I recently tested out the Montane Anti-Freeze XT Hoodie in Slate colour, paired with the Terra Route Pants in Oak Green during my time in Banff, Canada. My time there involved a combination of walking around Banff in -12C temperatures, and filming outdoors for 12 hour periods in constant snowfall.

Montane Anti-Freeze XT Hoodie specifications:

Image courtesy of Montane

• 210g 750+ fill power water resistant down insulation
• Water repellent and windproof nylon rip-stop outer fabric
• Mountain fit allows for additional layering beneath the jacket
• Packs into its own stuff sack

Montane Terra Route Pants specifications:

Image courtesy of Montane

• Microfleece lined waistband
• Zipped fly with press snap and button closure
• Removable webbing belt
• Pre-articulated knees and gusseted crotch
• Two mesh lined hand pockets with YKK zips
• Zipped inner security pocket and thigh pocket
• Zipped volume adjustable lower legs

I recently tested out the Montane Anti-Freeze XT Hoodie in Slate colour, paired with the Terra Route Pants in Oak Green during my time in Banff, Canada. My time there involved a combination of walking around Banff in -12C temperatures, and filming outdoors for 12 hour periods in constant snowfall.

Fit:

Anti-Freeze XT Hoodie

I’m 5ft 10 with fairly broad shoulders, and I was wearing the Large XT Hoodie. I spend a lot of my time outdoors, photographing and filming in a whole host of environments. So when I look for clothes, I want something comfortable and a fit that will allow me to move freely. Whether this be kneeling on the ground to get a shot or stretching my arms up to get a higher angle with the camera.

The XT Hoodie allows the movement I’m after. It doesn’t have a tight fitting hem that drags all your layers when moving your arms up, nor does it feel tight on the chest when stretching your arms back. Their mountain fit design is to thank for this, it allows you to layer up underneath the jacket, without compromising a good fit.

Terra Route Pants

I wore the Terra Route Pants in size Large, with Regular leg length. Much like the XT Hoodie, I found the Terra Route Pants fit very well. I like how Montane have a simple, yet a wide choice of sizing; they offer XS - XXL, in addition to offering a short, regular or long leg length fit. An additional feature that they included was a simple, removable belt which is always a bonus for me.

Features / Details:

Anti-Freeze XT Hoodie

The XT Hoodie has the ‘standard’ features of an average down jacket; cinchable hem, elastic cuffs and zipped hand pockets. A few of the features that stood out to me where the adjustable helmet compatible hood, extra hang loop, water-resistant down and the stuff sac.

One of my favourite features is the draw string on the hoodie, that allows you to bring the hood in tighter around your head to protect you from the elements. When you want to hide away, you can drawer the hood tighter and zip all the way up. The zip then covers your mouth, leaving little to be exposed to the cold. This adjustable hood is also compatible with a helmet, I didn’t try this feature in ‘the field’, but did test it whilst writing this…. I paired it with a Petzl Meteor helmet - and it works! It fits well, and doesn’t leave you feeling like your vision is being compromised like you get with some other ‘helmet compatible’ jackets.

The extra hang loop on the back of the coat was a great little addition. I questioned it at first when I first saw it, but when it came to hanging the wet jacket up after getting caught in a freak shower it dried well. Having the extra hand loop allows you to dry the exterior of the jacket without leaving creases which don’t get dried as fast as other areas.

The stuff sac, despite being a small feature, is an incredibly useful one. Especially when it came to flying back to the UK from Canada. The stuff sac reduced the space the jacket took in my backpack. Because the stuff sac is so useful, I’d suggest keeping it in the internal zipped pocket - I personally don’t use this pocket too often, meaning it’ll decrease the chance of you losing it!

Another feature of the Hoodie is that the jacket is filled using HyperDRY Water Resistant Down. This means when you’re out and you get caught out in a shower you don’t need to worry too much about your down getting ruined by the rain. The HyperDRY down helps maintain the down structure/ loft, whilst keeping you warm for longer and aiding in drying quicker. The XT Hoodie’s outer fabric is also water repellent and windproof, which adds to this defence against the elements.

Terra Route Pants

The first feature that comes to mind for me is the stretchiness of these trousers. Like described before, when I’m outdoors I want to be comfortable and be able to move. The Terra Route Pants enable this very well.

Montane boast their “Terra Route Trousers are durable, water resistant and abrasion resistant created using tough, stretchy and wind-resistant GRANITE STRETCH fabric. Making them perfect for a range of outdoor activities including walking and trekking offering excellent levels of comfort and freedom of movement.”  This hits the nail on the head.

From kneeling down, and lying on the ground to film lower angles, the stretch of the fabric makes in very comfortable and easily manoeuvrable. Some outdoor trousers I’ve experienced with a good amount of manoeuvrability, then compromise on the longevity of the fabric. However this isn’t the case with these because they’ve reinforced the stress points - namely the knee area.

Moreover, the GRANITE STRETCH fabric is windproof and water resistant, which means you can push yourself in the outdoors that bit more without worry to what the weather is doing. A small detail that all the pockets are zipped, is a bonus to me. It enables that piece of mind that when outside, there is no possibility that phones, bank cards, or for me, camera batteries will fall out.

Comfort:

Anti-Freeze XT Hoodie

This is where all the above mentioned featured come in; the comfort factor.

Tying in the elasticated cuffs, lightweight/ packable fabric and the HyperDRY Down which keeps the jackets loft, I find the XT Hoodie incredibly comfortable.

Since using it daily in Canada, the use hasn’t stopped back here in the U.K. The only reason I’ve chose not to wear it on the odd day has been because it’s been too warm!

Terra Route Pants

It’s as if they are custom fit. They are incredibly comfortable, even after 12 hours of hiking, kneeling and rolling around on the ground. Even though these trousers aren’t designed specifically for cold temperatures, I was very comfortable in -12C. The wind proof aspect of the GRANITE STRETCH fabric helped on this front.

Overall

I would highly recommend the XT Hoodie for temperatures between 10C and below, it pairs perfectly with active use in the outdoors and cold temperatures. I thoroughly enjoy wearing this jacket, it’s incredibly well designed and thought out for outdoor use when you want to push further.

This goes for the Terra Route Pants too. I can honestly say that these will be my go to outdoor trousers for film and photo shoots. I probably wouldn’t use them again for extreme cold temperatures, but it’s comforting to see that even if I did, they’d offer more protection than I originally thought!

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