A good synthetic belay jacket is essential for Scottish winter climbing and hillwalking, providing warmth when stationary in tough conditions. An evolution of Montane's Flux Jacket, the Respond XT delivers, with recycled PrimaLoft Silver insulation and a windproof, water-resistant Pertex Quantum Eco shell. While not the warmest such jacket on the market, it balances weight, packability, and warmth very well. Designed for climbers, with a helmet-compatible hood, harness-friendly fit, and well-thought-out feature set, it is also a great option for walkers thanks in no small part to its affordable price tag.

In Use

I've used the Respond XT on many winter days this season and appreciated its balance of warmth, weight, and packability for typical Scottish conditions. While I've reached for a heavier jacket on the coldest days, its light, compact design means that on the right day I've always brought it along rather than debating sharing a bulkier option with my partner. Given its packability, it hangs well off my harness - I have opted for a stuff sack rather than its integrated pocket, which I prefer. On hill days it's also been great to throw on for lunch stops or hanging around at a summit; and it's a good emergency layer since it is packable enough that you needn't debate whether or not to bring it.

The light weight (550g, size M, on my scales) does entail some limitations in terms of outright warmth, but also helps make this a bit more versatile than some bulkier alternatives. On one particularly cold day I wore it as a heavy midlayer on the move, rather than treating it as a belay jacket simply for standing around in. This is aided by the thoughful zoning of insulation, with a generous 133g/m² of PrimaLoft Silver in the body for core warmth and a noticeably thinner 80g/m² in the hood, sleeves, and sides to reduce bulk. This keeps you warm in key areas, while cutting weight and aiding freer movement.

Beyond warmth, a belay jacket in Scotland also needs to handle wet and windy conditions, and here the Respond XT performs well. The PrimaLoft Silver insulation has kept me warm even after getting damp on humid days at drippy belays, while the 30D Pertex Quantum shell provides a good mix of lightweight durability and weather protection. It keeps the insulation lofted and holds up well to the inevitable scrapes of seconding in a belay jacket. Windproofing is solid, and the PFC-free DWR offers good moisture resistance, though, like many modern PFC-free treatments, it will need more frequent washing to go on performing well.

Fit

The Respond XT has a slightly slimmer fit than seems typical for a belay jacket, but still accommodates winter layers on my slim build well. The articulated arms allow for good mobility and help minimize hem lift, though the body is on the shorter side—I generally prefer a belay jacket with more bum coverage. At 6 foot tall I chose a size medium, which worked well for my build, but those with a broader frame might consider sizing up. Unfortunately, there's no women's-specific version of this jacket.

The hood fits over a helmet reasonably well but could use a bit more volume for better coverage when worn with multiple layers to stop a bit of pulling when looking upwards. On the upside, the stiffened peak does keep it secure in windy conditions. Adjustability is excellent, with rear hood, neck, and hem drawcords that are easy to tighten even with belay gloves on, helping to seal in warmth when needed.

Features

The Respond XT comes with a well-thought-out selection of features for winter climbing. It has a good range of pockets, including two large hand warmers and two good-sized chest pockets, all of which are easy to access while wearing bulky gloves. Internally there is a drop pocket to store spare gloves if you want to keep them warm and dry. The two-way front zip allows you to open it from the bottom for belaying, while a small push-button clip helps keep the lower section secure when unzipped.

One minor drawback is the elasticated Velcro cuffs, which don't offer as much adjustment as I'd like. However, overall, the jacket's features are well-designed for ease of use in cold conditions.

Ethics and Environment

The Respond XT uses 100% recycled nylon for its outer and lining, and 100% recycled PrimaLoft® Silver insulation. It's DWR is PFC Free. All materials are Bluesign approved. All in all, it's pretty hot on sustainability.

Verdict

The Respond XT is a solid yet lightweight belay jacket for Scottish winter, retaining much of what fans of the Flux liked. A slightly snug fit and shorter body mean that it lacks the full-on protective feel of some rivals such as the Mountain Equipment Fitzroy, but in its defence it is well-priced compared to most of the obvious competitors, and this may make it a more attractive proposition for hillwalkers as well as climbers. I've found it really comes into its own on winter days where I need warmth and weather protection without the bulk or weight of a heavier belay jacket.