UKC

Replacing Montane's popular Flux jacket, the Respond XT offers the lightweight and functional warmth of a synthetic belay jacket at an attractive price that may well appeal to winter walkers as much as climbers and mountaineers, reckons John McKenna.

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I bought one of these at the start of the winter at a very good sale price, wanting a robust knock around jacket for a variety of activities but not specifically as a belay jacket. I tend to find that Montane items come up small on me and at 6 ft/40 inch chest I opted for a size large and it is about right. As a result a helmet is not a tight fit under the hood. My main belay jacket is a Rab Generator Alpine, which is about the same weight. The Rab is noticeably warmer than the Montane, just as weatherproof but doesn't feel as robust.

Hi John,

I picked up one of these for £100, to replace my current ME Compressor 60/40g Primaloft. It seems a significant step up in warmth and face coverage, than Compressor, yet still packs small enough to hang from harness. I can stuff both jacket and belay mitts into 5L Drybag comfortably.

I agree cuffs are tight, velcro surplus to requirements. A simple thin elastic cuff would be a big improvement, easier to take off over gloves and mitts, prior to stuffing in bag.

As a hardcore belay jacket, only one chest pocket and drop pocket would be enough, it doesn't stuff into a pocket as stated above.

Hood's fine, goes over my helmet (Meteor) and shell. If anything, my Haglofs shell hood could be bigger for comfort.

Length wise is short, less faff zipping up over harness, don't really need to zip up from bottom.

I'm suitably impressed by mine, seems really good value for what I paid.

Stuart 

Hi Stuart,

Good deal on that, sounds like maybe both you and phizz4 got the same deal?

Yea that's exactly why I've been enjoying it. I use a 5L dry bag as well. nice to not have a massive belay jacket hanging off my harness and can stuff the belay gloves in there too.

Cuffs are a bit annoying, and I'd like to see the same change there as you. I guess others might like the velcro.

I quite like just popping my jacket below my belay with a little pop button, just makes me feel like entire torso area is warm and covered.