Montane Icarus Stretch

£125

Montane released the original men’s Icarus and women’s Phoenix jackets in late 2017, and since then has followed them up with the more packable Icarus Lite, the hoodless Icarus Micro and the hybrid Icarus Flight. This version, the Icarus Stretch, is an evolution of the Flight, designed to offer core warmth while permitting freedom of movement. For an insulated jacket, it is very well articulated, comparable to a stretch fleece. This is down to its zoned construction consisting of PrimaLoft ThermoPlume fill in the body and stretchy side panels that extend underneath the arms too. There is now PrimaLoft Silver Eco recycled fill in the hood and shoulders, as well as a face fabric and lining that contain recycled polyester. ThermoPlume is a loose fill that has similar warmth to weight as 550 fill power down. The jacket’s slim cut puts this fill close to the body, so it delivers decent core warmth for such a lightly insulated layer, though the fleece inserts allow wind to cut through quite easily. But the trim fit means it’s not really a jacket you can throw on over a fleece. Nor does it deliver the boost of warmth we look for when we need an extra layer for cold summits. And paradoxically it’s not a great hillwalking mid layer either, as the insulation limits breathability and makes it too warm to wear when working hard.

IF WE’RE BEING FUSSY

It’s too light on features and fill to carry as an extra layer. It works better as a mid layer, but is a jacket that seems to fill a fairly specialist niche – well-suited to cold climbs, but perhaps less useful for hillwalkers.

■ FABRIC Pertex Quantum Eco 50% recycled polyester with DWR, 100% recycled PEAQ Synthetic ECO lining, Stria stretch fleece inserts

■ FILL 115g (M) PrimaLoft Black ThermoPlume insulation in the core body and over arms, 60g/m2 PrimaLoft Silver 100% recycled

■ MEN’S SIZES S-XXL

■ WOMEN’S SIZES 8-16 (Phoenix Stretch)

■ WEIGHT 470g (men’s L)

Verdict A lightweight layer that offers excellent freedom of movement. Slightly limited appeal to hillwalkers.

“Lightweight and offers excellent freedom of movement”