Highlander Munro V2 Mountain Jacket: into the hills we go with this Scottish waterproof

The Munros are the 282 prominent peaks of the Scottish Highlands that rise to over 3,000 feet above sea level. This famous list was originally drew up by Sir Hugh Munro, one of the founding members of the Scottish Mountaineering Club, and the pursuit of Munro bagging has become a pastime for many.

If you’ve recently checked out any of Scottish brand Highlander’s recent offerings, such as the superb Ben Nevis Rucksack, you might have noticed that they come with a 282-year warranty. This is particularly apt for its flagship waterproof jacket, the Munro V2 jacket. Such a warranty is particularly laudable when one considers the excellent value associated with Highlander's products. The brand were born with a mission to make outdoor gear more affordable without overly compromising on quality.

I was no stranger to the original Munro jacket, having enjoyed donning it for the hills, fells and mountains of the UK in 2023. So, when I heard it was getting an upgrade for 2024, I was keen to put its second incarnation to the test.

First Impressions

The Bluestone color version of the Munro V2 really looks and feels the business. Its three-layer Prot3x shell is rugged and robust, inspiring confidence from the get-go. Its predecessor was crafted from nylon, whereas the V2 is woven from a more durable polyester, which should mean it'll repel the rain a little better, though the stated breathability and waterproof ratings remain the same.

A closer look reveals that all the details we’d expect of a high performance, mountain hard shell are present, including things like pit zips, PU-laminated zippers, taped seams, storm guards and a peaked, 3-way adjustable hood. The pockets are thoughtfully placed to allow for a climbing harness and the hood is helmet compatible. Basically, it seems we have a high-quality mountain jacket on our hands. So, how do Highlander keep the price so low compared to much of the competition?

A proprietary membrane

It’s no secret that when you buy a jacket boasting a Gore-Tex membrane, you’re paying for two brands – the jacket’s manufacturer and Gore-Tex. This is why those that make use of proprietary waterproof membranes (think Cimalp with Ultrashell, Columbia with OutDry or North Face with Futurelight) can sell their jackets at a lower price. Of course, there’s a risk involved here for the manufacturer, as many consumers trust Gore-Tex’s quality in the same way that Vibram is trusted for its grippy outsoles or YKK (present here) for the reliability of its zippers.

In this case, Highlander employs its 3-layer Prot3x fabric, which along with the PFC-free water repellent coating, results in a jacket with a 20,000mm hydrostatic head rating and a 15,000g/m² breathability rating. What this means in practice is that the Munro V2 should be able to cope with pretty gnarly conditions, meeting the needs of most hill goers and mountain walkers. It’s not quite as bombproof as a Gore-Tex Pro jacket like the Berghaus MTN Guide GTX Pro, but then it’s also substantially less expensive. In terms of breathability, it should be ideal for high-output activities like hiking and mountaineering, though I wouldn’t want to run a trail ultra in one.

Other features

The Munro V2 has all the features you’d expect of a mountain waterproof and there's nothing that feels surplus to requirements. The YKK zippers are PU laminated and the main 2-way front zipper features in interior storm guard – a length of fabric that provides additional protection against water ingress. As you’d expect for this kind of jacket, the zippers all come with lengthy pulls for ease of use when wearing hiking gloves.

Climber’s needs have been considered – the hood shaped to be helmet compatible and the chest pockets are positioned high enough to still be accessible when wearing a harness. These twin pockets are substantial too, with more than enough room of a topographical map or two. There’s also an interior security pocket, well-sized for a phone, compass or headlamp.

Even with a 15,000g/m² breathability rating, things can get a bit stuffy when you’re slogging up a deer stalker’s path towards a lofty summit. As well as the option of opening up the front zip, Highlander have included two pit zippers, which can be opened up to provide additional ventilation. There’s also the option of replacing the bright green zip pulls with subtler grey pulls for those who enjoy a more understated aesthetic.

The hem, cuffs and hood are all adjustable. A fairly rudimentary (well, compared to something like the lovely cuffs on the Norrøna Falketind GTX Paclite Jacket) Velcro tab is utilized to tighten or loosen the cuffs. They’re not subtle, but they do the job. At the hem is an elasticated draw cord with twin adjustment points.

An upgrade on the original Munro Jacket is the 3-way adjustable hood, which features a wired peak to keep everything in place when it’s blowing a hoolie (Scottish for “a bit on the gusty side”. Two pulls on either side of the front and a rear pull enable the wearer to tailor the fit, bringing everything in when battling a blizzard and loosening things off when the conditions settle down. They’re really easy to tighten, just requiring a pull, while a straightforward squeeze of the three stoppers releases the tension.

In the mountains

I tested the Munro V2 through fall and early winter while hiking in the fells of the Lake District National Park and on more casual walks in England’s southwest. I was dealt bouts of heavy rain, snow and freezing conditions in the mountains and was able to really assess the V2's credentials. It’s also smart looking enough that I was happy to wear it to, from and during festive social occasions that fell foul to the weather gods.

It's rough and ready, highly functional and feels like a jacket you’d expect to pay more for. If you’re someone who likes to move fast and light or you mainly hike during the warmer, drier months, it’s a little on the stiffer, heavier side. Though for the often-inclement hiking conditions found in its Scottish Highland home, it’s an ideal choice, especially if you’re on a budget. Freedom of movement is pretty decent. It doesn’t flow quite as well as the less burly Norrøna Falketind GTX Paclite or the Rab Firewall Light, but is about on a par with something like the Tierra Västra, which is what you’d expect for this level of protection.

For protection against wind and rain, it’s highly laudable and bats away precipitation as well as any jacket I’ve tested at this price point. The water repellent coating acts as an effective shield, stopping it from wetting out and maintaining its breathability. Of course, as with all waterproofs, this protective layer will fade given time – enter aftercare products like Nikwax’s Tech Wash and TX Direct, which are officially recommend on the Highlander website.

Fit wise, there’s plenty of room for fleece layers and a down jacket underneath. I was testing my usual small size and found it was baggier than it was tailored, so there’s definitely no need to size up with this one. Coverage is good too – the back overlaps my trousers, which helps to stop water sneaking in between the jacket and my hiking pants or waterproof trousers.

I found manipulating the hem and hood very intuitive and adjustments are easy to make on the fly. One qualm was that I'd often find the front zippers getting a bit stuck when unzipping all the way to the bottom, requiring a bit of fiddling to break free.

All in all, I was very impressed with the V2, especially given its low price point. It's got everything you really need for heading out among bens, sgùrrs, stobs, pikes, dodds, pens and any other peaks during winter and the shoulder seasons. Plus, its warranty has as many years as there are prominent 3,000-foot peaks in Scotland. Dreich days never felt so appealing.