Tried & Tested | Montec
Montec Men’s Arch Ski Jacket £201
Montec Men’s Arch Bib Pants £201
It feels like we’re a little late to the party in trying this Montec kit. After seeing loads of its suits, and those of its sister brand Dope, both on the slopes and on TV (Max Hitzig, Freeride World Tour Champion – and current tour leader – was a Montec athlete) for the last couple years, it was high-time we got hold a full outfit for review. After all, it is quite rare that a new brand breaks in on the scene and establishes itself in the crowded and ultra-competitive ski-apparel space. So, what is the story here? Where has this brand come from, how have they seen such success, and how does the kit stack up?
Let’s give the brand a brief introduction before examining the kit.
Montec was conceived in 2006 by two Swedish brothers who knew from their years of experience as the ‘middlemen’ (working as online distributors) that apparel brands were missing a trick by not listening to what their customers wanted, not to mention the cost savings that were possible if brands were to sell to the customers directly via a website. They developed their own modern designs, launched an easy-to-use website and voila, they were ready to make a splash.
The cool thing is that the founding brothers, Emil and Linus, have passed the cost-saving benefits of selling direct-to-consumer onto the customer, so their kit is super well-priced for its performance. When they sent us the Arch jacket and bib pants for review we were quite stunned at the RRP of just £200 for each item. Of course, some would-be customers will be put off by ‘good-value’ kit such as this, but we reckon anything that helps more people get into snowsports is good news, and as you can see in the review below, the quality of the kit speaks for itself.
Many readers who have been on trips in the last few years will instantly recognise the Montec/Dope signature style of matching jacket and bib with modern colours and cuts. It is a distinctly ‘contemporary’ style, with similar looking outfits for men and women. Despite there being a load of colour options and a bunch of different pockets and zip configurations available, all the items are very recognisable as the same brand. This tends to give brands a strong identity.
In our opinion, the Arch jacket and bib are the most suitable for all-mountain and off-piste skiing. The anorak-type zip, offered in some other models, is simply less practical when trekking around off-piste. Looking more closely at the specifications of the different models, you quickly notice that there is little ‘technical’ difference between the offerings. Essentially, Montec has a formula for their outerwear: 20k-20k waterproof/breathable material, with an option to have it in an insulated version or shell version. Pick a style, colour, size and off you go.
One thing Montec probably doesn’t make enough noise about is their commitment to more sustainable practices
As for the appearance and fit on the mountain, I received complements and questions from family and friends as soon as I started skiing in the Arch jacket and bib. That genuinely rarely happens in gear triple the price. I should mention, Montec sent us a size Medium for testing, but I found, despite being over 6’1″ and quite broad-shouldered, I had enough room for comfortable, athletic skiing; the cuffs and sleeves were surprisingly long enough and the extra length of the jacket compensated for my height well. Even the powder-skirt was still buttonable around my waist (however, I would opt for the Large if I were to buy it). In fact, the powder skirt is a good place to start when looking to see if any cost-saving corners have been cut, and I have to report the stitching and buttons here felt as durable as any I have seen, which is a good nod to the durability of this outfit.
Another good indicator of quality of craftsmanship is the size of the velcro patches for sleeve adjustment at the wrists – these are excellent. There are also wrist gaiters at the cuffs, which I never use, but I appreciated that these ones were comfortable and could be used all day without cutting off any circulation. The kick patches on the inside leg to protect against ski edge slashes are perfectly adequate for multiple seasons’ use.
All the zips functioned well. In fact, I really struggled to find where, if any, costs had been saved in the construction. Perhaps the taping and stitching of the panels isn’t as neat as the smartly taped seams of the highest-end kit, meaning that close-up it doesn’t look quite as slick and refined.
Another thing I did notice was that the shell jacket and shell bib were slightly heavier than my equivalent in the more classic high-end brands. This likely comes down to the use of two-layer waterproofing rather than the top-end three-layer. We think 2L performance is 100% adequate for all resort and most off-piste riding. At only a couple hundred grams here or there, it is perhaps a difference you would only start to notice on long days touring.
The Arch definitely has a more ‘comfy’ feel to it than the high-performance shells from other brands. The upside is that the material feels durable, and fairly soft, as opposed to crinkly and noisy. And the 20,000g/20,000mm breathability and waterproofing numbers are not to be sniffed at either. My personal opinion is that for very active skiing, anything over 15k/15k is going to be great.
What else? There was some neat innovation, such as the bib braces, which were adjustable with only one buckle, keeping buckles away from backpack straps and avoiding pressure points. The strap was comically long, but I suppose it could be trimmed to fit easily enough.
The hood was designed to fit over a helmet with ease and to be cinched down against the wind.
I like the fact that the ventilation slots on the bib are positioned on the inner thigh where most of the heat is generated. They are mesh-lined also meaning you can happily ski with them open.
I thought the bib’s elasticated cuffs slotted over my ski boots well and the zippered hems helped them stretch over my massive snowboard boots no problems also.
Personally, I found the front of the bib to come up a little high on my chest; this seams to be the current trend for a lot of brands but personally, I would prefer extra breathability and a lower bib at the front – I have never had a problem with snow coming in the front under my jacket, only the back.
The pockets are excellently positioned on both the jacket and the bib pant – they are large enough to stow food, spare bits of kit etc. No problems here.
One thing Montec probably doesn’t make enough noise about is their commitment to more sustainable practices.
The Arch uses a PFAS-free DWR waterproofing treatment, solution dying, and incredibly, recycled polyester throughout all, yes all, of the shell and the insulation (should you opt for the insulated model, which we wouldn’t for European use). These are the sorts of stats consumers need to be looking for, we think.
Verdict
Impressive. The cut of the suit, the long list of features, the performance, durability and colourways, are all on point. And this is before even checking the price tag.
