What the manufacturers say:

Designed and developed for climbing, the Alpha Guide Jacket gives effective insulation to the core body whilst leaving the arms free from any restriction. It combines the unique properties of PERTEX® Microlight Stretch, POLARTEC® Alpha and DRYACTIV Stretch to create a truly formidable jacket.

The Alpha Guide Jacket provides torso protection in a unique way, using the revolutionary POLARTEC® Alpha - the latest evolutionary step in synthetic insulation. With its open, woven construction, POLARTEC® Alpha combines warmth with hyper breathability, whilst at the same time being extremely compressible. This format of insulation is encased in PERTEX® Microlight Stretch, which provides high wind resistance combined with the stretch needed for climbing movement. The jacket also features a stretch hood that fits underneath a climbing helmet and stretch arms with thumb loops. The Alpha Guide is not so much a piece of clothing, rather a piece of climbing equipment.

Price: £140

Montane Alpha Guide Jacket

A dedicated climbers jacket that combines insulation and wind resistance with freedom of movement, the Montane Alpha Guide is equally at home trekking in the high mountains or on an alpine ascent. The synthetic insulated main body keeps the core warm while arms and hood allow stretch and movement.

Fabric: PERTEX® Microlight Stretch

Insulation: 80g POLARTEC® Alpha

Arm, shoulders and hood fabric: DRYACTIV Stretch

Shoulders and inner lower back lining: PEAQ Synthetic

Front and main back lining: PEAQ Hyper

Zips: YKK reverse coil

Weight (approx.): 458g / 16.2oz (M)

Montane Alpha Guide Jacket - Davy Wright

New technologies in fabrics seems to be moving forward leaps and bounds in the past few years. hardshell fabrics are becoming more breathable and some more like softshells. And there are more on the way.

The way the new fabrics are being used and combined gives manufacturers endless options. This method has brought on a new breed, the “hybrid”! I am always interested in how different types of fabrics and/or insulations are used together. Put together in the right combination other layers can be eliminated reducing weight from a pack.

The Alpha Guide jacket from Montane brings together various fabrics and Polartec’s new insulation to create this hybrid. The name could suggest that is restrictive to only certain people. This is certainly not the case. It can be used day to day, at the climbing wall between routes, on a stroll in the hills or on winter mixed climbing route.

The outer of the body of the jacket is Pertex Microlight Stretch, it is known to have great breathability and sheds light rain. The inner lining, which is stand out yellow on the version I have, is a new material for me. It is a combination of two Peaq materials that are strategically placed to benefit from their highly breathable nature. The Peaq Synthetic and Hyper material have a nice feel to them.

The Polartec Insulation sandwiched between the inner and the outer layer is where it gets a little techier. The formation of the insulation cells allows for the heat to be retained within whilst allowing perspiration to escape. Polartec probably explain it a bit better -

“By placing patented low density fibers between air permeable woven layers we created a more efficient fabric for regulating warmth and transferring moisture. This advancement increases thermal adaptability in changing conditions and different phases of physical activity.”

The idea is to have constant breathability, then when stationary the insultion properties will retain the bodies heat preventing the neagative affects of not bothering to getting another layer out when having a break.

You wouldn’t think that with how thick the insulation feels that it would be as warm as it is but the truth is this stuff keeps the warmth in very well.  The Alpha Guide has all the inslation around the core, and I have benefitted from it on several outings.

Sometimes it has been too much, on a mild day it has proven to be too warm. Really only when travelling uphill, once on the tops or downhill it’s ideal at maintaining heat.  When it’s cold I’ve found it to come in to it’s own. I’ve ice climbed in it and hiked in it under a shell in cold, wet and windy situations and I haven’t felt the need to layer up any further.

The arms and hood are Montane’s Dryactiv Stretch material. The hood is a neat scuba style, it is well shaped and is comfortable under a helmut.

The zip baffle is lined to prevent both snagging and increasing the the strength of the baffle against the wind. On the inside at the top end of the baffle a very comfortable chin guard, when the zip is pulled up to the top the fit is neat around the face. So the little piece of fleece is welcomed and well placed.

The hand pockets are a gem, they are perfectly placed for my packs hip belt and climbing harness. And in a genuis move they are insulated front and back. A great benefit when the extremities suffer from a bit of chill. The are a generous size for this type of jacket, they will hold a folded map but it won’t be prticularly comfortable.

The Dryactiv Stretch material is a good wind defence, only a slight affect when speed increases. Montanes website also refers to it as Mt. Thermo X Stretch.

The arms are articulated and with flatlock seems they are comfortable against the skin. The stretch allows them to minimise “hem lift”, according to the blurb on the site, but it doesn’t stop it completely and with this medium being a bit neat for me I suffered from it climbing up my back a little over time. Not drastically though. The thumb loops are very useful and the stretch of the material accomodates movement even with the active fit.

After one particularly warm walk off I did get a little sweaty. The torso area of the jacket repelled the sweat stench but the Dryactiv material did pong after it.

It has started to bobble on the underside of the wrist area, not massively but it is showing wear. I can only associate tie with rubbing on a hipbelt whilst walking or across a harness. There are no signs of friction signs on the rest of the jacket.

My Thoughts…

I have seen talk on social media that this type insulation could be a fleece killer. This Polartec Alpha out performed my expectations, I don’t see it eradicating the fleece from your outdoor wardrobe but it will probably hang there dormant far longer.

The Montane Alpha Guide is a versatile bit of kit. It packs down and is light enough to have in your pack all year round. In winter you will probably just have it on as standard. I know I will. As I said a couple of times, it is a neat fit but it’s supposed to be. Or Active fit as it is known.

The RRP is £140 but you can find it for between £90 - £105 if you look. I’d say it’s worth it. It’s an alrounder and you certainly don’t need to be a guide to justify having one.