This last winter season, ski instructor Ola Parkes had the opportunity to test out the Montec Doom Womens Ski Shell Jacket. This jacket strikes a good balance between style, functionality and affordability. She put the jacket through its paces to give you the most honest review by braving the usual mountain conditions including wind, snow, rain, sun, while ski touring, off-piste and even a heli-skiing trip.
Montec Doom Womens Ski Jacket Review: Intro
First things first, I was surprised by how many compliments I received from the first time I wore it and how many of my friends have bought the jacket as a result. From a style perspective, I think that reaction speaks for itself. I chose to test out the black version, however a friend bought the cobalt version (after seeing my jacket) and the colours really do pop. It’s a flattering fit for all as it falls straight and you can adjust the hem and waist to how you want. I kept it loose as I preferred the looser fit and tightened the hem when I was skiing powder the wind picked up.
I have to be honest and say that I was sceptical of the quality and how it would look when it arrived vs. what it looks like on the website for the price (retailing at £219), however, it greatly surpassed my expectations. It feels durable and hard-wearing, the zips work smoothly and there’s not one part of this jacket that feels flimsy. Despite being made from recycled polyester PET, even when sweating, the jacket felt breathable whilst also being windproof and kept me warm too. Despite its durability, the jacket feels lightweight so I never felt encumbered when skiing and was also useful to stick in my bag when ski touring.
Montec Doom Womens Ski Jacket Review: Design and Build
The quality and attention to detail that really impressed me were the wrist gaiters and the Velcro on the wrists and pockets. Maybe not the most glamorous part of the jacket but an area that a lot of other brands would skimp on material and quality, these both felt solid and long-lasting.
Pockets. Where do I even begin? There are a lot of them in the Montec Doom Womens Ski Shell Jacket, and it does take some getting used to finding them all. There may have been a few moments where I could feel an item in a front pocket but couldn’t remember which one I’d put it in; however, over time, you do find the pockets that work for you. I loved the phone pocket in the top (although maybe could’ve been a bit wider) with the headphone cord. Again a small detail but makes a difference.
The pockets that I didn’t use at all were the internal ones. They’re netted and spacious, however, the process of undoing the jacket to get access to them was too much of a faff for me. The only time that I felt that the position of the pockets was a burden was when I went heli-skiing or was skiing off-piste and I was wearing a transceiver at my chest. If I had anything in those front pockets, it felt bulky and uncomfortable, especially then with a backpack on with the straps around my chest and waist.
It managed to withstand a lot of rain and snow, without losing its waterproofing (Montec claim the DWR treatment is eco-friendly) and kept me dry with the help of the taped seams. Standing on top of the mountain in a white out, it felt very windproof too! When the weather got warmer, the large underarm vents, (with two zips) were a great help and unlike some other brands, you didn’t suddenly develop wings when open.
I really liked the high neck, so you had protection from the wind even if you forgot your buff and with it being a microfleece chin guard, you feel protected and don’t get a skin rash either.
Which brings me onto the asymmetrical zip. I have a love, hate relationship with this. (Yes, I chose to test this jacket being fully aware of the design of it.) I love this anorak-style design and absolutely, a zip is better than no zip. However, as I mentioned above, it felt like more of an effort to unzip to get access to the internal pockets, especially if you’ve already got something in the external pockets as this will weigh it down when it’s open. Of course, you can unzip halfway, however from my own experience, this is a jacket to have fully zipped up or off.
Montec Doom Womens Ski Jacket Review: Verdict
The Montec Doom Womens Ski Shell is a jacket that has been thoroughly thought through with every aspect covered, even the orange tips of the zips. Maybe a tiny detail but really made all the difference when in a variety of situations from a white out to a dark bar. Montec have also managed to create a hood that is compact when not in use, fits over a helmet and also possible to wear without a helmet without swamping you.
I liked that the branding is minimal and discreet with small logos on the front and back and a raised logo on the sleeve openings. Delivery was fast and the packaging was minimal which sets a great precedent for other companies to follow suit. The company is bluesign approved and uses solution dyed fabrics to minimise pollution.
Overall, the Montec Doom Womens Ski Shell really exceeded my expectations. It’s a fantastic choice for skiers or snowboarders looking for a well-made and durable yet affordable and stylish jacket that’ll protect you from the elements.
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