Performance

My first take on the Fleet was just how much looser than the Spine Jacket it felt. It doesn’t look particularly roomy in the images, but compared to its predecessor, which had a really neat, athletic cut, it’s got an extra couple of inches everywhere. It does share its medium/short length.

In the pics, it’s being worn over a close-fitting Polartec Alpha mid-layer and there’s still plenty of space. On the plus side, it does mean you can fit more layers underneath and it’s more forgiving of a bit of natural excess ballast. The pay-off is that it’s less neat for faster-moving stuff like running or cycling when it feels loose and flappy.

Finally, there’s something weird going on with the upper sleeves in particular, which are quite voluminous in an Arnie-friendly sort of way. Just odd. And I think, it contributes to the overall loose feel of the jacket.

Once you get past the fit though, there’s lots to like. The fabric’s as breathable as pretty much anything else out there bar Gore’s own ShakeDry and Polartec NeoShell. For normal walking use, it’s very comfortable with no steaming horrors and I found I could use it as a windproof most of the time without getting uncomfortable.

Limitations

It’s a bit of a hint that Montane has chosen to use small panels of standard, harder-wearing Gore-Tex with the soft C-KNIT backer on pack wear areas like the shoulders and hips.

Gore-Tex Active is guaranteed by Gore to keep you dry for its ‘entire useful life’, but the pay-off for its combination of lightness and breathability is that it’s not as long-term durable as heavier grades of Gore-Tex and the mountaineering-orientated Gore-Tex Pro in particular.

Normally the fabric is used for lighter, faster-moving garments which are unlikely to get extended pack use or abraded against rocks when climbing, but the all-round design of the Fleet means it’s more likely to get a general hammering and we’re a little wary of how it’ll hold up long term with heavy use.

For perspective, a friend eventually found the waterproofing on a Berghaus Vapour Storm failed after a couple of years of regular hard use, though for perspective, he did complete the Spine Race wearing it, so it had a hard life.

Magic: Decently light, very breathable, strategic reinforcements, soft and quiet in use, excellent hood, plenty of pockets and adjustability, space for layering underneath, strategic C-KNIT reinforcements.

Tragic: Cut is slightly loose for running and biking use with oddly voluminous sleeves, question marks over long-term durability and waterproofing particularly when used with a pack.

Grabbit? The successor to Montane’s original, minimalist Spine Jacket uses the same super-breathable Gore-Tex Active fabric, but in a less uncompromising, more featured design with three pockets and a very protective hood. It’s also cut more loosely. The plus side is that it’s a useable, well-specced, super-breathable all-round hill jacket that layers easily over extra insulation. However the looser fit works less well for running and biking, where it can feel a little flappy.

Tougher Gore-Tex C-KNIT panels at shoulders and hips cater for backpack use, but we’re still a little dubious over its long-term durability if you do choose to carry a pack regularly. If you can live with that, it’s a quiet, light, comfortable waterproof jacket offering decent all-round protection, that’s also breathable enough to double as a windproof shell for hiking and trekking. It would make an excellent deluxe packable trekking shell.

Full Specifications

Gore-Tex Active main fabric with 40D Gore-Tex rip-stop reinforcements at shoulders and hips / YKK Aquaguard zipped chest / twin zipped, mesh-lined venting hand pockets / adjustable hood with wired peak / adjustable hem and cuffs / YKK Aquaguard Vislon front-zip / microfleece chin guard.

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