Featuring the latest membrane innovation from Gore-Tex, the Makalu Jacket will keep you protected from the elements, no matter what
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(Image credit: Wandering Workshops/Emma McHale)
(Image credit: Wandering Workshops/Emma McHale)
T3 Verdict
Reasons to buy+Bluesign-approved laminate+Lighter and more resilient than traditional GORE-TEX+Fair Wear approved+Plenty of storage options, incl. internal zipped chest pocket+Fully windproofReasons to avoid-There could be more clearing under the armpits
Reasons to buy+Bluesign-approved laminate+Lighter and more resilient than traditional GORE-TEX+Fair Wear approved+Plenty of storage options, incl. internal zipped chest pocket+Fully windproof
Bluesign-approved laminate
Lighter and more resilient than traditional GORE-TEX
Fair Wear approved
Plenty of storage options, incl. internal zipped chest pocket
Fully windproof
Reasons to avoid-There could be more clearing under the armpits
There could be more clearing under the armpits
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Jump to category:Price and availabilitySpecificationsDesign and build qualityPerformanceVerdictAlso consider
Jump to category:Price and availabilitySpecificationsDesign and build qualityPerformanceVerdictAlso consider
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I love it when I get to test specialised gear in the appropriate environment, which is exactly what happened during this Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket review. I was invited to a trip to the Scottish Highlands in September 2023 to see how the latest membrane innovation from Gore-Tex fares in harsh environments, especially up in the mountains surrounding the quaint little town of Aviemore.
Should you buy the Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket, even if you aren’t planning an imminent trip to the mountains? Read my review below to find out.
[First reviewed October 2023]
Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket review
Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket review: price and availability
The Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket is available to buy now inwomen’sandmen’s versionsat Mountain Equipment UK and Mountain Equipment US (women’sandmen’s) for a recommended retail price of £300/ $399.95 (approx. AU$ 574) – AU price and availability TBC.
Both come in four colours. The women’s colourways are Spruce/Deep Teal, Majolica/Capsicum, Stellar/Majolica and Amethyst/Medieval. Men’s colourways include Imperial Red/Crimson, Mykonos/Majolica, Dusk/Cosmos and Topaz/Majolica.
Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket review: specifications
(Image credit: Wandering Workshops/Emma McHale)
(Image credit: Wandering Workshops/Emma McHale)
Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket review: design and build quality
(Image credit: Wandering Workshops/Hannah Bailey)
(Image credit: Wandering Workshops/Hannah Bailey)
As the name suggests, Mountain Equipment is in the business of providing mountaineers with durable, weatherproof gear for inhospitable environments. Therefore, the Makalu Jacket is primarily designed for mountaineering, mountain walking and trekking and has several features to enable the garment and its user to survive in harsh conditions.
The Makalu Jacket has what Mountain Equipment calls an Alpine Fit, which is between the tighter Active Fit and the roomier Mountain Fit. I wore the coat over abase layerand afleece mid-layer, and the only area I would’ve appreciated some more room was under the armpits.
Pockets are aplenty, and they are also voluminous. You get two zipped hand pockets that are big enough to house maps, a zipped Napoleon chest pocket and even a laminated internal zipped chest pocket. All external pockets have YKK WR zips for added weather protection. (Mountain Equipment recommends putting your valuables in a waterproof pouch inside the pockets for maximum protection.)
The Mountain HC Hood is fully helmet-compatible but works well without one, thanks to the drawcord at the back that can be adjustable using one hand only. The hem cuffs and the hem are fully adjustable, too, to keep draft out of the jacket. The Makalu Jacket also has pit zips for extra ventilation when required.
Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket review: performance
(Image credit: Wandering Workshops/Emma McHale)
(Image credit: Wandering Workshops/Emma McHale)
As mentioned above, I first tried the Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket in Scotland, in the mountains surrounding Aviemore. I found it fascinating that the temperature dropped so suddenly the higher you went. In town, we wore nothing but a t-shirt, and our fleeces zipped all the way down, but half an hour of ascent later, there weren’t enough layers in the world to keep us protected from the wind and cold.
Which, of course, was the perfect playground to test the capabilities (and limitations) of the jacket, as the wind was quite literally blowing through our bones as we were going from ridge to ridge. And, not surprisingly, the Makalu Jacket did pretty well, keeping me protected from the gust. I liked the pockets that could hide my hands as well as my phone, etc., which was useful as I forgot to bring mycold-weather gloveswith me.
The hood was extremely useful, and better still, I could test the helmet compatibility of the Mountain HC Hood during the mountain biking sections of the trip (it works perfectly). There wasn’t tons of rain during the trip, but I managed to test the waterproofness of the Makalu Jacket after I returned home (the joys of living in the UK). As expected, the water rolls off the membrane without ever getting the chance to penetrate the outer shell.
At 518 grams, the Makalu Jacket isn’t the lightest waterproof jacket on the market, but considering the protection it provides, it’s pretty darn lightweight. Better still, it can be folded up easily and when in a ball, the jacket takes up very little space in yourhiking backpack.
Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket review: verdict
(Image credit: Wandering Workshops/Emma McHale)
(Image credit: Wandering Workshops/Emma McHale)
There is very little, if anything, to criticise about the Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket. It’s a superb waterproof shell that will keep you protected from the elements in the mountains, where this jacket belongs. It can be used anywhere else, too, especially if you need a reliable, durable, waterproof shell for walking or cycling.
The innovative Gore-Tex ePE membrane does what it says in the box and provides ample protection from wind and rain without sacrificing breathability. The jacket has plenty of storage space and is adjustable to the nth degree to ensure the perfect fit in any environment.
I appreciate the reduced environmental impact of the jacket. The Gore-Tex membrane is FC-free, and the jacket’s laminate construction is also bluesign-approved. Even more importantly, Mountain Equipment is a Fair Wear brand, meaning they are supposed to treat factory workers better.
Best of all, although it isn’t cheap, the Makalu Jacket is far from super expensive and provides tons of benefits for its wearer. An excellent choice for the environmentally-conscious mountaineer/hiker/walker!
Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket review: also consider
The lightweight Berghaus MTN Guide Hyper Alpha jacket uses a unique combination of technical materials to deliver warmth, waterproof protection and breathability. While it might not replace a full winter jacket, it does an excellent job in anything short of full winter, and for anyone looking for a low-weight, weatherproof single-piece garment, it’s well worth a look on that basis alone. Read Mark’s fullBerghaus MTN Guide Hyper Alpha Jacket review.
Mountain Equipment Makalu GTX Waterproof Jacket: Price Comparison
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