Advnture Verdict
Well featured, and constructed with a breathable lightweight Gore-Tex-based material, the Montane Pac Plus are perfect for putting in your pack when you need a pair of reliable rain pants.
Pros
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Gore-Tex fabric
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Fully-taped seams
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Articulated knees for freedom of movement
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Three-quarter length side zips
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Ankle hem adjustment
Cons
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Fairly expensive
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Montane Pac Plus: first impressions
Montane Pac Plus waterproof pants make use of a new twist on an old fave. It’s a triumph of fabric technology (with a dusting of marketing genius) that many walkers go into an outdoors shop and ask for a Gore-Tex jacket, rather than a specific brand. For any walker who wants similar confidence in the waterproofness and breathability of their overtrousers, the Montane Pac Plus tick all the key boxes and secured themselves a place in our the best waterproof trousers buying guide.
They are made from Paclite Plus, introduced by Gore-Tex in 2019: a two-layer waterproof and breathable fabric designed to be thin, light and packable. For all-day, everyday deluges there are heavier, more robust versions of Gore-Tex, but as a balance between performance and packability these are hard to beat. They are also available in both regular and short leg lengths.
• RRP: $150 (US) / £125 (UK)
• Gender specificity: Men’s / Women’s
• Materials: Paclite Plus
• Weight (men’s size large): 215g / 7.6oz
• Sizes: XS / M / L / XL / XXL
• Colors: Black
Montane Pac Plus: on the trails
A few years ago, when my knees were happy with me running the occasional mountain marathon, I’d have absolutely loved these waterproof overtrousers – barely 200g in the backpack, yet a completely reliable defence against the elements, with articulated knees to allow for full speed ahead with no restriction of movement.
Nowadays, I still found them extremely useful while walking trails on the high hills. They are light to carry, easy to pull on – thanks to three-quarter length zips backed by a storm flap – and I found them impressively breathable when slogging uphill in the rain.
