www.mountain-equipment.co.uk | £330
Nearly £100 more than the next most expensive coat in this review is the Mountain Equipment Lhotse Jacket, and boy is this a great piece of kit. If you’re after a waterproof jacket that will protect you from the rain while walking the dog, fend off the nuclear fallout after World War III, and everything in between, then this is the one for you.
With a three-layer Gore-Tex Pro shell and 80 denier reinforcements in high abrasion areas, the Lhotse is one hell of a jacket. It has the price tag to reflect it, too.
As soon as you pick up the Lhotse you can feel its quality. It is built to last. Everything about it feels well-made, well-proportioned and like it will protect you from the harshest conditions.
The jacket has an active fit with a long tail, and the sleeves don’t ride up extending your arms. There are three external pockets and an internal chest pocket. The three outer pockets are all big enough to hold an OS map, and the hand-warmer pockets are useable while wearing a rucksack with a hip belt. All zips are water resistant and the collar rises up to protect the face from wind and lashing rain.
The hood is one of the best I’ve seen, with full volume adjustment and an excellent peak. The cuffs are Velcro adjustable and the waist is easy to tighten and loosen. There are two large ventilation zips underneath the arms which allow cool air to enter if you’re running warm. In terms of weight and pack size the Lhotse impresses considering how robust it feels, weighing in at 530g.
The Lhotse jacket would be Best in Test were it not £100 more expensive than Sherpa’s Lithang Jacket. Both are superb, and if you have the money you won’t be disappointed by this jacket.
Mountain Equipment Lhotse Jacket verdict
The Mountain Equipment Lhotse is a seriously good and seriously expensive jacket: buy it if you have the money.
This review first appeared in a group test in Adventure Travel magazine issue 120 (Nov/Dec 2015). Since then, we have published a more recent group test of the best waterproof jackets for men.