As a long-term user of Montane’s superb Allez Micro fleece, an ultralight and highly technical layer that is a favourite for several TGO reviewers, I was excited to test the Montane Fury Lite. At 341g on my scale for men’s Medium, weight is reasonable but far from cutting edge. There are certainly lighter fleeces that offer comparable warmth, but few give you an overall package quite so versatile.
Alex Roddie’s Best in Test
I’ve found this the ideal fleece for general three-season use. Although I’ll still reach for the Allez Micro in milder conditions, this one is a bit warmer, a bit cosier, and with more casual styling.- Comfortable and soft
- Good warmth for three-season use
- Hight stretch
- Breathability
- Nothing
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £100 Weight: 341g Materials: 51% recycled polyester, 39% nylon, 10% elastane Hood: helmet-compatible, elasticated, no adjustment Front closure: one-way zip with internal flap Pockets: 2x zipped external handwarmer Hem: no adjustment Cuffs: simple Womens/mens version: both Sizes: men: S–XXL; women: 8–16 montane.com |
Its design is deceptively simple: a standard zipped fleece jacket with basic hood and two handwarmer pockets. This simplicity is part of the garment’s strength. Like most Montane garments I’ve used, fit is athletic – which is to say extremely trim. It fits fine over a base layer but there is no room to fit a second layer underneath. The extremely high stretch does go some way to mitigate this, however. Freedom of movement is exceptional and the jacket never felt constricting, despite the close fit.
More good news is that the smooth outer face of the fabric moves freely under your shell, which means no snagging or bunching up. The inner face of the fabric is simple, soft, fluffy fleece with no grid backer. Although this means that it isn’t quite as capable in wildly varying conditions as the more technical Allez Micro, I’ve still found that the Fury Lite is good at resisting overheating in most conditions. Moisture wicking and breathability are both excellent. It’s more wind-resistant than the Allez Micro too.
Montane claim that the abrasion-resistant fabric has been engineered for increased durability. I’ve certainly seen no evidence of wear.
The hood on the Montane Fury Lite is perfect: simple, stretchy, offering good coverage for the face. There’s no adjustment but due to its design none is needed.
I’ve found this the ideal fleece for general three-season use. Although I’ll still reach for the Allez Micro in milder conditions, this one is a bit warmer, a bit cosier, and with more casual styling. Value is also decent.
