Montane Phase XPD Waterproof Jacket
17th Jul 2024
Billed as a "technical, breathable waterproof jacket for extreme mountain adventures" by Montane I'd say this is a pretty good description. I've owned, worn, used, reviewed and abused a good number of waterproof jackets over the years and am pleased to say that this one sits up there with the best of them. I am a bit of a stickler for lightweight kit, but not at the expense of durability. It's no use having to replace your kit every year as it's lost it's efficacy. The Phase XPD so far hasn’t disappointed on that front. I've had it a year now and it's still pretty much as it was out the box when it arrived. I've worn it running, climbing, scrambling and even caving, in all manner of rain, from drizzle to horizontal stair rods, and it's held up well.
At 470g I never, ever opt to leave it out of my bag on weight grounds. And on the flip side, when I pull it out the bag I am always surprised at how robust it feels. It features two different thicknesses of Goretex, with the thicker, more durable stuff around the shoulders, elbows and hips, these being the places which will rub most when carrying a rucksack and climbing.
I like the hood. It's big enough to accommodate a helmet, but adjustable enough that it doesn't flap around. The storm baffle on the main zip works well, keeping water out, but the three zipped pockets on the outside are less effective at keeping their contents dry in a downpour so beware of that. The inside mesh pocket is cavernous, plenty big enough for a map. Pit zips are useful, and the Velcro adjustable cuffs mean fitting around gloves or mitts in the winter is a doddle.
The jacket retails at £500. That's a hefty chunk of money, but I do expect it to last at least 5 years on its current form so looking at it that way it feels reasonable value.
Check out the jacket on the Montane website