Review

So how does Montane’s Minimus Smock save around 50g over the Pulse? In a word, focus. The Minimus is simply a more uncompromising beast. It starts with the cut. Whereas the Rab is relatively long for a lightweight jacket, the Minimus is short and closer-fitting than the Rab – stick a lightweight mid-layer on, just, and it’s virtually skin-tight on us, so it almost demands to be used over just a baselayer.

That’s a bit of a clue as the shorter, snugger cut works best for fast-moving stuff like biking and running where a shorter cut and a close, non-billowing fit are a real plus – arguably good for breathability and wicking too. As far as venting goes, the Lycra-cuffed sleeves will rolll up to near elbow level and you can obviously wind down the water-resistant main-zip, but there’s no top popper to hold things together so it can billow in the breeze.

The hood really defines the jacket. It’s a simple, head-hugging, non-adjustable design that’s okay, but can’t be cinched down or adjusted. There’s no peak, though you could spend your extra grammes on one of Montane’s waterproof eVent caps to wear under it, and no way of tabbing it down.

What you can do, if necessary, is wear it under a climbing helmet. Of course that means if you want to remove the hood in mid-climb you’ll have to first remove the helmet, which isn’t always practical or safe, but it does mean that those on a super-minimalist alpine mission, particularly skinny people, shouldn’t write off the Minimus, though like the Rab it’s not the toughest garment out there, so effectively best saved for emergency use.

Finally there’s a big pouch-style chest pocket that you’ll either like or not. It’s slightly bigger than the Rab one and also mesh lined.

Verdict

Montane has pretty much gone for broke with the Minimus Smock, it’s all about saving weight and that means a focussed design that works well for fast and light stuff, but is more compromised than the Rab for all-round mountain use thanks to the closer, shorter cut, more minimal hood. It’s much more marginal worn with a mid-layer, though that depends somewhat on your build. It might even be worth sizing up if that’s an issue for you.

On the plus side though, it’s super light, packs tiny – predictably we’ve loset the stuff-sac supplied – and works well for faster moving stuff where closeness and a short cut are an advantage.

Magic 

Super lightweight, compact size, close, efficient cut, lots of reflective.

Tragic

That close, short cut saves weight but reduces all-round useability. Not great for overlayering.

Product web page: www.montane.co.uk.

For two ostensibly similar jackets – same fabric, same format, British designed – the Rab Pulse Pull-on and Montane Minimus Smock turn out to have some quite significant differences. In a sense there’s no winner or loser, both have different strengths.

Which would we choose? It depends very much on what you’re looking for. If what you need is a lightweight alternative to a full mountain shell that’s capable of accommodating mid-layers, giving decent protection with some crotch coverage and even taking a climbing helmet in its stride, we’d suggest you bite the bullet and spend the extra tenner for the Rab despite the additional 50 grammes or so in weight and bulk.

If on the other hand, what you want is the lightest, most packable waterproof you get your paws on, you’re either slim and sleek or don’t intend to use a mid layer under the shell and are probably focussed on running, biking or adventure race-style stuff, the Montane Minimus Smock makes more sense – check out their Mountain Minimus Jacket for more of an all-rounder.

You can use either of these in place of the other in a squeeze, but you’ll compromise performance as a result and have to endure, so our advice would be to work out which way you naturally lean and choose the one that works best for that. Or if you’re feeling flush, buy both…