Weighing just 180g (size 12) the MTN Arete LB is an incredibly lightweight, synthetic hooded jacket that's perfect for layering, making it suited to any season whether you're out on hills or pursuing low-level activities. I've had this jacket since Autumn 2023, and have worn it, in varying conditions, everywhere – from blustery beach walks and bracing bike rides to sweating it out on wee jogs up a local peak (okay, the only jogging occurs on the downhill these days). It comes for pretty much every big hill day I go on. I've worn it to the climbing wall and even wear it at work. The Arete LB is also a brilliant addition to my summit camping kit. Here's why I rate it...

Features

It's reversible! For this very reason alone I love the Arete LB.

One side is more windproof (indicated by a flame on a tag at the hem) which is to provide some protection in deflecting the worst of the wind and help keep warmth trapped inside; this is the side with pockets, and the one I would usually choose to wear on the outside.

The other side is more breathable (snowflake design on reverse of tag) to allow the wind to pass through and your sweat to pass out, keeping you cool when you're working harder - ergo you can 'adapt to changing conditions and workrate'. The catch is that this face has no pockets.

I'll be honest; I find the difference between the two only sometimes discernible, but possibly that's because I'm a menopausal mess and sweat to death regardless. However, the fact the Arete LB is reversible makes it ideal for every clumsy smoothie drinker/sloppy food eater out there. It's a regular occurrence, me spilling my pink, gloopy breakfast choice down my front or over an arm as I do a balancing act with stuff en route to the car, but a cursory clean-down, then quickly turning the Arete LB round means there's no dashing back into the house to change – and nobody has to know I'm a slovenly pig.

And on the hill who isn't prone to a bit of on off with their jacket? It's always annoyed me, having to pull sleeves back through the right way, especially when I'm feeling the cold and desperate for the instant relief of that additional layer, but there's none of that faffy hassle with this Berghaus BECAUSE IT'S REVERSIBLE (capitalisation = my emphatic joy), perfect for those of us with a wildly impatient streak. Handy, too, for those pitch black tent mornings when you pull your clothes on blindly, at least I don't have to worry about having my jacket on inside out anymore.

Reflective detailing on the back of the jacket aids safety in poor conditions – as long as you aren't wearing a backpack, because that will cover it. The Arete LB is harness and pack compatible with two raised, zipped hand pockets which are big enough to stuff gloves and your phone into (the phone's weight really drags the pocket down though).

Fit

This hoody is available in both women's and men's versions. Women's sizes start from UK size 8 and go up to size 18, which should mean there's a fit for almost everyone.

The cut is like one of my fave Happy Mondays song – a loose fit. That slight roominess is godd for freedom of movement when climbing or scrambling, and handy for layering. I'm presently wearing it at work (shhhh!) with a base layer, a merino hooded mid-layer and a gilet, and don't feel any restriction of movement (I'm now on the hefty side of a size 10 so am wearing UK size 12). There's a storm raging outside. The wind is bitter and it felt like the rain was giving my eyeballs a microdermabrasion treatment but, while out on foot patrol, the rest of me remained comfortable and cosy; I was also wearing a waterproof jacket as the Arete is not remotely waterproof.

There is generous length in the arms, and sleeves come down over my wrists. The simple cuffs can be easily pulled over the top of gloves to keep the elements at bay; these are stretchy, but non-adjustable.

When the jacket is fully zipped, the stretch-bound under-helmet hood fits snugly around the face, effectively keeping the breeze from giving your lugs a nip. And the micro-bind hem offers a similar lightweight and 'snug' fit, although I'd be more on board with a draw cord here.

Fabric

Both the fabric and insulation are PFC-free. At a lightweight 40g/m2 the Hydroloft Elite synthetic fill provides a good level of warmth to keep the edge off, without overheating when you're working hard; and it should go on performing even when damp.

Designed to be breathable, compact and lightweight, the shell is fabulously thin. To touch, the more breathable side has a silky smooth feel, while the more windproof outer feels less shiny and more papery. It is a delicate garment so I wouldn't go carting it about rocks and scrambling in it deliberately (lying) because I know I'll have it trashed it in the blink of an eye (true). I've worn it under my harness at the climbing wall a few times and there are no signs of abrasion around the hips yet. There is some loose stitching in the right arm though, so I'm not sure about the overall durability of the jacket, but this isn't something I'm hugely concerned about since Berghaus offer to carry out free repairs.

On a fast and light test on a blustery January day, I went up a local peak wearing only a long sleeved mid-weight merino underneath the Arete LB as a standalone. I was moving quickly and interchanged the sides of the jacket at regular intervals, but noticed little difference between the two. On the upper reaches of the hill, winds forced me to push harder and rain lashed down like rapid fire from a nail gun, stinging my exposed skin. I was glad to have the windproof shell taking the brunt of it, and that the hood and cuffs were doing a good job to keep the elements out. The jacket was soaked pretty quickly, but retained warmth, thank fook, so there maybe is something in it that one side is better for keeping you cooler and the other warmer. By the time I'd run halfway down the hill, the rain had stopped and the jacket had already dried out – magical.

On an early winter summit camp test the jacket performed well, providing added insulation to my layering system as I progressed higher up my route. You know it's cold when the water in your bottle freezes to a solid block of ice; at the summit there was a marked wind chill and with sunset so early I was in for a long night. Once pitched, I immediately changed into dry clothing. There was no clinginess with the Arete and it slipped off easily between layers. Again, because the jacket is so light, it didn't stay damp from my sweat so I was able to pop it back on for that valuable extra insulation. Because there's virtually nothing to it, the jacket packs down really small, and becomes its own tiny stuff sack – just tuck the body into its pocket and zip shut. It now accompanies me on every high camp, whatever the season.

With regard to cleaning, the Arete LB doesn't require specialist care. Hooray! I just throw it in the washing machine at 30 degrees and line dry it (so no pestering Paul's Daddo for a shot of his tumble dryer – everyone's a winner).

Summary

The Mtn Arete LB Synthetic Hoody retails at £170 RRP, which isn't cheap, but then for a versatile jacket of this type I think that's really pretty good. I like the simple design, layer-able fit, and colour (black, not great for photos though it also comes in red) of the Women's MTN Arete LB (men's version available). It's a very decent ultra-lightweight jacket, with a minimal level of insulation that makes it suitable for active pursuits and all sorts of outdoor uses year-round, and ideal within a layering system. I think hill runners and weight-conscious backpackers would particularly love it. I really do!