Haglöfs L.I.M ZT II GTX outer shell jacket review: A featherweight bad-weather warrior that's impressively protective in even the most challenging conditions

Haglöfs’ ZT II GTX jacket: a review

First impressions

The unimaginative name may make it sound like a bit-part robot in a Star Wars off-shoot series, but the ZT II GTX really has star power. It's the latest top-end shell layer to emerge from Haglöfs’ highly regarded L.I.M. (Less Is More) range of alpine-orientated apparel.

The series features gear designed to be ultra lightweight while remaining capable of withstanding rough, tough conditions and performing at a peak level in extreme scenarios, such as when you’re clinging to the side of a mountain, and this shell is the pinnacle piece of the new ensemble. More than merely a good waterproof jacket, it’s a very technical piece of kit, intended to protect the wearer from the worst the elements can throw at a person.

This is the second iteration of this coat – I had the pleasure of testing the first version of the L.I.M. ZT GTX Pro jacket in the Scottish mountains a couple of years ago, including during a very late-season fastpacking escapade along the West Highland Way. That turned out to be was the wettest adventure I have ever experienced outside the ocean, and I was profoundly impressed with its performance.

I still wonder how it managed to keep that volume of water from getting through and soaking my fleece jacket and base layers, but together with the matching and equally impressive L.I.M. ZT Shell GTX Pro Pants (easily the best waterproof pants I’ve ever tested), it did just that, for three-and-a-half drenched days. This combination remains my go-to shell layer of choice for extreme outings in wet and wild conditions, so I was intrigued to see how Haglöfs might have improved on the design.

• Peruse the best hiking pants for tackling peaks, vales and trails
• Walk with confidence in the best hiking boots for men and women

As you would expect, with this second-generation waterproof jacket the slick Swedish brand has produced an extremely good-looking garment made from the very best materials, which immediately appears mountain ready. It has impressive specs and the sort of lab-test stats (in terms of waterproofing levels and breathability) that suggest it will deliver the goods in the hills and shine bright amongst the peaks no matter how gnarly the conditions get.

At first touch it did feel conspicuously light however, and of course it comes with the kind of price tag that makes me shiver, so I was looking forward to seeing just how well it would keep me warm and dry when the elements turned nasty.

Materials

Bluesign-approved and constructed from 100% recycled polyamide – using the new and more environmentally friendly ePE laminate, which is entirely PFC-free – this three-layer Gore-Tex jacket is almost 5oz (150g) lighter than its predecessor. It’s thinner (with a fabric density of 15 denier as opposed to 40 on the older version) but retains the same sky high hydrostatic head rating of 28,000mm.

The breathability stats are reasonable too, with a RET (Resistance to Evaporative Heat Loss) test result of 13, which means it's suitable for active, high-output pursuits, where you're likely to get a proper sweat on – like fastpacking, wet-weather rock climbing and mountaineering (although, the thicker, heavier L.I.M. ZT GTX Pro had an even more impressive RET-rating of 6, making it considerably more breathable).

Behind the weather-proof layers, the jacket boasts Gore C-Knit backer technology, which makes it smooth and comfortable to wear, no matter what you have on underneath. The seams are off course all sealed, the zips are water resistant and all feature easy use cord pulls.

Design

The style and positioning of the pockets on the ZT II GTX reflect the intended use of the jacket. Placed where they remain easily accessible and highly useful when you are wearing a climbing harness, hiking backpack or a daypack, the left pocket is smaller, intended for storing a smart phone or other device, while the right pocket is much more capacious. Both have waterproof, vertical zips with brightly colored cord pulls so you can operate them with cold hands, or when you have gloves on.

Although thin and featherlight, the jacket is made more robust with several reinforced areas, on the shoulders and inner cuffs, to protect against rubbing damage from wearing backpacks, using trekking poles and coming into contact with abrasive terrain.

There is a chin guard at the top of the main zip, and the hood - which is easily adjustable with drawcords - has a soft brim. Cuffs can be tightened to wrists and gloves with a single Velcro strap, to keep breezes out. The asymmetrical bottom hem covers the top of your bum, and is adjustable via toggles. There’s also a popper at the bottom of the main zip, for extra security, but there’s no snow skirt.

The jacket – although only available in one, rather dark and dowdy main color – does feature a bright hood and several reflective features to make you visible in the event of an emergency, or when you’re sharing the hills with hunters and/or the tracks with vehicles. Given the price, however, it’s a pity there is no RECCO reflector included in this jacket.

When not in use, the jacket stuffs away into the larger pocket and is so light and packable that it fits into a running vest or hydration pack, and makes for an excellent emergency layer for taking out on longer runs and ultra events, where waterproof protection is often stipulated in the compulsory gear list. When packed, it even makes a great camping pillow.

On the trails and in the hills and peaks

I’ve been wearing the Haglöfs ZT II GTX jacket in a range of conditions while hiking and scrambling across various terrain over the last couple of months, from the hills and crags of the Mendips to the moors and tors of Dartmoor. For much of the time, conditions have been relatively mild, but with occasionally very high winds, and I can attest to the windproof credentials of this coat. In more recent weeks we’ve had some very heavy rain too, and the ZT II GTX has kept me bone dry in even the worst downpours while I’ve been completely exposed on the moor.

For a three-layer outershell with a hydrostatic head of 28,000mm, the ZT II GTX really is incredibly lightweight and thin, which makes it extremely easy to pack and carry, especially when it’s stuffed into the large chest pocket. This is ideal in all kinds of scenarios, from fastpacking and ultra running, through to summer peak bagging when you’re only taking a shell layer as a precaution.

It’s worth bearing in mind, however, especially in winter conditions and at any sort of serious altitude, that while this jacket can offer protection from windchill and wet weather, its thermal properties are quite low. It needs to be paired with a good midlayer when used in such conditions, such as a puffer jacket.

This amazingly lightweight jacket is expressly designed for fast-paced adventures where you might need protection from the rain, but you’re also likely to generate heat and build up a sweat. The jacket itself breathes well, and I have been using it in conjunction with the newest elements of Haglöfs L.I.M. range, including the L.I.M. ZT Flex Trousers, the ZT Air Base Layer top and ZT Air Mid Layer, which have been designed to work together – the tops really do complement the shell layer perfectly in reasonably mild conditions.

As well as being sealed the seams are off-set, which helps with comfort levels, and I found the backing material to have a nice next-to-skin feel when I was wearing the jacket with a short-sleeved base layer or just a technical T-shirt underneath.

As mentioned, the breathability of the jacket is good, but there are no pit zips to help you quickly dump excess heat. Omitting these helps keep the weight down, but personally I’d prefer to carry a few more ounces and have access to such vents.

A massive positive about this jacket is how wonderfully silent it is. Some breathable waterproof shells make it sounds as though you’re walking around in a plastic wrapper, crinkling and crackling like someone eating crisps in a cinema, but there is no such annoying audio with the ZT II GTX jacket – it’s super stealthy.

Also consider

Comparison table