
November, climbing in Grignetta, via Normale on Torrione del Cinquantenario (photo by Marco).
As the first part of the Gore/Mammut Experience Tour (here, and here) gets closer, I’m writing down some impressions and annotations I have made about what I think a super-jacket shoud have.
First of all, there is a choice to be made: do I want a mountain jacket, or a city-but-sporty-and-cool-looking jacket? For me, there is only one possible answer, of course the first; but it’s important to get it straight, so when I have to choose between usability and looks, or toughness and comfort, I can choose well - because I think that attributes like these can sometime be opposites.
So here are some features I’d like:
First of all, there is a choice to be made: do I want a mountain jacket, or a city-but-sporty-and-cool-looking jacket? For me, there is only one possible answer, of course the first; but it’s important to get it straight, so when I have to choose between usability and looks, or toughness and comfort, I can choose well - because I think that attributes like these can sometime be opposites.
So here are some features I’d like:
- Durability: I want a jacket that can withstand use and abuse, if possible. I’m thinking of alpine climbing, for example, where you often have to hug and rub against rocks, which can be spiky and sharp. This feat is possibly in contrast with breathabilty, but is for sure more important since climbing is an activity I’ll do with this jacket.
- Freedom of movement: since I have to climb, I can’t be too much hindered by the jacket! So I’d like a fit cut, so the jacket stays close to my body; and the ideal would be a stretchable textile, so that you feel free to move the arms the way you like.
- Windproof: this can seem a trivial feat, but what I mean is that I expect my jacket to block all the wind that can enter in the neck, and cuff, and waist zones. So a hood is necessary, and it should be adjustable so that it blocks wind from the mouth/nose downward, so that wind can’t slip inside; helmet compatibility is also a must. Adjustable cuffs and waist are also useful.
- Waterproof: there is little to say about this; in my case, while climbing you can get wet if you rub against wet rocks, or if drops come from above; and rain and snow can always reach you (even if I don’t usually go in the mountains in bad weather).
- Usability: I want a jacket where every detail is there because it’s useful: convenience and practicalness must be the leading principles of the garment; if it’s also good looking, even better, but just as a second thought.

On the top of Grignetta, half January, wearing the Montura Soft Shell (photo by Dany).
Till now, my best mountain jacket (also for budget reasons) has been a Soft Shell by Montura, and Italian firm. I’ve been very satisfied of the versatily of this jacket, which is on top level in nearly every field; of course, it lacks the waterproof feat, which is quite important, especially if you want to live high mountain adventures (and this summer I’m going for the Monte Bianco and the eternal North Edge of Piz Badile!). So this Experience Tour is real manna from the sky!
Ok, this is a start. In the next post I’ll talk about practical features.
Ok, this is a start. In the next post I’ll talk about practical features.