First Look: MONTANE FIREBALL JACKET

Clothing

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Insulation , MONTANE , Gear Review , Midlayer

Written by Yasushi Hisatomi

table of contents

It's a great piece of cold weather gear that you can wear all the time, whether you're out and about or resting
Breaking News Review
Summary: What kind of people do they recommend?

It's a great piece of cold weather gear that you can wear all the time, whether you're out and about or resting

Cold weather gear is one of the most important items for winter outdoor activities. Nowadays, there are several options, including down, synthetic insulation, and fleece, depending on your preferences and preferences. For example, down is vulnerable to moisture, so you have to take it off before getting active. Fleece is bulky, and other synthetic fibers lack insulation. Each has its own pros and cons, making choosing cold weather gear difficult. However, the Montane Fireball Jacket perfectly overcomes these drawbacks while keeping the price as affordable as possible. It's truly the dream cold weather gear (mid-layer insulation) for now. It recently replaced the fleece I'd been using for about five years and has become a regular in the gaps in my pack. For me, it was a shocking product (and a bit of an exaggeration) that shattered my preconceived notions about mid-layer insulation, as it effortlessly realized properties that I'd given up on from previous cold weather gear

※We've written a comparison test of some of the most notable insulations, including the Fireball Jacket

Breaking News Review

Item name (reference price)

Montane Fireball Jacket (23,760 yen)

Main Specifications

item	Contents
weight	328g (size M) Not as light as down, but still lighter than fleece
Outer material	PERTEXⓇ Quantum Rip-stop: Made with the world's lightest ultra-fine yarn, it is lightweight, tough, quick-drying, windproof, and water-repellent
Padded	PRIMALOFT® SILVER ECO (40g) - Quick-drying, lightweight and compact, it retains heat well and retains heat even when wet
lining	PEAQ Synthetic liner: Extremely soft to the touch, yet breathable and quick-drying
Color variations	Electric blue・Black・Tangerine

Front and back

Down jackets and other jackets often have baffles to prevent uneven distribution of the filling, but this jacket uses as few baffles as possible to maximize warmth. The construction is also unrestricted, ensuring ease of movement and comfort. There are also two insulation hand warmer pockets positioned so they won't come into contact with a backpack or climbing harness belt

Lining and hem

Not only is it smooth to wear, it's also highly breathable and has a drawcord at the hem

cuff

It is durable, loose and stretchy, and easy to roll up the sleeves

Zipper chin guard

It features a lightweight reverse coil zipper and an interior flap for added wind protection. The inside is lined with micro fleece for next-to-skin comfort

Food

They're small, but not too big and covering your eyes, and fit just right (you can wear them under your helmet), but they're not adjustable

When storing

If you turn the right pocket inside out and store it as a stuff sack, it can be packed into an envelope shape as shown in the photo

This is amazing!

I tried it out as a mid-layer in Nasu and Hakone in the winter, and it was incredibly lightweight and compact. The attention to materials and the simple cut-out design reflect Montane's commitment to developing fast and light outdoor gear.

What I liked most about it was its consistent comfort, from activity to rest. I wore it between a wool base layer and a Gore-Tex outer layer, and it felt smooth against my skin, its shape felt completely natural even when I moved, and even when the inside got wet with sweat, the breathable lining allowed moisture to escape, so I never felt the need to take it off, even while I was active. What's more, during rest periods, PRIMALOFT kept out the outside air, and PERTEX Quantum provided wind protection, so I never felt the chill of a chill. In other words, I could wear it all day.

Other thoughtful include a microfleece chin guard and a pocket on the right that doubles as a stuff sack , eliminating the need for those easily lost pouches. And of course, unlike down jackets, - just wash it in the washing machine and hang it out to dry .

This is not good

If I had to say something, it would be that it has no ventilation, and I'd like to have one more pocket, such as an inner pocket or chest pocket, for storing small items. It doesn't have enough heat retention to be sufficient on its own in the dead of winter (which is why it's so lightweight and compact)

Summary: What kind of people do they recommend?

What's great is that it can be worn in any season and for any type of activity (from hiking to river climbing, backcountry skiing, and climbing). I especially recommend it for people like me who prefer slim-fitting, simple, and lightweight gear. If you add a lightweight down jacket to this set for the bitter cold, you'll have enough cold weather protection in Japan

Fireball Jacket

MONTANE