewater, they are out of my price range but I have heard good things about them.

[Martin]

I'm sure that Jakob is correct regarding The North Face clothing as well as explaining the difference between the two garments you mentioned. I have a pair of Montane Terra Pants which are great, warm and somewhat waterproof although they are not designed to be worn in persistant rain without waterproof over trousers similar in many ways to the Extreme Jacket. In fact, I believe that the Montane Extreme Jacket is supposed to be worn without a base or mid layer, relying on the pile lining to keep you warm and to wick sweat away from the body. This would, in my opinion, need to be combined with a breathable waterproof shell when the rain gets hard or persistant.

Martin

[richardfaeayr]

Thanks for the advice, Haglöfs and Patagonia seem good contenters, the Mountain guide one is a great pick but I would have to choose performance over the good looks of the north face jacket.

[Martin]

Don't forget Mountain Equipment. I have their hard shell Kongur Goretex waterproof coat and it's great. A good brand, not cheap, but serious gear. :)

Martin

[comanighttrain]

Just to throw a curveball, what prices these jackets coming in at?

You can get a Snowboarding jacket which is more waterproof than most tents, light, warm and usually riddled in pockets and vents

for example
http://www.bargainboards.co.uk/P/Burton_DRYLINE_SLICK_Snowboard_Jacket_Medium_True_ Black-%2826691%29.aspx