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Reviews > Clothing > Jackets and Vests > MontBell EX Lt Down Anorak - 2019 > Test Report by Brian HartmanMONTBELL EX LIGHT DOWN ANORAK TESTER INFORMATION
I have been backpacking for over 20 years throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and most recently in the Western USA. In addition to backpacking I enjoy family camping with my wife and kids and being outdoors in general. I would describe myself as a mid weight backpacker. I use fairly light weight equipment and gear but still like to bring more than the bare essentials with me while on the trail. INITIAL REPORT PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Montbell Year of Manufacture: 2019 Manufacturer's Website: http://www.montbell.us/ MSRP: $299 US Listed Weight: 7.6 oz (215 g) Measured Weight: 7.6 oz (217 g) Size Medium Fabric: 7-denier Ballistic Airlight rip-stop nylon shell Fill weight: 3 oz (85 g) Insulation: 900 Fill Power EX Down DWR: Standard DWR treatment Compressed size: 4.7 x 7.9 in (12 x 20 cm) Center back length: 28 in (71 cm) Available Colors: Blue, Grey, Red Available sizes: S, M, L, XL Features (as noted on manufacturer's website): Sewn-thru construction 13.4 in (34 cm) Half zip 2-way adjustable hood Elastic cuffs Single non-zippered thru-pocket Adjustable hem to conserve body heat Stuff sack included PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The Montbell EX Light Down Anorak (hereafter called the EX Light, Montbell anorak, or jacket) is an ultra-light, half zip pullover with a DWR finish and non-removable hood. It is part of Montbell's EX Light product line which, as stated on their website, is for "gram counting trail demons". The jacket is crazy light at 7.6 oz (215 g) and unbelievably compressible, capable of fitting in a 4.7 x 7.9 in (12 x 20 cm) stuff sack. Montbell notes that the EX Light anorak was redesigned this year to include a 2-way adjustable hood and a fully insulated tunnel pocket. In addition to these improvements, the down fill weight was increased to 900 and the jacket's baffle shape was improved to produce greater loft and warmth. The EX Light has a 7-denier Ballistic Airlight rip-stop nylon shell as well as elastic cuffs and an adjustable hem to help retain body heat. The EX Light has a half-length zipper, measuring 13.5 in (34 cm), that extends from its neckline to the lower chest area. The top of the zipper has a chin guard. The anorak also has left and right-hand pockets that join in the middle to form a through-pocket. The thru pocket measures 15 x 6 in (38 x 15 cm). The length of the jacket from neck to waist is 26 in (66 cm) and the waist is 42 in (107 cm). As I mentioned in the product specifications, the waist features an adjustable hem, via elastic cord and a cord lock, that allows it to be cinched tight to prevent drafts. The hood is fully adjustable with elastic cord and cord locks on the front and a hook-and-loop adjustment on the back. The hood can't be removed from the jacket, but it can be cinched down via the cord locks and hook and loop strap. CARE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARRANTY: Montbell provides care instructions for the EX Light on a label that's sewn inside the jacket. The label recommends the following procedure for washing and drying the anorak: Use down specific detergent. Wash in gentle cycle with cold water and hang to dry. If using a dryer, tumble dry on low heat. Do NOT wash frequently. Washing at the end of the season should be enough. Finally, Montbell's warranty covers all defects in materials and workmanship to the original owner for the lifetime of the product. Montbell will repair or replace the jacket if it ever fails due to a manufacturing defect.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS The
EX Light arrived at my doorstep in a cardboard box that was so
small and light I almost didn't believe there was a winter coat inside.
The anorak looked SHARP in Charcoal Grey and appeared to be very
well made. I couldn't find any flaws, blemishes, or loose
threads anywhere, and the stitching was flawless.
The workmanship and attention to detail was obvious.
The anorak is fully insulated with 900 fill down and sports
a permanent hood, which is a big plus as far as I'm concerned. The
jacket drapes well and the inner and nylon shell are smooth and
soft. It is however only 7-denier, so I am somewhat concerned
about its long-term durability, although Montbell purports it to be
"durable enough to withstand the rigors of normal use for an insulated
inner piece". I was originally planning to wear it as an outer
layer, but after reading this I think I will wear it as a middle layer,
at least when wearing a pack or when it may otherwise be subject to
abrasion, such as when I'm hiking off-trail. I'll keep a watchful
eye on it for wear and report back if any down feathers try to escape. SUMMARY The
Montbell EX Light down anorak is well-designed and well-constructed. I
really like its large through-pocket, as well as its fully adjustable
hood, and waist hem. This anorak is incredibly lightweight and
compressible, and I suspect it will be a great layering piece this
winter. I'm anxious to see how well its DWR coating works and am
hoping to give it a thorough test as soon as possible, without
putting myself in too much peril. At minimum I expect it to shed
light rain for several minutes, but I'm hoping it provides some greater
degree of waterproofness. As temperatures continue to drop, it
won't be long before wearing the EX Light becomes a necessity, and I
look forward to backpacking in it during the next several months. FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS During the past two months I took the EX Light on three backpacking trips and wore it while biking and on day hikes. I used it as both a mid and outer-layer jacket during testing, depending on the weather and what I was doing. My first overnight trip was for two days to the Hoosier National Forest, Indiana (IN). Temperatures ranged from 36 to 39 F (2 to 4 C) with moderate winds of 12 to 15 mph (19 to 24 km/h). Skies
were overcast both days while the trails were hilly
and muddy from rain earlier in the month. I hiked
approximately 8 mi (13 km) the first day and 5 mi (8 km) the second day
and stayed mostly on-trail. Elevations ranged from 520 to 790 ft
(158 – 241 m). Location: Hoosier National Forest My
second trip was to Northern Ohio in the Mayfield and Hudson areas to
visit family. While there I hiked in the local Metro parks as
well as the Cuyahoga National Forest. Temperatures were slightly
cooler on this trip with a high of 35 F (2 C) on the second day.
Location: N Ohio My
third trip was for three nights to NE Wisconsin (WI). Daytime
temperatures were in the mid 30's F (1.7 C) with a low around 31 F
(-0.6 C) and elevations ranged from 570 to 780 ft (174 to 238 m). Location: Near Francis Creek, WI PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD During Field Testing I used the EX Light as both a mid and outer layer jacket and am pleased with its performance so far. It saw light rain, snow, moderate winds, and temperatures down to 22 F (-5.5 C), and was warm, comfortable, breathable, and sufficiently durable. Below are additional details regarding how it fared.
Warmth
- Thanks to 900 fill down with excellent loft, the EX Light was
sufficient as an outer layer in temperatures down to 45 F (7
C). I could still wear it below that temperature but
needed to hike aggressively to stay warm. When temperatures
reached freezing (32 F or 0 C) I had to wear a shell over the
Anorak to stay warm. Having the hood and adjustable waist cord to
keep cold air out, made a big difference. Without the hood and
waist cord I would have been cold much sooner. Speaking of the
hood and elastic waist band, the EX Light did a great job of blocking
wind. Consequently, I never felt chilled even in wind gusting up
to 15 mph (24 km/h). In addition, because the insulation was sewn
into baffles and didn't shift, I felt no cold spots.
Finally, the through-pocket allowed me to quickly warm my hands
without undoing zippers and because my hands could touch each other
they seemed to warm up quicker. Ventilation / breathability - The Anorak breathed well during Field Testing. On a few occasions I generated enough body heat that moisture built up inside the jacket, but I never felt sweaty or clammy. Any moisture that accumulated inside the EX Light during aggressive backpacking quickly evaporated when I opened the zipper and lifted the waist section of the jacket to air out. Overall, I'd give this jacket an average score in terms of breathability. Weather
Resistance - As I mentioned above, the EX Light did a very good job of
blocking wind. The elastic around the sleeves and waist helped in
that regard, as there was no room for air to come in at the cuffs or
the waistline. The shell did a decent job of shedding water
but eventually it started soaking in on the shoulders, arms and sides
of the jacket. I brought a waterproof shell with me on
all the trips above and tried to never let the jacket get soaking
wet on the outside. Of course, the EX Light wasn't meant
to endure heavy rain or snow, so I stopped short of subjecting it
to those conditions. LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
I wore the EX Light on two overnight backpacking trips during Long Term Testing and hiked approximately 21 miles (33.5 km) across
forested and hilly terrain. Temperatures were in the low 30s
F (0 C) on
first trip, and in the low 20's F (-6 C) on my second trip.
In
addition, I wore it around town and to my local parks where, on at
least two occasions, temperatures reached as high as the low 50's F (11
C). Trip One: 2 day, 2 night backpacking trip in Franklin County, Indiana (IN) Trip Two: 2 day, 2 night backpacking trip to the Charles Deam Wilderness Area in Southern Indiana (IN) PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD The
EX Light performed well during Long Term Testing and has become
one of my favorite winter jackets, thanks to its warmth, wind
resistance, and ultra-lightweight design. Having said this, I
highly recommend donning a waterproof shell if snow and rain
are in the forecast. The reason is that snow and rain can
soak through the shell and into the down insulation, ruining its loft,
since the shell has a DWR coating only and no sealed seams, so it isn't
waterproof. On my first trip of the test period I hiked mostly off trail since the ground was frozen and there wasn't much brush to contend with. It was cool and windy so I was glad to be wearing the EX Light and thankful it had an integrated hood and handwarmer pocket. I set up camp on the edge of a forest in a small clearing, just far enough away from tall trees, in case the top of one was to snap off in the windy conditions. After setting up camp I built a small fire and hung out by it for a while before cooking dinner and then retiring to my tent. On my second outing I hiked several miles in from the trailhead and setup camp on a ridge about a quarter mile from a large lake. After pitching my tent, I hiked down to the lake and hung out for an hour or so before heading back to my campsite. Once back I gathered some firewood and then made dinner. I turned in for the night around 10pm and didn't wake up till morning. After packing my tent, I hiked to a peninsula that I knew had great lake views and set up camp there. While hiking I was able to regulate my body temp by opening and closing the front chest zipper, so I never got sweaty. The snow gave the forest a peaceful vibe. The evening was quiet and uneventful, and I packed out the following morning.
I haven't washed the jacket yet so I can't report on that, but it's held up well to the shoulder straps on my pack as well as the waist belt. SUMMARY Montbell's
EX Light is a high quality down jacket with nice features.
It's well suited for winter backpacking, hiking and
many other cold weather activities. During testing it
was comfortable, warm, and provided good wind protection thanks to
its integrated hood. It also breathed well and was durable,
although I was still cautious when going off trail so as not to tear
its thin nylon shell. This concludes my Long Term Report. Thanks to Montbell and BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to test this jacket. Read more reviews of MontBell gear Read more gear reviews by Brian Hartman Reviews > Clothing > Jackets and Vests > MontBell EX Lt Down Anorak - 2019 > Test Report by Brian Hartman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comfort
and fit – The EX Light has a soft outer shell and smooth inner
lining that makes it not only comfortable but easy to put on
and take off. The fabric is thin, at 7-denier, and this worries
me somewhat, but I have yet to snag it on any tree branches or
brush. In general, when wearing it as an outer layer I tried
to stay on-trail to avoid sharp objects that could rip the
jacket. As for fit, the EX Light has plenty of room in the chest,
waist, arms and arm pits. The sizing chart
on Montbell's website indicated a Medium would be plenty large for me,
and that turned out to be true. I usually where a long sleeve
mid-weight base layer under the Anorak and that seems to be enough most
of the time. 
