Review: Montane Torren Waterproof Jacket

A versatile, waterproof, lightweight and breathable hardshell jacket for general outdoor use.

The new Montane Torren Jacket is a waterproof shell, constructed with versatility and performance in mind. It’s designed for a variety of outdoor enthusiasts who are looking for quality protection from the elements. And with lightweight, breathable and waterproof construction, I’ve (mostly) enjoyed putting it to the test in the mountains.

Montane proudly boasts of the waterproofing and breathability of their new Torren Jacket and market it as a technical mountaineering jacket. The Torren is also showcasing Montanes new waterproofing system, PETRICHOR TECHNOLOGY™, which dramatically reduces PFAS during production, without compromising on waterproofness or breathability. The Torren is helmet compatible, features pit zips, and has a sleek and professional look.

Lets dive further into these features to see if this is a standout shell, or just another reinvented wheel amongst the selection of other high performance hardshells on the market.

Montane Torren Waterproof Jacket: The stats

Features of the Montane Torren Waterproof Jacket

Fabric

With a hydrostatic head (HH) of 20,000mm, Montane have made sure that their waterproofing membrane is both highly waterproof and exceptionally breathable. The Torren boasts their newly innovated PETRICHOR TECHNOLOGY™, which is designed with performance outdoors in mind. The fabric is constructed without the use of PFAS, which lends itself to a more environmentally friendly production process. It also has a PFC-free DWR coating on the outer which is a typical standard of most quality hardshells on the market these days. The waterproof fabric is covered with an outer 21D Ripstop nylon face fabric, and a soft inner lining for added comfort. I enjoy watching the water bead off the jacket during downpours on the hills, keeping my inner layers dry.

Hood

The hood is helmet compatible, which is both adjustable at the rear and at the neck. It fits nice and snug over my helmet and stays in place even in high winds. I have a size large helmet and I am unrestricted when I have the hood up.

Pit vents

There are long pit vents that go from the upper arm down through to well below the pit. These are ideal for fast paced activities where the extra ventilation is crucial. Large pull tabs make the zippers easy to reach, which makes it particularly handy when you are wearing gloves and reaching to those awkward places. They are long zips, which makes it easy for venting fast if it’s not too wet.

Pockets

The main hand pockets are just about harness compatible and have room for the usual bits to stow away close to hand. The zip systems are YKK Aquaguard Zips, and again nicely sized pull tabs make them easy to use with gloves in colder environments. Additionally, there is a single internal zippered pocket placed on the inside left chest area of the jacket. It is big enough for my phone, wallet and a few other small bits. It has a light mesh liner so it doesn’t compromise the breathability of the shell.

Hem

The fully adjustable hem is useful for keeping cold air out and warm air in on those colder days, and for ventilation for warmer periods.

Zipper

All the zippers are YKK Aquaguard, including the main zipper. This makes it waterproof and tough to help keep the elements out. It is a two-way zip which is ideal for use with a harness and belaying on those damp days.

Cuffs

The articulated sleeves have a hook and loop adjustment. Plus, sleeves feature extra wide laminated sleeve tails for ease of use and tightening or loosening the sleeves.

Montane Torren Waterproof Jacket review

The Torren jacket has been ideal for me as a hardshell where I want something high performance without compromising weight. It’s very lightweight for its above performance values, while keeping me dry and ventilated on the inside. I’ve tested and used a number of high performance jackets so it has been interesting seeing if it lives up to what Montane make it out to be on their website.

Along with the excellent waterproofness, breathability and lightweight nature of the jacket, there are some excellent features that really make me enjoy wearing this jacket in a variety of scenarios. These include the hood which is big and with plenty of room for my helmet when mountaineering. I also use the pit vents quite a bit when doing high paced activities such as climbing and scrambling. Additionally, I find the inner mesh pocket really useful for a phone stowaway on the inside, particularly when it’s raining.

All that said, there are a few things that don’t quite hit the mark for such a technical jacket. Firstly, I find the sleeve length awkward as they are too long and bag out. This is not ideal if you are using your hands for activities such as rock climbing or ice climbing. Sizing down from your usual size might address this issue, so it’s certainly worth trying on before you buy.

Secondly, although the length of the jacket is compatible with my harness, I find the hand pockets a little too low. They sometimes get trapped in my harness and are a little more awkward than usual to use.

And finally, the lightweight nature of the Torren fabric doesn’t have a very robust feel about it. It hasn’t failed me yet, so hopefully it is just the impression it gives. But it doesn’t stop me being wary of it when throwing it about.

I had high expectations when reading about the Torren on the Montane website, and although it just about does what it says on the tin, it didn’t totally meet my expectations. The awkward sleeve length does get irritating and I’m finding I am rolling my sleeves up, on a hardshell! The black colour does look smart, but the overall trim gives it a baggy, slightly out of shape look. It’s comfortable as hardshells go, and Montane have hit the nail on the head with sweat management. Additionally, I think Montane are doing their best to stay ahead with their eco credentials, whilst not compromising performance.

For me, I’ll certainly keeping using the Torren, but it won’t be my go-to bombproof hardshell for the mountains.

What I love the most about the Montane Torren Waterproof Jacket

Its smart looks marry up to its performance credentials and choice of materials, including Montane’s newly innovated PETRICHOR TECHNOLOGY, accompanied with a hydrostatic head of 20,000mm. As a mountain professional, it looks good out on the mountain whilst offering performance, and the black is my colour of choice.

What I don’t love so much about the Montane Torren Waterproof Jacket

The overly long sleeves are not ideal and they get in the way when using my hands for activities. I use the velcro cuffs to manage the length but it’s not ideal. I’d definitely recommend trying a size down from your normal sizing.

Verdict

The Montane Torren Jacket is ideal as a lightweight summer performance shell that offers excellent breathability without compromising on waterproofnoees. It is also suitable as a hardshell for general outdoor activities or for casual use. Unfortunately, there are a few design flaws that don’t work for me and it would therefore not be my choice of jacket in serious mountain environments or as a winter hardshell. I think that it doesn’t quite live up to its description as a technical mountaineering jacket.

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Disclaimer: Cool of the Wild received this product free in return for an honest review. We only recommend gear that we love from companies we trust and we are under no obligation to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are that of the reviewer and we are in no way influenced by the brand or company.

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