Home Gear Review: Montane Men’s Norste XT Waterproof Jacket

Review: Montane Men’s Norste XT Waterproof Jacket

A capable waterproof shell that manages to combine serious wet-weather protection with refreshing practicality and minimum fuss.

Feature type Review

Read time 4 min read

Published Sep 15, 2026

Author BASE editorial team

BASE editorial team BASE writers and editors who live and breathe adventure every day. We love adventure storytelling as much as we love adventure itself.

Our Verdict

A properly capable waterproof shell that manages to combine serious wet-weather protection with refreshing practicality and minimum fuss. And even a little dash of class.

RRP	£200
Weight	Approx. 425g
Features	PERTEX Shield 3-layer 40D fabric, 20,000mm waterproof rating, 20,000g/m²/24hr breathability, PIVOT 2 adjustable hood, pit zips, YKK AquaGuard zips, two zipped hand pockets, adjustable cuffs and hem

Pros

Excellent balance of protection and weight
Proper three-layer construction.
Pit zips are a genuinely useful addition
Sensible feature set without unnecessary faff.
Good hood adjustment and coverage.

Cons

Not the absolute lightest waterproof shell.
The regular fit may feel a little generous for fast-and-light users.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR

A jacket that’s completely waterproof but turns into a portable sauna when you’re climbing a hill isn’t particularly useful, nor is one that’s beautifully light but feels like it might tear if you look at it near a hawthorn bush. So let’s avoid that.

For UK hiking and trekking, I’m looking for that slightly elusive middle ground: proper weather protection, reasonable breathability, useful ventilation and enough durability to make carrying it worthwhile.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The Norste XT looks like what it is: a proper outdoor shell, rather than a waterproof jacket that happens to have wandered into the hills.

The construction is relatively clean, with the 40D PERTEX Shield three-layer fabric giving it a lightweight but reassuringly substantial feel. At 425g, it’s certainly not a featherweight specialist shell, but it’s light enough to disappear into a pack until required.

The regular fit is another sensible choice. There’s enough room underneath for layering without turning the jacket into a tent, and the design doesn’t feel overly restrictive when you’re moving. The PIVOT 2 hood has separate crown and aperture adjustment, the cuffs and hem can be tightened down, and the YKK AquaGuard zips help keep water out without requiring additional storm flaps everywhere.

Most importantly, there are pit zips. Pit zips! Yes!

THE TEST

We tried out the jacket on a blustery and wet weekend in early autumn on the UK south coast. The three-layer PERTEX Shield construction provided a proper barrier against a fair amount of sustained rain and wind. The claimed 20,000g/m²/24hr breathability did deliver when moving at pace up and down the rolling coastline.

The pit zips earned their keep; when you’re climbing hard, simply having the ability to open the jacket up directly under the arms is far more useful than relying entirely on a membrane’s breathability figures.

The hood was another strong point. The PIVOT 2 system allowed the aperture and crown to be adjusted independently, which means you can get a decent fit without having to choose between restricting your vision and allowing the thing to flap around like a windsock.

WHO IS THIS ITEM FOR?

The Norste XT is aimed at hikers and trekkers spending long days outside and want enough ventilation and layering room to keep moving comfortably. Fast-and-light mountain runners may well find lighter options more appealing.

WHAT STANDS OUT?

THE BALANCE

The Norste XT’s biggest strength is probably its overall balance. At 425g it delivers a serious combination of waterproofing, breathability, durability and features without becoming cumbersome.

THE VENTILATION

Pit zips aren’t particularly glamorous, but they’re one of those features you appreciate considerably more when you’re hauling yourself uphill in a waterproof. The Norste XT has them, and quite right too. OK, last mention of those I promise!

THE HOOD

The clever PIVOT 2 system gives you a much better chance of getting a secure fit while retaining useful peripheral vision.

VALUE FOR MONEY

At £200, the Norste XT sits in an interesting, busy part of the waterproof jacket market. You’re paying substantially more than you would for a basic rain shell, but you’re also getting a genuinely technical three-layer jacket with proper ventilation and a fairly comprehensive feature set.

The competition at this price is strong, though. There are excellent shells from almost every major outdoor brand sitting around the £180–£250 mark. Its argument is versatility. This isn’t an ultra-specialist alpine shell or a stripped-back emergency waterproof. It’s a jacket you can take hiking, trekking or travelling, throw over a couple of layers when winter arrives and trust when the weather turns properly unpleasant.

BASE BOTTOM LINE

The Montane Norste XT gets the important things right.

It’s properly waterproof, breathable enough for active use, sensibly weighted and equipped with the details that matter when you’re actually outside: good hood adjustment, useful ventilation, secure pockets and enough room for layers.

The only issue for us longer-bodied gents is the typical length for Montane which always seems to come up shorter than the main competitive set.

Want to stay dry from the wet and warm from the wind?