Solve your worries about choosing insulation for autumn and winter mountain climbing by comparing the different types. Review and testing of three of MONTURA's latest insulation jackets

In recent years, autumn and winter insulation (heat-retaining clothing and cold-weather clothing) has become one of the hottest and most rapidly evolving categories of mountain gear, with new materials appearing one after another, including active insulation that prevents stuffiness even when you're active, and new types of padding that are as light as down and have insulating properties

On the other hand, having to choose from a wide range of options, such as which product to wear and how to wear it best for which occasion, can be a frustrating and troublesome problem

Which insulation should I choose?——？

The best way to answer this question is to actually try them out in the field. The brand that answered our request this time was MONTURA, an Italian outdoor brand that often appears on this site and boasts absolute confidence in its pursuit of thorough high functionality

Montura's autumn/winter insulation jackets for this season use a variety of insulating materials, including the popular active insulation, as well as lightweight, highly insulating synthetic fiber padding, to create a high-performance, high-quality lineup suited to a variety of autumn/winter activities and situations

So, this time, I'll be reviewing them all together under the same actual field conditions of the Southern Alps in autumn, evaluating the performance of each insulation, comparing and examining the differences between them, what situations they're suited to, and the ideal way to use them. I hope this will be helpful for those who want to know the differences between various synthetic insulation materials and how to use them, as well as those who are thinking about choosing the right active insulation for themselves. Now, let's take a look at the features of each insulated jacket

1. EIGER LIGHT JACKET

Key Features

This hooded jacket features a windproof and water-repellent nylon outer fabric and OCTA® Thermo Fly® insulating lining. It's lightweight yet provides just the right amount of warmth, while also providing excellent moisture absorption, quick drying, and breathability, helping to keep your body temperature constant while protecting you from the wind in cold environments. It's also packable, meaning you can roll it up and store it in the inner pocket

Recommended points

• Thin, lightweight and compact
• Ease of movement thanks to draping and stretch
• The outer fabric is lightweight yet windproof and water-repellent, while the double ripstop nylon provides excellent durability
• Versatile enough for everything from early autumn hikes to winter ski tours
• Hood fit
• Packable

Points of interest

• The insulation is only good enough to keep you warm while you're moving around, so it's not reliable as a warm garment in extreme cold

Main specifications and evaluation

OCTA® Thermo Fly® is lightweight and offers insulation, breathability, and sweat absorption and quick drying

the EIGER LIGHT JACKET is Teijin's OCTA®. While many of you may already know this material, to recap, it's a unique polyester fiber with a cross-section that features eight protrusions arranged radially around a hollow fiber. This shape makes it lighter than standard polyester fibers, while creating numerous gaps that allow it to trap a lot of dead air within the fabric, resulting in excellent heat retention per weight. Furthermore, the fabric, created by the intertwining of these jagged fibers, allows air to pass through easily and quickly absorbs and dissipates moisture, preventing stuffiness and overheating even during intense exercise. It's a type of active insulation suitable for cold-season clothing.

From the Teijin Frontier Corporation website

This model also uses "OCTA® Thermo Fly®," a type of OCTA® that uses a special knit fabric to create a fluffy, raised structure without raising the nap, enhancing sweat absorption and quick-drying properties. According to Teijin Frontier , "Thermo Fly®" not only provides warmth as a mid-layer, but also acts as an inner layer that comes into direct contact with the skin and helps manage sweat.

EIGER LIGHT JACKET which has a thin, durable double ripstop nylon outer fabric that is windproof and water-repellent, can theoretically serve as a triple layer—base layer, mid layer, and outer layer—just by wearing it directly against your skin (although this usage is not necessarily recommended by the manufacturer). Wow, that's amazing.

OCTA® Thermo Fly® has improved its sweat-wicking and quick-drying properties from the previous brushed structure to the point where it can function as an inner layer

Windproof outer fabric with DWR durable water repellent finish

That being said, it is true that it does feel a little uncomfortable to wear, so in order to achieve a more natural feel and better sweat management, I tried wearing a thin, sweat-absorbing, quick-drying mesh inner layer (I happened to be wearing Finetrack's Dry Layer here, but other options would also work, such as Millet's AmiAmi or The North Face's Dry Dot) on the parts that come into direct contact with my skin. This worked really well

After trying out various layers, I found that a solid base layer was too hot for the high mountains in early autumn, when the cold wasn't yet too severe, so a mesh inner layer was sufficient. This wide range of layering options is one of the charms of OCTA®

I tested it on a trail that started from the forest zone at around 15°C and led to the ridgeline, which wasn't too cold, and although it was indeed too hot at the beginning of the hike at a low altitude, from halfway up to the ridgeline, this combination didn't feel too hot or too cold, and I was able to continue wearing it quite comfortably (see photo below). While walking, I always felt like the sweat I had worked up was quickly evaporating, and in places on the ridge where there was a breeze, I also felt cool air passing through my body (protecting me from the direct cold of the wind)

By the way, if you look at the entire lining, OCTA® is used on the back and upper body, while stretch mesh material is used instead of insulation on the side panels, under the sleeves, and hood, areas where heat tends to build up. While prioritizing prevention of stuffiness, it keeps warmth in the right places, and should be able to cover up to the extent of active wear for snow trekking

Ease of movement thanks to draping and stretch

The true essence of Montura is its comfort during activity and outstanding ease of movement, and this model is still alive and well. In addition to the three-dimensional cut that follows the lines of the body while taking ease of movement into consideration, there is no waste and it is not too loose, and the outer material has horizontal stretch and the lining also has moderate stretch, so it does not hinder the natural movement of the upper body

Convenient pockets and packable design

In addition to the hand pockets on both sides, there are also inner mesh pockets on both sides of the lining. The details such as the cuffs and the balaclava-style hood are carefully and beautifully made with consideration for fit and cold protection (see photo below)

Still a great hood that provides a perfect fit with no adjustments needed

The inner pocket on the right is packable, so you can roll it up and store it by turning it inside out and pushing the entire thing in (see photo below)

Recommended for: This versatile piece can be used as a base layer, mid layer, and outer layer

The EIGER LIGHT JACKET is an active insulation that neither warms nor cools you too much while you're on the move, and it takes advantage of the benefits of OCTA®, which is that it's lightweight, sweat-wicking, and quick-drying, while also functioning as an inner layer. Because it uses a relatively thin fabric, the emphasis is on keeping you warm while you're active, rather than on warming your body, and it looks like it'll be useful in a wide range of seasons, from early autumn to high mountain climbing in late spring.

The most conventional way to use it is, of course, to wear it over a base layer as a mid-layer and outer layer for active wear, but as mentioned earlier, if you wear a thin mesh inner layer instead of a base layer, or even nothing at all, it seems like it would be comfortable to wear in higher temperatures. Conversely, if you layer it with a thick base layer or another OCTA® layer, it would also be perfectly acceptable for active wear on winter mountain climbs

In terms of activities, it would definitely suit hiking, trekking, running, skiing, etc., but it's also suitable for alpine climbing, making it versatile enough for a wide range of activities. In other words, it can be used in an infinite number of ways depending on how you layer it, making it the most versatile piece of clothing we've seen so far

2: INSIGHT PLUS HYBRID JACKET

Key Features

This hooded hybrid insulation jacket uses POLARTEC® ALPHA® DIRECT for the lining, double-ripstop CORDURA® nylon for the outer fabric from the front to the shoulders, and softshell material with DWR durable water repellent treatment from the side panels to the back. It offers high levels of wind resistance and durability, moderate warmth, breathability, quick-drying properties, and outstanding ease of movement, making it ideal for activities in extreme cold

Recommended points

• Precise three-dimensional cutting and high stretchability provide outstanding ease of movement
• Highly weather and abrasion resistant for extreme activities
• POLARTEC® ALPHA® DIRECT combats cold and humidity, allowing you to move around comfortably in low temperatures
• Great fitting hood

Points of interest

• Somewhat heavy and bulky
• It is suitable for lower temperatures and more intense activities. On the other hand, it is slightly over-spec for mild climates and mountain trips

Main specifications and evaluation

Uses POLARTEC® ALPHA® DIRECT

The INSIGHT PLUS HYBRID JACKET is insulated with the familiar POLARTEC® ALPHA® (or more precisely, POLARTEC® ALPHA® DIRECT, a type of insulation with the padding intentionally exposed), a pioneer in active insulation. This incredibly high-performance insulation, which has been at the forefront of sales for over 10 years, combines moderate warmth to keep out the cold with excellent breathability and quick-drying properties to prevent overheating when sweating, making it ideal for thermal clothing when moving around in cold and harsh places. It was a pioneer of the active insulation that is now commonplace.

I tried wearing the Alpha again against the OCTA®, and honestly, in terms of performance as thermal clothing, I personally felt there was no clear difference in superiority or inferiority. In other words, both have the same level of heat retention and breathability/quick-drying properties, and both function as convenient thermal clothing that keeps you neither too warm nor too cold while you're out and about

Instead, I feel like the difference in warmth is more influenced by the thickness of the fabric (weight per unit area) used in each model than by the type of material. In this case, according to the catalog information, the OCTA® used in the EIGER LIGHT JACKET while the POLARTEC® ALPHA® used in the INSIGHT PLUS HYBRID JACKET the INSIGHT PLUS HYBRID JACKET clearly felt warmer in terms of actual warmth. Furthermore, the INSIGHT PLUS HYBRID JACKET has fleece and brushed material in the lining other than the Alpha padding, and the outer fabric is more windproof (while still maintaining its breathability), so it's designed to keep you warm even in very cold weather (see photo below).

On the other hand, POLARTEC® ALPHA® was originally intended to function as a mid-layer, and the fiber itself is polyester, which does not absorb water, so the fabric itself does not have the same moisture absorption properties as OCTA® (see photo below). In other words, OCTA® functions as an inner layer even when worn directly on the skin, but POLARTEC® ALPHA® DIRECT does not function as effectively as an inner layer even when worn directly on the skin, and this is a major difference from OCTA®

However, this does not mean that it does not absorb moisture at all (it should not be worn directly against the skin), and hydrophobic fabrics are quick-drying, and moisture vapor is quickly expelled to the outside, so if you wear it as a mid-layer over a base layer, it will definitely help dry quickly. For this reason, as long as you always wear it as a mid-layer in cold seasons, you should not have any particular inconvenience

The hybrid structure of the fabric, three-dimensional cutting, and stretch allow for unrestricted movement and maximum moisture elimination

The INSIGHT PLUS HYBRID JACKET designed to keep you warm while on the move , was by far the most comfortable of the three garments tested. There was absolutely no stress when moving around, just like wearing a jersey.

This is easy to understand when you look at the pattern of this jacket; the front and shoulder areas, which are most exposed to the wind, are made of double ripstop Cordura® nylon, which is highly windproof and abrasion-resistant; but two types of stretchy soft shell fabric are used in moving parts and areas where heat tends to build up, such as the elbows and shoulder blades, back, and sides, and the jacket's precise three-dimensional cutting and stretchability allow it to be tailored so that it does not restrict movement of the upper body

This hybrid construction provides high levels of weather resistance, durability, freedom of movement and comfort to withstand harsh winter activities

Furthermore, the hood is clearly designed to keep out the cold rather than the rain, and is also designed to be comfortable when wearing a helmet. Of course, it fits snugly to the shape of your head without any adjustments and follows your head movements perfectly (see photo below)

It provides a comfortable fit that follows the movement of your head, and the edges are made of stretch material that keeps out cold air, providing excellent cold resistance

The hood is lined with brushed fleece for excellent heat retention

Recommended for: Active insulation, with its excellent protection and mobility, can be an invincible piece of clothing for the snow season

The INSIGHT PLUS HYBRID JACKET the EIGER LIGHT JACKET that we reviewed first , but as mentioned in the review above, this model offers better heat retention, durability, and ease of movement, making it particularly suitable for lower temperatures and tougher activities.

For this reason, it was still too hot to wear during this test, but that doesn't mean that this jacket is prone to getting stuffy; the material and construction are undoubtedly designed to allow moisture to escape easily. As for its intended use, it is overkill for slightly chilly hiking and running, but it is perfect for harsh winter mountain activities such as snow-covered mountain climbing, winter variation routes, ice climbing, and backcountry skiing. Personally, I can imagine wearing this jacket while hiking in the backcountry in the coming snow season, and then putting a hard shell over it when skiing, and I can't wait

3. Mid-Layer Jacket

Key Features

This insulated jacket is padded with Comfortem® synthetic down. Lightweight yet highly insulating, the synthetic padding maintains consistent warmth even when wet. The outer and lining are made of highly stretchable material, providing a snug fit. This jacket comes without a hood, eliminating the need for hood clinging when layering in winter

Recommended points

• Gentle to the touch and comfortable to wear with a body-hugging fit
• Stretchy for unrestricted movement
• Excellent heat retention even when wet

Points of interest

• Somewhat heavy and bulky

Main specifications and evaluation

Comfortem® synthetic down filling

Finally, the MID LAYER JACKET differs from the previous two items in that it uses Comfortem® (60g/sqm), a lightweight material with a reputation for excellent heat retention, as its padding, making it a standard thermal garment rather than a so-called active insulation. In terms of heat retention alone, it is the best of the three, and it kept me warm even inside the tent at night when the temperature dropped below 10°C.

The Comfortem® padding itself is breathable, and the outer and inner fabrics are also breathable, so it doesn't trap heat like a down jacket. Of course, it doesn't wick away the intense sweat you get while you're out and about, but it helps the natural wicking of moisture from the skin during breaks or when you're resting at the campsite, keeping you dry and comfortable at all times

Soft to the touch, with an exquisite fit that clings to the skin, and precise draping and stretch that doesn't restrict movement

The front and back are made of soft stretch material, making it the most comfortable of the three items when you put it on. The gathered structure of the side panels using elastic thread fills the gap between the skin and the garment, and the three-dimensional cutting that takes movement into consideration also works well, allowing for a comfortable fit and stress-free ease of movement (see photo below)

It's great for long breaks while on the move, and also protects you from sudden chills caused by the cold winds on the ridge

Although it's not particularly light overall, the padding is tightly packed inside the garment, preventing body heat from escaping. When I put this jacket on after arriving at the tent, my tense feelings calmed down and I felt completely relaxed

Recommended for: Warm and comfortable, perfect for relaxing in the cold

The MID LAYER JACKET is a synthetic insulation jacket that is conventionally lightweight and highly insulated, yet also offers moderate stretch and breathability. It's not primarily designed for active activities, but rather excels at keeping the body warm in situations where movement is limited or stationary. Of course, thanks to the synthetic fiber's ability to retain heat even when wet, it can be safely taken to harsh environments, making it the first choice for year-round cold weather gear. Its excellent stretch and breathability also make it a great mid-layer for when the weather is particularly cold.

Summary: Determine the appropriate situation by combining materials, weight (thickness), and fabric

All three jackets reviewed proved to be extremely useful when worn in the right situation. However, even with such advanced functionality, it's important to note that there are still situations in which they may not perform as well as they should. In that sense, the EIGER LIGHT JACKET is the most versatile and the most reliable jacket, and is recommended for those purchasing active insulation for the first time.

Also, regarding the underlying theme of this article, whether or not different insulating materials make a difference in performance, I found (though I had imagined this to some extent) that there was no need to worry about major differences in the materials themselves. While there are certainly differences in the characteristics of materials like Octa and Alpha, these differences only make sense in the broader category of "active insulation or not," and more importantly, the thickness and weight of the fabric, and how it is combined with other fabrics, have a much greater impact on performance. Keeping these points in mind when choosing insulation should help you find the perfect jacket for you

The season is quickly approaching the long winter. Have a good winter mountain life with the right equipment

Get the latest information and purchase information on MONTURA synthetic insulation products

For information on the latest model arrivals and product details, please check the MONTURA official website

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

   

Related reading

MONTURA Premium Lightweight Down Jacket "DUVET" Series Review: A Perfect Piece Packed with Comfort and Practicality While Stripping Down Everything Down

MONTURA PAC MIND JACKET & 2024 Spring/Summer Rainwear Review: Unique and well-thought-out attention to detail is as impressive as ever

MONTURA Vertigo Pants Series Review: So much freedom of movement that it'll blow your mind. Why these mountain trekking pants, chosen by professionals, are so unbeatable

Sparkling technology and ideas. A complete review of seven exceptional fleece pieces that give a glimpse into the future of fleece