Review: mont-bell storm cruiser jacket Greatly improves comfort! The reborn masterpiece of Montbell
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
table of contents
The adoption of new materials makes it even closer to the perfect rain gear
Speaking of Storm Cruiser, rainwear is a masterpiece of Montbell, which has always been a stable and long-selling product in Japan from 1982 until the present. I was very grateful for the security and orthodox features and affordable prices. To be honest, I had been away from my interest for a while, but this year, it suddenly reborn and appeared in front of our eyes. What has changed? Let's take a look at our reviews of the 2015 model.
We also recommend this article about rainwear.
- Big attention in 2015! Ultra-lightweight rainwear that is great for spring and summer hiking
- Comparison test: Wearing ultra-lightweight rainwear that is great for mountain climbing and running [2016 edition]
- 2015 types of rainwear you should check out before purchasing
- This is the final thing for this season! 10 recommended rainwear for mountaineering
Detailed review
Item name (price)
mont-bell storm cruiser jacket (reference price: 19,872 yen)
Front and back
Main Specifications and ratings
| evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Waterproof | ★★★★☆ |
| Breathability | ★★★★☆ |
| Comfort (feeling and comfortable to wear) | ★★★★★ |
| Mobility (ease of movement) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| weight | ★★★★☆ |
| Durability | ★★★☆☆ |
| Functionality (easy to use) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| design | ★★☆☆☆ |
| price | ★★★★☆ |
| Overall score | ★★★★☆ |
| Specs | |
| material | GORE-TEX with GORE C-KNIT Backer Technology [Table: 20 Denier Ballistic R Nylon Ripstop] |
| Layer | 3 layers |
| Color variations | Dark Teal (DKTL) Flash Orange (FOG) Green (GN) Indigo (IND) Mustard (MST) Primary Blue (PRBL) Signal Red (SIRD) |
| weight | 257g |
| 2 (Left and right) | |
| Pit zip | none |
| Food | Triaxle hood (helmet ◯) |
| Storage method | Staff sack |
This is amazing!
It is highly waterproof and has a super comfortable and supple feel
As expected from GORE-TEX, it has better water-repellent properties than any other waterproof and breathable material! Even when I was hit by the heavy rain, it always looks like this↓.
Furthermore, this lining is the biggest evolution of this renewal. We have introduced this secret several times before, and it can be found in the round knit "GORE C-KNIT Backer Technology," which was developed after four years of trial and error. The three layers, which are made of ultra-fine yarn woven fabric, are much more comfortable and supple than the 2.5 layers like the Paclite, which is just a special treatment. It maintains a smooth feel no matter how much you sweat or rain you get, and the humidity inside increases .
Fits at cuffs and large pockets
It is familiar to Montbell rainwear, but the tabbed Velcro adjustment cuffs also come with elastic, not only preventing the intrusion of wind and rain, but also fits your wrist more comfortably .
The pockets are also neatly positioned so that they are not blocked by a hip belt or harness, making them large enough .
Lightweight, compact, low price
the mont-bell torrent flyer jacket , which is available in the same lineup as the same Mont-bell model as a lightweight rainwear, THE NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket , a product made from the same material, made from the same material .
| evaluation | mont-bell storm cruiser jacket | mont-bell torrent flyer jacket | THE NORTH FACE Climb Very Light Jacket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterproof | ◎ | ◎ | ◎ |
| Breathability | ◎ | ◯ | ◎ |
| Comfort | ◎ | ◯ | ◎ |
| Ease of movement | ◯ | ◯ | ◎ |
| weight | 257g | 215g | 250g |
| Durability | ◎ | △ | ◯ |
| price | 19,872 yen | 22,680 yen | 39,960 yen |
| material | GORE-TEX with GORE C-KNIT Backer Technology (20D) | GORE-TEX Paclite (12D) | GORE-TEX with GORE C-KNIT Backer Technology |
| Pit zip | none | can be | none |
As you can see from this table, the release of the 2015 edition of the Storm Cruiser has little advantage in terms of lightness, which is currently a major feature of Torrent Flyers. Conversely, the difference in breathability, comfort and durability has widened significantly , and there is no clear reason to choose a torrent fryer at the moment. Of course, Montbell knows this, so the torrent flyer will likely be remodeled soon. Anyway, the Storm Cruiser's evolution is incredible.
Furthermore, compared to TNF's Crimeberry Light Jacket (also a masterpiece), which is made from the same material, it is less weight, fit and easy to move around, but the price is about twice as big as it is. The Storm Cruiser is also more durable and reliable with a thicker fabric. Incidentally, as shown in the photo below, all three of them remain almost the same when stored.
From left: Storm Cruiser, Torrent Flyer, and Climb Berry Light. The size when stored is almost the same.
This is not good
Fit, mobility
Despite the fact that it has a more "clear, lean silhouette" than before , the waist is looser and the arms and hem are cut shorter , so it is not enough to achieve a satisfactory fit (although I will admit that I disagree). Regarding mobility, although the elbows are cut in three-dimensional shape, I was concerned about the tension that occurs when I tried moving them, such as the other joints, such as the armpits when raising the arms, and the hood when moving the neck .
Inner hem adjustment drawcord
This is the original Montbell mechanism called the Lead-In-Code System, which allows you to adjust the hem from inside the pocket. It's a system that's a bit of a nuisance for the first time. It seems like it's going to catch on something and will break soon.
Summary: What kind of people do they recommend?
Rainwear is extremely comfortable and easy to use, provided you don't have to say any details!
The power of the new materials, which have been developed through four years of efforts by Japan's technical capabilities, is enormous. This is a masterpiece that anyone, from beginners to veterans, will never regret using it, regardless of the type of activity. As expected, it's not a good idea to use as a hard shell in the harsh winter.
This is the only choice for Montbell rain gear for the 2015 season!
If rainwear that does not use Gore-Tex is not functionally reliable, and if the torrent fryers are lighter, the difference is no longer as much as a glass of water, then there is no reason not to choose this model.
As for Montbell, as is the norm, I was shocked by the excellent basic performance and high cost performance, and the pattern continues to be "the ease of use and design of the finest details...", but this time, the basic line remains the same. However, this time there is no greater complaint about the most important rain gear, "comfort during rainfall," and it can be said that it is more than compensated for this lack. If you are Japanese, this is a recommended pair of rainwear for every family!
We also recommend this article about rainwear.
- Check out the types of rainwear and how to choose them before purchasing
- Rainwear for mountaineering that you can't miss this season [for hiking and trekking]
- Ultra-lightweight rainwear that you won't miss this season [for trail running and fast packing]
- Comparison review: Which rainwear you should have if you're going to climb? ?
- Comparison review: We compared ultra-lightweight rainwear that is great for mountain climbing and running [2016SS]
