Montbell UL Thermawrap Jacket - Men's Review

Likes
Montbell is a Japanese company, not European like many people think. Their sizing is great option for thinner folks and has a stylish thin fit – it looks great even though it is one of the cheapest.

This is one of the more packable synthetic belay jackets we tested. It comes with its own Sil-Nylon stuff sack that was a nice tight fit – it packs down to nothing. It was one of the more weather resistant jackets we tested and preformed slightly better than the Patagonia DAS when we sprayed all the jackets down with a hose. While not as warm as other jackets we tested, it was surprisingly warm for its size and weight. We found it suitable for even mid-season climbs of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Shasta.

The Montbell U.L. (Ultra-Light) Thermawrap jacket is in fact the lightest jacket in this review by at least three ounces. It is also on the inexpensive side with only the REI Revelcloud jacket being cheaper. For the price you get a really basic but light and functional insulated layer. If you are headed on a trip where you need to pack light and be ready for any weather, this the jacket to take. It fits well under any kind of shell and layers well on top of thin synthetic shirts.

Dislikes
This jacket has no zippered pockets, which ultimately makes it lighter, which is this jacket's best feature. However, the things usually kept in jacket such as chapstick, car keys, etc, have no secure place. Most of the time in the outdoors this isn't a big deal since this jacket works so well as a mid-layer, and shells usually have zippered pockets. But as an around-town jacket, we did miss the zippers. This jacket packs into a stuff sack, which is an awesome feature, but the stuff sack is not connected to the jacket and is really easy to lose, especially since there is no zippered pocket to keep the sack in for easy access. Also, even though this is a very thin insulated layer, it does not breathe very well. While hiking you can get sweaty pretty quickly.

The sizing is different than most other jackets, which makes it a little tricky to buy online. This was the only jacket tester Ian Nicholson wore a large in. Because it is a slim fit, folks with a belly may not find it fits well.

This is one of the least durable of the jackets we tested. You need to take care of it and watch sharp branches and rocks.

Best Application
This is a very versatile layer that can be worn alone in cool temperatures or layered for cold winter days. It is a great alternative to a thick fleece jacket. Any time you want might want a heavy fleece but don't want the weight or the bulk then the Thermawrap is a good option. It's something for everyone from backpackers and hikers to alpine rock climbers

Value
The Therawrap parka was one of the best priced jackets in the review. Considering how many days of use you can get out of a jacket this versatile, it is an excellent value.

Other Versions
If you want a hooded version of this jacket with zippered pockets, check out the Montbell UL Thermawrap Parka ($175). This is a better jacket for cold weather but is not as ideal for layering under shells. A similar version of the UL Thermawrap with zippered hand pockets and two chest pockets is the Montbell Thermawrap BC ($170). At that price there are a lot of other competing jackets.