Montane Lite-Speed Jacket - Men's - 2011 BCS

Awesome jacket. The best of all my alpine jackets. This weekend I had my mountaineering course on how to self arrest on the snow slopes. We went to stevens pass and hiked around 3K feet to practice our self arrest. It was snowing all through the day and all I had was this jacket over my stoic merino wool baselayer. I never got wet from the snow or my sweat. I then decided to test how water resistant this jacket really was. So, I proceeded to practice self arrest with this jacket still as my outer layer. After 2 hours of sliding and sprawling all over the snow I was really surprised that this jacket was as dry as I had just got it out of the bag. Amazing!!!

I can honestly agree that this jacket does exactly what it claims to do. Breathable, windproof and water-resistant. The first time my baselayer wasn't wet after hiking and playing in the snow for 6 hours. I didn't have to change shirts at the parking lot!!!!

I usually don't write reviews but went out of my way to do this one cause the Lite-Speed jacket is perfect for the spring/summer biking rides I do in Northern Idaho (riding to work on paved trails and single track). It is feather-light and it works in the light rain and as a nice windbreaker when the sun goes down and ur still riding. Sizing..I'm 5'-6" 150lbs and got a small and it fits nicely. You won't believe how small this jacket compressed down too! No reason not to take it with you all the time.

I feel the need to combat all the negative reviews who claim this is a plastic trashbag. These buyers clearly did not know what they were purchasing. This jacket is 100% PERTEX MICROLIGHT. Nothing else. There is no lining. It is in the category of jackets that include the Patagonia Houdini or the TNF Verto jacket except that the fabric is more durable and slightly heavier.

This is the same fabric that is now used as the shell for the Marmot Lithium and Helium down sleeping bags. It is also used as the shell fabric for the Rab Microlight down jacket and vest and other down and synthetic insulated jackets.

There is no soft velour or fleece wicking surface inside. The shell fabric contacts your skin. The if you are wearing it bare-armed, it WILL FEEL CLAMMY if your'e sweating. That does NOT mean this jacket is not breathing. If you hate this feeling, buy yourself a nice Windstopper lined fleece to absorb the sweat rather than this lightweight shell. You can also buy something like a Rab Vapor-rise or a Marmot DriClime which is essentially a nylon shell (like this Montane Lite-Speed) with a second thin fleece lining to wick the sweat away. And then be willing to accept a jacket that weighs more and does not compress down into the size of an orange like this does.

This is an excellent and very durable jacket. If you know how to layer, you won't need a Vapor-Rise or a DriClime. I've abused my Lite-Speed for several years, and i'm ready to buy another.

Purchased the featherlite which I loved which prompted me to buy this one. Perfect. I have grown to really appreciate Montane. Runs small so buy a size up. Other than that, does exactly as advertised.

You might not be surprised for me to say that I love it. I do work for Montane after all (really I do). But I did want to say that I've used the Lite-Speed Jacket for some years now, predominantly for mountain biking and hiking but also for travelling. It blocks out the wind great, it sheds off a light rain shower and is super breathable. It can also be a great jacket to wear in areas where there are lots of mosquitos as they can't bite you through it yet it is sufficiently light and breathable that you don't boil! I think it's an excellent multi-purpose windshell (and I've tried a few from other brands so I reckon even though I work for Montane that I can be objective) Hope this is of some help to any prospective purchasers. If you have any specific questions on this or any other Montane products please feel free to email marketing@montane.co.uk and I'll try to help you...

It's lightweight, fits nice, and has a great hood. The hood folds away in the collar and is secured with three velcro dots. I have a slight build and find that the fit is neither tight nor loose. Should probably work for most people. Looks good, too. My only beef at this point is the breatheability, although I admittedly put it to a pretty harsh test. I wore it for running (where you generate a lot of heat) on a warm day just after a rain. My bare arms became clammy very quickly. It was a relief to peel (and I do mean peel) it off. The good part is that it's so light that when I tied it around my waist I could barely feel it.

I bought this jacket just before leaving the country, and I would love to return to it - it is not the least breathable. The description that says this jacket is breathable is gross misrepresentation and I dare anyone to challenge that statement. Even on sale it's overpriced if a jacket as vapor barrier actually appeals to you.

It's fine if you're standing at the bus stop, or on belay like the photo above. But forget walking let alone running or any activity. As someone said, it's a thin trashbag - although tailored nicely.

A wind shirt combined with a baselayer is ideal for cool and cold weather. I have used the Lite-Speed with just a short sleeve Icebreaker shirt and was comfortable hiking in strenuous terrain in temperatures from about 30-50 degrees. It breaths very well and having a stowable hood is awesome. It may weigh more than other wind shirts out there but the Pertex fabric on this one will probably be more durable in the long run. I have not used it in precipitation yet but get the impression it would shed light drizzle ok, anything heavier and you need a rain jacket or hard shell. Packs down small enough, mine weighs in at about 5.2oz without the stuff sack.

First, the color on the website does not match the color I got (graphite and black), if I would have known this I would ahve gotten the blue, for better visability. the jacket is more brown black.
I use it for running in the rain and cold. blocks wind great, usually just wear a LS baselayer and I'm fine in wind (haven't been in more than 15-20 mph. also blocks rain alot better than review had lead me to believe. stay dry in pretty steady rain. though of course you get some sweat on the inside of jacket, but much less than rain without. Haven't been hiking with this yet (which was why I bought it...) but seems to breathe well when not running. hood makes lots of noise next to my ears... kinda annoying but better than cold ears. Oh yeah, hood is great.

This jacket looked great on the website. When I received it, I was totally disappointed. The jacket is similar to a garbage bag liner and woefully overpriced. I instead bought a North Face Amp Hybrid for the same money and 180 difference in quality and value. This thing looks like it would fall apart under any use.

Got he blue - not the shown blue at all - more of a Royal Blue not a baby. Material was light but sent it back as I found something before this made delivery