Montbell Versalite Rain Jacket Overview

Backside Line

The Montbell Versalite is without doubt one of the lightest jackets we’ve examined and stands out to us as one of many prime rain jackets in the marketplace for its superior air flow in an ultralight package deal. For many who depend each gram of their pack, this jacket is the apparent selection.

Extraordinarily breathable, the Versalite comes geared up with outsized pit zips that dump warmth and inner moisture. After taking this jacket on a number of outings together with mountain runs in Alaska’s Chugach Vary, we’re extraordinarily impressed with the way it breathes and the way light-weight it’s. That is one you may put in your pack and overlook it’s there. Coming with an included stuff sack, it crunches right down to the scale of an apple and you may shove it simply right into a backpack or pants pocket.

The concessions it makes for this light-weight are in climate resistance and sturdiness. In comparison with different burlier jackets in our lineup, it did moist by faster, significantly across the wrists and chin. However for these going out and in of the rain, or pairing this jacket with an umbrella or ultra-light poncho, it’ll preserve you dry sufficient whereas saving you ounces.

Consolation & Mobility

The Montbell Versalite is splendidly designed for consolation and an in depth match. A barely slender minimize matches thinner our bodies nicely and narrower arms cut back extra baginess across the cuffs. The jacket is supplied with velcro on the wrists in addition to waist changes, and a three-point adjustable hood.

Throughout our testing, we have been pleasantly stunned to seek out that it didn’t experience up, and lengthening our arms to full size nonetheless left the torso lined with out exposing the midriff. We took this mannequin on a number of runs and shifting our arms whereas operating felt unencumbered and light-weight. Whereas some ultralight jackets sacrifice consolation for lowered materials to convey down the burden, the Versalite nonetheless maintains a snug design.

Climate Resistance

We examined this Montbell Versalite underneath a number of totally different climate situations in numerous areas. On a late summer time hike within the Chugach Mountains of Alaska, we beloved utilizing it as a windproof layer, even when it wasn’t actively precipitating. As a result of it’s so mild and breathable, we had no issues utilizing this jacket to dam the wind even when it wasn’t raining.

We additionally put the Versalite to heavy use within the persistent drizzle of coastal Alaska. On hikes the place the jacket was confronted with all-day rain publicity, we did discover that it moist by sooner than its multi-layer counterparts. We discovered moisture getting into across the wrists and the chin however by no means by any zippers due to the absolutely taped zippers.

On a day that began fantastically sunny in Yellowstone’s backcountry, we have been glad to have thrown this jacket within the backside of the pack when a day thunderstorm rolled over the hills. When the heavy rain picked up and the hail pelted down, we have been comfortable to have carried it with us for a fast exit again to the trailhead. That is the place the jacket excels. When hikers are uncovered to transient and intense rains adopted by solar, it protects in storms and rapidly dries out afterward.

Air flow

The Versalite stands out to us as certainly one of our prime performers for air flow. The tremendous skinny material simply sheds physique warmth and sweat. We have been impressed by the outsized pit zips that run from the triceps right down to the mid-torso. These big vents open large throughout high-output actions and are a bonus in an already extremely breathable jacket.

We examined it on hikes and path runs and it breathed equally nicely throughout each actions. On runs, it was simple to cinch down the jacket to retain warmth on cooler days or open the jacket as much as dump warmth. On a day on the path the place that you must prioritize air flow and breathability, you’ll be reaching for the Montbell Versalite.

Sturdiness

Within the battle between weight and sturdiness, the Versalite favors being light-weight. Throughout successive exams, we observed the locations that wetted out first continued to moist out faster significantly across the cuffs and in opposition to the chin. That is the kind of jacket to scrub and re-waterproof usually and watch out to not snag on rocks, thorns and bushes. For these utilizing this intermittently or with solely mild publicity, then it would you should definitely suit your wants.

Weight

This mannequin earns excessive marks from us for weight. Coming in at a featherlight six ounces, it is without doubt one of the lightest and most packable jackets we’ve examined. The Versalite comes with an extra stuff sack that packs right down to in regards to the dimension of an apple. Whereas we want the jacket zipped into it’s personal pocket quite than an simply misplaced further bag, this packability is severely spectacular.

We love this mannequin on days when there could be intermittent rain or publicity to transient intervals of precipitation. It’s so mild, that it’s simple to throw in a day pack and overlook that it’s there. For weight-conscious hikers, this jacket is certain to please these weighing each merchandise of their package.

Ought to You Purchase the MontBell Versalite?

In the event you’re prioritizing weight and packability above all else in your rain jacket, then the Montbell Versalite is the one for you. It is without doubt one of the lightest we have now examined and most packable. With an included stuff sack, it packs right down to the scale of an apple and is definitely thrown in a pack and even pants pockets.

For those who want the very best stage of climate resistance, the Versalite won’t maintain up so long as the burlier coats in our lineup. However for these encountering intermittent rain or need to have an emergency layer they gained’t really feel of their pack, the Montbell would be the good selection.

What Different Rain Jackets Ought to You Think about?

Arc’teryx Beta Overview: Equally light-weight to the Versalite, however with a excessive diploma of climate resistance, light-weight meets bombproof within the Arc’teryx Beta.

Outside Analysis Foray II Overview: In the event you love the breathability of the Montbell Versalite, then the Foray will likely be an awesome match. With the largest zips of any jacket we’ve examined, it’s an awesome match for hikers who run scorching.

Marmot Precip Eco Overview: One other light-weight possibility, the Precip Eco matches into its zippered pocket and is only a few extra ounces heavier however at half the value.