Keela Munro Jacket – The Tech

The heart of the Munro is something Keela calls System Dual Protection. It’s an unusual double-layered fabric system that the brand claims works ‘like double glazing’. On the outside there’s a waterproof laminated fabric, but it’s backed up by ‘a mesh lining, which has a high wicking hydrophilic (water loving) membrane laminated to it.’

A Bit Like Double Glazing?

The idea is that in cold, damp conditions, moisture from your body passes through the inner liner, then condenses on the inside of the colder outer layer of fabric. Once it’s done that, it falls down and exists through a mesh layer at the bottom of the liner.

In addition, the gap between the two layers is claimed to trap insulating air making the jacket warmer than conventional fabric systems and making it ideal in winter conditions.

The downside of all this is that the jacket is very heavy, over 1kg for a medium, which will either bother you or not. It does mean that it’s not a jacket you’re likely to carry around with you ‘just in case’.

Back In Time

The rest of the jacket is like a check-list of features from ten or more years back with Velcro-secured double storm-flaps on both the main zip and pit-zips, an adjustable waist cord as well as hem adjustment and a traditional map-pocket under the main-zip storm-flap.

There’s nothing essentially wrong with all that, but when all the other kids on the block are using water-resistant zips, it all feels a little dated and adds additional weight too.

Keela Munro Jacket – Verdict

It takes a while to get your head round the unusual ‘System Dual Protection’ technology – shouldn’t that be ‘Dual Protection System’? – but in cold, wet conditions, it works pretty well and the extra air-gap and bulky feel plus an effective hood gives a reassuring, protective feel.

Less impressive is the high overall weight, voluminous cut – it really does feel like an old army combat jacket – and dated features. It might appeal to a certain type of traditional walker as is, but we reckon, reduced weight, a more contemporary cut and updated components would make it a whole lot more attractive to a wider outdoors audience.

More Information

See keela.co.uk