This Hyena Jacket from Montane falls into the non-winter category. In many ways it’s the kind of thing I’d happily wear during the autumn and spring but it might be a little warm for summer use. It’s lightweight, has clean and simple lines, two good side pockets that are compatible with a hip harness and doesn’t have a hood. There is a soft fleece material round the neck and chin but it’s really the tailoring of this jacket that makes it stand out.
It is relatively close fit with a slight dropped tail, ideal for wearing on top of a base layer. It’s also beautifully stretchy, thanks to the Dryactive Stretch side panels. Other than those side panels the jacket is made from Polartec Power Shield fabric, which effectively cuts the wind. It’s also pretty breathable, water resistant and abrasion resistant.
I’ve worn this jacket in some fairly cold conditions and realised it’s not a full-on winter garment. The slim fit also means it’s not too comfortable if yo wear a micro fleece under it, despite the stretch material. But on milder winter days I would be happy to wear this with a base layer and a hard shell on top if conditions were wet. I’ve worn it a lot hillwalking this past autumn and loved it. It never suffered from lack of breathability and despite its wind shedding qualities it never seems to overheat.
First published: Jan 2013
