Montane Alpine 850 Nano Hoodie review: the new gold standard in ultralight down jackets?

Meet the reviewer

Julia Clarke

Julia Clarke is a staff writer for Advnture.com and the author of the book Restorative Yoga for Beginners. She loves to explore mountains on foot, bike, skis and belay and then recover on the the yoga mat. Julia graduated with a degree in journalism in 2004 and spent eight years working as a radio presenter in Kansas City, Vermont, Boston and New York City before discovering the joys of the Rocky Mountains. She then detoured west to Colorado and enjoyed 11 years teaching yoga in Vail before returning to her hometown of Glasgow, Scotland in 2020 to focus on family and writing.  

Montane Alpine 850 Nano Hoodie: first impressions 

Just when we thought down jackets couldn't get any lighter, along comes the Montane Alpine 850 Nano Hoodie to prove us wrong. Landing just in time for cold weather, this 850 fill power jacket is as light as the goose down inside it and built for performance whether you wear it as a mid layer or outer layer. 

With a streamlined fit, snug hood and elasticated cuffs and hem, you can feel confident that a cold wind won't be able to sneak in when you're on the summit. While you're climbing, panels of synthetic insulation in high-moisture areas (your armpits) increase breathability so you don't have to unzip.

The shell is treated with a PFC-free DWR that makes the jacket fairly windproof, increasing its warmth without the need for a shell when it isn't raining. Additionally, it will repel a light rain so you don't have to pull on a waterproof jacket the minute the sky turns dark. 

Perhaps the most interesting feature of this jacket is that it has non-toxic gold particles bonded to the down which Montane claims deliver fast-drying performance, and since down doesn't insulate when wet, this seems like a huge performance boost. They explain that the technology works because gold particles vibrate water molecules, which speeds up evaporation to a rate faster than the absorption rate of down. This chemical-free technology from recycled electronics also helps manage moisture from sweat.

We often wish Montane gear used more recycled materials, but this jacket is one step ahead using 100% recycled nylon and polyester in the shell.

Montane Alpine 850 Nano Hoodie: in the field

This down jacket just landed in time for fall but I got my hands on an early sample six months ago so I've worn it through a cold and wet spring, a disappointing summer and am still wearing it for mountain hiking in the incoming cold weather of fall.

Here’s how it performed:

Sizing, fit and comfort

I tested a US size 6 which is one size up from what I'd usually wear and I would say this probably fits true to size. It's a little looser than I'd normally wear but it's clear that it's fit for performance as sometimes a more medium-sized jacket is hanging off me and this one isn't too big. I can still wear a waterproof jacket over the top of it and for really cold expeditions, I'll be happy for the extra room underneath to wear it with a fleece.

It covers my hips for extra warmth and, unusually in my experience, the sleeves aren't too long. The hood is stay-put even in a howling Scottish gale and overall this is a really comfortable layer.

Warmth, breathability and protection

Needless to say, I'm looking for warmth in any down jacket, but I also tend to wear mine for more vigorous pursuits, like hiking, so I want breathable insulation too and this jacket seems to deliver on both fronts.

It's one of those down jackets where I instantly feel the benefit of it when I put it on, no doubt thanks to the goose down, and helped too by the snug fit and windproofing which is key here in Scotland. 

When I'm heading up a steep slope, even in quite mild weather, I don't feel like I have to stop and take it off. Down isn't always as breathable as synthetic insulation, and I think one of the reasons this is so wearable in sweaty environments is down to the synthetic panels under the arms.

The shell is treated with a DWR and while I'd never expect my down jacket to double as a raincoat, I did test this out recently on a damp day that was more foggy than outright rainy. Water does indeed bead on the shell, and I got a bit sweaty and was impressed by how quickly it dried. I guess the gold particles really do work.

Weight, storage and other details

I recently tested the Columbia Arctic Crest Down Hooded Jacket and I thought it was the lightest jacket I owned. Then I put this one on the scale and it was so light, I actually went back into the kitchen and weighed it twice to make sure I hadn't misread it.

Not only is it impossibly light, but this jacket comes with a little stuff sack inside the right hand pocket, which means it can neatly pack away. As someone who travels a lot, I love this feature and it will be coming with me on every adventure from now on.

Speaking of pockets, there are two zipped hand pockets but it could probably benefit from either a chest pocket or inner pocket that you can reach when you're wearing a backpack.

Montane Alpine 850 Nano Hoodie: the bottom line

If you're in the market for an ultralight but reliably warm down jacket, you won't find one lighter than this. Built for performance, it keeps the wind and a light rain at bay and manages moisture impressively. 

It's a versatile jacket, light enough to make a great mid layer for very cold adventures, but not at all bulky so it's a brilliant outer layer for fall too. If you'd prefer a synthetic approach to insulation, we also loved the Montane Fireball Lite Hooded Jacket which isn't as light but is more durable and equally versatile.

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