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 HITCH n HIKE > GEAR TESTS > MONTANE EXTREME SMOCK |
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Pile / Pertex clothing has been around for twenty years and its virtues are well known and documented. The system was developed by Hamish Hamilton of Buffalo who were the first company to produce it. Pile / Pertex clothing is widely regarded to be the best clothing system for use in cold wet and windy conditions - what else could you wear that at 0'C would dry out quickly and keep you warm after complete submersion in water? I've been using the stuff for twenty years, winter climbing, caving, paragliding, boating and biking, often in grotty cold conditions. I wouldn't use anything else, even though I can get my hands on anything! The Buffalo Special 6 Smock has always been my choice and years ago Montane gave me one of their new Extreme Smocks to try. It was good, but I always went back to the Buffalo as it was longer and fitted better. Over the years Montane have evolved the design of the Extreme so I figured it was time to replace a very worn out Buffalo with a new one of these and see what it was like. The Extreme is £80 and comes with a hood. I found the fit not to be quite as good or as close as the Buffalo with the small being too small and the medium fitting but just a tad roomy (Pile / Pertex has to be worn next to the skin and fit well in order work). |
There are a lot of features which arguably make it better than the Buffalo - the collar is higher and less constrictive, the elbows and forearms are reinforced, there's more venting through the pockets and the removeable hood is wired and has a volume adjuster.
Initial concerns were that the looser fit would have a detremental effect on performance but first time out, -4'C and a 20mph wind, stayed comfortable all day. Every other day since has boosted my confidence in it. Paddling down Windermere in January +1'C, 10-15mph wind, warm all day. So which is best - the Montane Extreme Smock and hood at £80 or the Buffalo Special Six with hood at £130? Well.... they're both good and both worth the money. I'd say the Montane is better for more general use due to its comfort and features but the Buffalo is better if you're wanting the absolute best performance possible. The quality of the pile used by Buffalo is better and because the sizing goes up in smaller increments you can get a more precise fit. If pack size is important the Buffalo scores, squashing down to about half the size. (Tested by Shaun: HNH staff, winter 2005/06) |
Frag on Windermere, January 2006.+1°C, 15-20mph wind, Montane Extreme Smock worn on its own next to the skin, warm all day! Photo: Shaun 01/2006 Enlarge 
Shaun on Windermere, January 2006.+1°C, 15-20mph wind, Montane Extreme Smock worn on its own next to the skin, warm all day! Photo: Frag 01/2006 Enlarge |
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