Down and Insulated Jackets

Montane Anti-Freeze Jacket | Review

A light and lofty down jacket that harnesses a unique technology in an effort to create longer lasting water resistance

The previous version of this, called the Featherlite Jacket, had a somewhat bulky feel to it for a down jacket. This new version, on the other hand, feels much more lofty, airy and comfortable to wear. It’s also, according to Montane, far more resistant to moisture – and faster to dry. That’s all thanks to its unique ExpeDry fill.

Pros: Good warmth-to-weight ratio, thoughtful design details, innovative technology
Cons: Some down leakage
Buy the Montane Anti-Freeze Hooded Jacket: £135 Ellis-brigham.com

I’ve seen a lot of big claims over the years about “water-resistant down,” and some of them have turned out to be a bit of marketing fluff. So I was interested to see if this one really makes a difference. The idea is that each down cluster has tiny gold particles bonded to it. These don’t add any weight, but they do supposedly change how moisture behaves inside the jacket. The gold particles help to stop water from clinging to the down, meaning it should stay drier for longer and dry out more quickly if it does get damp.

OM editor Will using the Montane Anti-Freeze on a campout in the Lake District. He’s 5 foot 10 and wearing a size L. Photos: Dave Macfarlane

In simple terms, that could mean less clumping, better loft, and more consistent warmth – not just when it’s raining, but also when you’re working hard and building up sweat from the inside. It also should be permanent too, meaning that you don’t have to constantly keep reproofing your jacket with an aftercare solution to ensure it keeps repelling water.

If it actually works like Montane says it does, it could be a real improvement for down jackets used in the kind of damp, unpredictable weather we get here in the UK.

Performance

I’ve been using this through a cold and wet autumn in the UK. On one trip, I wore it for an evening in a bothy where I was grateful to have it to keep me warm while we struggled to get the fire going. I’ve worn it on the Kirkstone Pass in the Lake District, exposing it to the wind-driven rain that Storm Floris threw at us and I also wore it underneath a rain jacket on two-days of very wet walking while bagging all of the Nuttalls in the Aran hills in Wales.

What’s the water resistance like then? So far so good. To start with, out of curiosity, I held a sleeve under a tap for at least 5 minutes and watched water bead away nicely. If I hadn’t rubbed the water in with my hand for a few minutes, I don’t think it would have become saturated – it would’ve just kept beading moisture away.

In the field, it has repelled rain really nicely and worked well when worn underneath a waterproof jacket. Despite facing up to some atrocious conditions in it, and also working up a bit of a sweat, it hasn’t ever felt like the jacket has majorly lost its loft and ability to insulate. Now, in terms of its performance over time and how long its water repellency lasts, I haven’t reached the end of my tests there, so I’m going to come back to this review in another few month’s time to provide an update there. It’ll be very interesting to see how it holds up after even more use.

Buy the Montane Anti-Freeze Hooded Jacket: £135 Ellis-brigham.com

Warmth

It’s a cosy down jacket for autumn and milder winter days. It’s also the kind of jacket I’d turn to for cooler summer camp outs. I’ve worn it on 5C days – with wind chill – and it’s done its job for me when worn just over a baselayer but it’s not something I’d want to rely on in anything much colder than that if I wasn’t really getting the blood pumping too much. The Anti-Freeze XT, the burlier jacket in the Anti-Freeze family, would be better for colder conditions or more static use.

Durability

The durability is just about as you’d expect for a light down jacket – it’s not something I’ve wanted to place too much confidence in, but from my experience it can withstand things like a slight scuffing against a bit of coarse rock.

There has been a little bit of down leakage from this when I’ve been wearing it – maybe a little more than I’d expect from a down jacket at this price point. I’d say I notice probably about one feather coming out each time I wear it.

Fit

I’m 5 foot 10 and these days I’m a little between a medium and a large depending on the brand. I tried this in a size L and I’d say the fit was spot on for me. It’s short enough at the hem to remain covered when I’m wearing a waterproof jacket, but there’s still good coverage. I’ve found it has plenty of room underneath for a medium-weight fleece too.

As climbing and mountaineering specialists, Montane always make well articulated jackets that don’t lift up at the hem when you’re reaching up above your head for a hand hold – nothing’s changed with this. While scrambling in North Wales around the Ogwen Valley recently, I found the Anti-Freeze to be dynamic and it didn’t hinder my movement at all.

Features

This has all the right kinds of details I’d expect from a down jacket. There are two roomy handwarmer pockets which have zipper tabs that are easy to use with light to mid-weight gloves. There’s a handy zipped pocket on the inside of the chest too. I’ve found this to be a very useful place to keep my phone secure.

We did notice some down leakage over the course of our testing.

The main zip has an small inner placket that prevent cold from seeping in. This zip is only one-way. The cuffs are elastic and, for me, they trap warmth well without feeling too tight. I could also pull my hands through them easily while wearing mid-weight gloves.

I really like the hood design. You can get a good, close fit, it moves nicely with the head, and the cordlocks are integrated in a way that prevents the excess cord from getting in the way or whipping your face when the wind picks up. There’s no toggle on the back of the head, so the hood can be worn comfortably underneath a helmet.

A useful stuff sack comes supplied too. All packed up, the whole thing stashes down to about the size of a 1-litre flask.

Verdict

Montane has delivered a well-rounded down jacket here: warm enough for typical UK autumn and shoulder-season use, comfortable to wear and thoughtfully designed for movement in the hills. The new water-resistant down treatment does, so far, seem to offer something in damp conditions. It won’t shrug off relentless rain and will still eventually absorb moisture, and synthetic fills remain the more dependable option for prolonged wet weather, but it seems to hold its own on misty, drizzly days and when layered under a shell.

Overall, this is a solid mid-range performer offered at a sensible price. It feels light, packs small and comes with a well-judged feature set. The only real drawback is the noticeable down leakage, which slightly lets down an otherwise very capable jacket.

Weight: 360g
Best for: Hiking, camping, casual wear.

Buy the Montane Anti-Freeze Hooded Jacket: £135 Ellis-brigham.com