Mammut's £370 Jacket In The Flesh

We've just got our paws on one of Mammut's £370 Cho Oyu waterproof jackets in the flesh and we thought you might appreciate a quick look at what's one of the first jackets to use nano-technology in the form of Schoeller c_change fabric.

In very simple terms, the thinking behind the fabric is that when it's cold or you're not generating much heat, the structure of the membrane stays closed, vapour permeability is reduced and it creates a pleasant, comfortable environment inside the jacket.


Once things get warm or you start working harder and kicking out heat, the structure of the fabric opens up - like a fir cone says Schoeller - and the fabric become 'extremely vapour permeable', allowing excess body heat and moisture to escape outwards and keeping you comfortable.

If Schoeller's lab figures are to be believed, c_change gives MVT - Moisture Vapour Transfer - rates of around rates of 20,000 g/m2/24h, which is approximately the same as eVent, a fabric that's very breathable, but some users find cold at a standstill because of the level of permeability. Mammut says that between 10C and 20C, moisture vapour transfer rates increase by around 50 per-cent, which is a fair slice.


So what does the wonder fabric look like? To be honest, like any other three-ply waterproof material, though with a smooth finish to the inner scrim and a neat micro-texture on the outside face fabric. Just to make sure you know it's special though, there's a big c_change heat transferred logo right on the inside scrim... You won't be missing that.


Otherwise first impressions are of a neat, close-fitting, state of the art alpine jacket with a nice, tough feel. It's cut fairly short, uses red water-resistant zips for all pockets and, erm, zips along with a big, helmet compatible hood. For venting - just in case the fabric doesn't quite cope - there are two huge pit-zips with a double-ended water-resistant zip doing the closing duties.


One final neat touch is that the micro-velour lined chinguard is perforated to minimise condensation issues when everything's cinched down to cope with foul weather.

Genuined measured weight for a medium on our digital balance is 520 grammes, which is in the ballpark for a light but tough alpine shell, so no complaints there.

All of which is secondary to the fabric. Does it work? We'll be giving it a good thrashing and reporting back shortly. In the mean time you can find more about Mammut at www.mammut.ch and more information about the c_chage fabric at www.c-change.ch