Check out Montbell's new products for Spring/Summer 2025! New rainwear lineup, lightweight waterproof backpacks, and more!

As winter approaches its peak season, various brands are beginning to prepare their spring and summer items. So, in this article, I'd like to share with you my experience visiting the 2025 Spring/Summer exhibition of Montbell, Japan's leading outdoor brand

The all-weather category lineup has been completely revamped. They've introduced pants designed with feedback from mountain rescuers on the front lines, lightweight frameless backpacks, and items commemorating their 50th anniversary. There was plenty to talk about at Montbell's exhibition this year, too. There's too much to cover, but Outdoor Gearzine has picked out some of the items that caught our eye

Let's take a look right away

The rainwear lineup has been completely revamped! Standard models, including flagship models, have been redesigned with unique materials

The most shocking news this season is that Montbell's rainwear lineup, which has previously been solid with high functionality, low prices and a diverse range of products, has been completely revamped

Firstly, Montbell's flagship rainwear model , the Storm Cruiser Jacket, the lightweight, full-scale Torrent Flyer Jacket, and ultra-lightweight Versalite Jacket have all been renewed using the company's proprietary Super Dry Tech® material.

As soon as this update was announced, speculation immediately spread across social media and video communities, with people wondering, "Will Montbell stop selling GORE-TEX?" However, the conclusion was that Montbell's GORE-TEX products will not be discontinued; rather, the options have simply expanded. (We'll also introduce GORE-TEX rainwear later.) In any case, judging by the public's reaction, it's clear that this is a noteworthy event for many mountaineering enthusiasts. However, for those unfamiliar with the situation, this major overhaul can be a little confusing when old and new models are mixed up, so readers planning to purchase a product should exercise some caution

Montbell's proprietary material, Super Dry Tech®, has high breathability of 20,000 to 60,000 g/m²/24 hours and waterproofness of over 20,000 mm. It is also stretchable and environmentally friendly as it does not contain PFAS (fluorinated organic compounds)

this proprietary material instead of GORE-TEX in its flagship Storm Cruiser Jacket shows the brand's great confidence in the material. It's well-known that GORE-TEX is highly functional, but it will be interesting to see how closely Super Dry Tech® stacks up.

The Versalite Jacket the lightest model in the lineup, has also been updated from WINDSTOPPER® Product by GORE-TEX LABS to Super Dry Tech®.

The thickness of the fabric has been reduced from 10 denier to 7 denier, and it is processed by heat pressing, avoiding sewing with thread as much as possible. The average weight is 143g, making it definitely one of the lightest rainwear in its class. It is recommended for hikers and speed hikers who want to reduce their equipment by even 1g

GORE-TEX rainwear is still going strong. The Tempest Jacket and Peak Shell Jacket feature a new environmentally friendly membrane

The Tempest Jacket uses GORE-TEX's new ePE membrane . It's made with a 20-denier, 3-layer fabric and weighs just 247g (men's).

This model the Storm Cruiser Jacket , is also in the all-weather category. Equipped with chest pockets and underarm ventilation to accommodate activities that involve heavy sweating, it is a perfect item for active players.

Ventilation for breathability during activities

The lightweight and compact Peak Shell Jacket fabric has been changed from Superdry Tech® to

The Peak Shell Jacket a lightweight rainwear model made with GORE-TEX . Until last season, it was made with Super Dry Tech®, but this season it has been updated to GORE-TEX. It uses 15 denier 3-layer fabric and weighs an average of 185g (men's), making it a great choice for lightweight users who trust the quality of GORE-TEX material.

the Versalite Jacket , it has minimal stitching and is heat-sealed in key areas to make it as lightweight as possible. It weighs less than 200g and has ventilation to ensure breathability, making it a piece that strikes a good balance between lightness and comfort. With outdoor wear prices rising, it's also attractive that it can be purchased for 32,000 yen (31,000 yen for women).

Full-zip rain pants that can be put on and taken off while wearing hiking boots

The rain pants now come in a full-zip style, which can be worn over hiking boots, making them easy to put on quickly in case of a sudden downpour

It's not so bad with low-cut boots, but if you're wearing high-cut hiking boots, putting on and taking off rainwear can be a pain. Full-zip rain pants make putting them on and taking them off easier, so you'll be able to wear them more often. The zipper does add weight, but it's a matter of preference as to whether you prioritize "lightness" or "comfort."

The full-zip pants lineup includes two types: GORE-TEX rain pants and Super Dry Tech rain pants

Cliff Guide Pants Light Men's, developed with feedback from mountain range guards

The Cliff Guide Pants Light is in the middle of the photo

The Cliff Guide Pants Light for Men was developed based on feedback from the Toyama Prefectural Police Mountain Patrol. It features ventilation to prevent overheating during long rescue missions, and large pockets to hold all your essentials

With ventilation to ensure breathability

It's easy to imagine that the slightly tapered silhouette will suit people of all body types

The Cliff Guide Pants Light Men's are stretchable in both vertical and horizontal directions, making them versatile and comfortable to wear

The Cliff Light Pants Easy Fit offer a clean look that seamlessly transitions between mountain and city

Cliff Light Pants Easy Fit (photo left)

These pants have a clean design and an adjustable waist with elastic and drawstring. They are stretchy, easy to move in, and water-repellent, so they will repel a little water

There is no belt buckle at the waist and no pockets on the thighs, so when used for climbing, it is less likely to interfere with a harness, making it easy to use not only for mountaineering but also for climbing

These simple Cliff Light Pants with an easy fit are comfortable to wear not only on the mountain but also in everyday life, so having a pair will come in handy in many situations

Good news for UL-oriented hikers: The Altiplano Pack 20L/30L is a lightweight, waterproof backpack

Altiplano Pack 30L

Montbell offers a wide range of backpacks with rain covers that give off a sturdy image, but they are now adding a lightweight backpack with a roll-up system, which is becoming more and more popular these days, to their lineup

The Altiplano Pack is highly waterproof thanks to the inclusion of an Aqua Barrier Sack, a waterproof inner bag that fits the shape of the pack.It is available in 20L and 30L sizes, and although it is lightweight at just 548g for the 30L size, the back pad acts as a minimal frame, providing stability that you wouldn't expect from a frameless pack

While it has plenty of features, it is also attractively priced at a low price, with the 20L model costing 15,000 yen and the 30L model costing 17,000 yen, making it a great price for those who are looking to go UL while keeping their budget low

It is expected to be useful for UL hiking where you do not need to carry the weight on your waist

"VBP back panel" for those who want breathability

One of the unavoidable problems when hiking or mountain climbing is sweat and stuffiness on the back. When carrying everything you need in a backpack, the back in contact with the backpack tends to get particularly sweaty and cause stress

The VBP back panel helps reduce back sweat. By creating space between your back and the backpack, it increases breathability and provides a comfortable carrying experience. It's highly versatile and can be attached to backpacks up to about 30L, so you can even attach it to your current backpack. While it weighs a little heavy at 298g due to the sturdy frame that creates the space, it could be a solution for those who struggle with sweaty backs

The 2-way "Gear Container Pack" is convenient for transporting tools

This gear container pack is convenient for carrying climbing gear and camping gear. Its simple design makes it suitable for everyday use

This backpack can be carried both on your back and in your hand, allowing for two-way use and side access, making it more than just a backpack for carrying gear; it's also practical. Camping gear can easily pile up, and this backpack will help reduce the hassle and stress of transporting it

There is a handle on the side, making it a hand-carried bag (photo left) and it can be accessed from the side (photo right)

It comes in two sizes, 20L and 35L, and comes with a chest belt and a simple hip belt, making it suitable for light mountain climbing and hiking

There are many limited edition models commemorating the 50th anniversary, and logo designs that will be recognizable to those who have known Montbell for a long time

Montbell celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. To commemorate the occasion, limited edition items will be released. Items featuring the original logo design from the company's founding will likely evoke a sense of nostalgia and affection among veteran hikers who have been loyal Montbell users for many years. The 50th anniversary commemorative items include a wide variety of items, including T-shirts, backpacks, hats, and stickers. The Zero Point gear container has a retro design, but its vibrant coloring matches modern trends, making it a surefire hit

This T-shirt features an illustration of the Moonlight Tent. It's a design that Moonlight fans will want to own

Other items of interest

We have picked out and introduced some interesting products, but this is only a small part of them

From here on, I'd like to quickly introduce some useful and interesting items that I would like to introduce to our readers

The Geoline LW Smooth series of underwear perfect for women

This new underwear lineup features no seams at the edges of the fabric, making it smooth to the touch. It is not too tight and is thin, so lines are less likely to show on the outside

A hidden popular item? Check out the pajamas too!

I didn't know this, but Montbell also makes pajamas, which are apparently a hidden favorite as relaxing wear

The new pajama series will feature firm, wrinkle-resistant pajamas. They feel firm to the touch, but their smooth texture makes them perfect for wearing in hotter weather

The pajamas are made with Wickron®, a unique synthetic fiber that has a natural, cotton-like texture and a gentle feel against the skin, while also being quick-drying and breathable, making them comfortable even when you sweat while sleeping

If you find sleeping in a T-shirt and shorts in the summer uncomfortable, you might want to give this a try

The air pad stuff bag now comes with a pump bag function for added convenience

Among the sleeping mats, the Air Pad series has not received any updates to the main body, but the addition of a pump bag function to the stuff bag makes it easier to set up

I thought that the bag itself would be small and therefore not very functional as a pump bag, but it has been well thought out, as it is folded over to make the storage bag larger, and when unfolded it becomes a large pump, allowing a lot of air to enter at once

The storage bag becomes larger when the fold is unfolded

Multi-purpose "Multi Foam Pad" now available for both one and two people

The two-layered multi-foam pad looks like a regular accordion-style mat at first glance, but it is a convenient mat that can be expanded to become even larger

This feature allows it to be used by one or two people, and its uses are limited only by imagination, such as boosting insulation in winter or as a tent mat. The R-value of one layer (fully unfolded) is 1.4, and the R-value of two layers (half) is 2.1

When fully unfolded, it is 100cm wide and can accommodate two people lying down

A long-sleeve version has been added to the Fan Blow series

Fanbro Parka

A powerful ally in the hot weather. The Fan Blow series now includes a long-sleeved version. The fan, positioned out of the way when wearing a backpack, draws air into the garment, instantly drying sweat. This revolutionary garment

In this season when even standing makes you sweat, why not try using modern conveniences to experience a more comfortable mountain climbing or hiking experience than you've ever experienced before?

Introducing a rechargeable air pump! It even comes with a lantern!

For those who use air mattresses, setting them up can be stressful because it requires a lot of air to be pumped into them. The Rechargeable Blower air pump will be released, which will reduce the hassle of setting up to almost zero

This air pump also has a lantern function, making it a convenient item that can be used in two ways. If it were just an air pump, it would be just a luxury item, but if it doubles as a lantern, it might be worth considering adding to your equipment

Helinox Chair One (re) offers improved seating comfort

Helinox is an import brand handled by Montbell. The Chair One, considered the original ultra-lightweight outdoor chair, has been updated. Compared to the current model, it is slightly taller and has a wider seat, making it more comfortable to sit in

The frame under the seat, which is where the most stress is placed, has been changed from round to square to increase its strength. Not only that, but the chair has also been renewed with consideration for the environment by using recycled materials

There is a pocket behind the seat, making it convenient for storing drinks and small items

Summary: Montbell celebrates its 50th anniversary with a lineup of products so numerous that it's impossible to introduce them all in Spring/Summer 2025

This article introduced the Montbell exhibition for Spring/Summer 2025. In addition to the items introduced above, there was a wide range of products on display, including arm covers, hand covers, and hats that are useful for UV protection, as well as versatile water purifiers and foods that provide easy protein intake

Please check the official website for new products for the spring/summer season

Please consider a paid membership to support the website while enjoying exclusive articles and events!

   

Related reading

Review: Montbell Down Hugger 800 Half Length This unique, lightweight sleeping bag eliminates unnecessary bulk and incorporates some of Montbell's unique tricks

Check out Patagonia's new Fall/Winter 2024 collection! This season, there's plenty to choose from, including a new fleece from the R1 series, a lightweight alpine shell jacket designed for climbers, and a trail shirt that can be worn both in the mountains and in town

New trekking pants, wind shells, rainwear, bags... A roundup of eye-catching items from Patagonia's Spring/Summer 2024 preview

NEWS: A roundup of the most anticipated outdoor gear for the Spring/Summer 2023 season spotted at TRAIL OPEN AIR DEMO 9