2007 Super-Fly - What's New?

This is more of a first glance than a first look, but we've just got our paws on the new version of Montane's classic Super-Fly lightweight eVENT waterproof jacket and we thought you might like a detailed look through the changes on the garment.

It feels like the jacket's been around for ever - it started as what was a rguably the lightest waterproof jacket in the world at the time and metamorphosed into the eVENT version we're familiar with, slightly heavier, but very breathable and all all-time OM favourite.

What surprised us, when we got the new model of the jacket, which is due in the shops any week now, is that the weight's gone up again to a real world 456 grammes on our digital scales. That's 57 grammes more than our original, well-used version.

Okay, 57 grammes is hardly the end of the world, but we're so used to things becoming lighter and sleeker, particularly from Montane, that we were a bit surprised.

Detail Changes

So what do you get for your extra 60 grammes? Well, a fair few detail improvements. For a start, the jacket is available with the option of printed reinforcement on shoulders, hips and sleeve seams - below - it should make the jacket more durable when used with a pack, an occasional problem before with abrasive pack straps.

The the hood's been re-modelled in a much less minimalist way. While the old version had a simple Velcro strap tensioner, the new model gets a more complicated arrangement with a flap complete with reflective patch covering a shockcord with cord-lock arrangement. The peak is now both wired and stiffened and the minimalist beard guard patch of the old version - it just covered the zip top - is joined by two larger panels of microfleece for delicate chins.

The jacket still has three pockets - two handwarmers and an an external chest pocket, but rather than water-resistant zips, they now have a stiffened, laminated protective flap with more reflective stuff on it.

Similarly the previously minimalist cuff adjuster cuffs are now chunky plastic pulls. We're guessing that the odd ten grammes here and there has added up to the extra 60 odd-grammes over the whole jacket. It also, though we might be imagining it, seems to have a few more seams overall, which means more seam tape, though the jacket also has what Montane calls 'intelligent design' with no four-way seam junctions for added toughness.

It's an interesting update of a classic design that was starting to look a little dated, but the extra features do add a little weight and compexity to what was always a minimalist jacket. Will they make it functionally better? We'll use it over the next few weeks and let you know. It may buck the lighter weight trend, but if the jacket works better, maybe it's weight well spent.

And if you do want a lightweight Montane eVent shell without quite so many badges and big reflective patches, the 320-gramme Quickfire is still in the range and we'll be testing it shortly.

Oh, one last thing, the sleeves on our test jacket are slightly shorter than we'd like and a little high on the wrist, so try before buying once they're in the shops.

Price of the new Montane Super-Fly is £200 and we expect the performance of the eVent fabric to be every bit as good as usual. More information at www.montane.co.uk