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review

Monton Ghat Windbreaker Jacket

8
£140.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Impressive balance of windproofing and breathability, but at full price it's expensive for what you get
Weight: 
240g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Monton Ghat Windbreaker Jacket is a smart looking, race cut windproof that offers excellent breathability when you are riding hard. The top performance as part of a layering system goes some way to justifying its high rrp, but I'd want more before I considered paying full whack for it. Oh, and I hate motivational quotes on anything, especially bikes and clothing: 'NO TIME TO FAIL'.

  • Pros: Rear mesh panel great for breathability, lightweight
  • Cons: Expensive rrp, cheesy quote on the rear

Right, let's get this whole value thing out of the way first. The Ghat has an rrp of £140 on the Monton UK website, and for that kind of money it is more expensive than a lot of the competition.

> Buy this online here

True, it's very well made and the performance, which I'll get on to in a minute, is pretty impressive, but against something like the £53 Galibier Gino Pro Wind Jacket, which I was testing alongside the Ghat, it looks very overpriced. At the time of writing, the Monton UK website has the Ghat discounted to £80, which is a much more inviting price point.

Monton Ghat Windbreaker Jacket - riding.jpg

The Ghat follows a similar theme to a lot of jackets of this type. The front panels are a lightweight compound windbreaker fabric, which stops cold breezes from penetrating and offers some water resistance, making the Monton a good solution for those dry days when you might just catch a stray shower.

Monton Ghat Windbreaker Jacket - shoulder.jpg

Behind the full length zip you'll find a baffle to stop draughts getting through, and the high neck helps keeps everything at bay too.

Monton Ghat Windbreaker Jacket - collar.jpg

So that you don't overheat, the top back panel is made from a mesh material which allows body heat to escape, and the rear of the sleeves plus lower back panel are made from just a single skin material, which also helps.

Monton Ghat Windbreaker Jacket - back.jpg

With these lighter fabrics the Ghat isn't quite as warm as some of the others out there, so if the temperature is below about 8°C you need to layer up with a lightweight jersey underneath and a thin baselayer. This does mean you'll be able to get more use out of it, in spring or autumn, thanks to the flexibility.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best winter cycling jackets

The cut is close and quite racy without being ridiculously tight, so if aerodynamics is important then it's a good option. You don't get any material bunching when on the bike and the dropped tail keeps everything covered when you are really going for it.

Monton Ghat Windbreaker Jacket - hem.jpg

The sleeves are plenty long enough, with an extended cuff that is also cut at an angle, offering plenty of coverage for your wrist without interfering with the palm when you're riding.

Monton Ghat Windbreaker Jacket - cuff.jpg

It's good to see a rear pocket for those essentials you'll want mid-ride without having to dig beneath to your jersey, and there is also plenty of reflective detailing.

Monton Ghat Windbreaker Jacket - pocket.jpg

I mentioned the 'NO TIME TO FAIL' quote up at the top of the piece, and it really is a bugbear of mine, so having it written across the bottom of the jacket for all to see is a real turn-off for me. Each to their own, though, as it might be just what you need to haul yourself up that steep climb.

Overall, the Ghat is an impressive jacket for 80 quid, but at full price I'd say it's a bit of a stretch, no matter how good it is.

Verdict

Impressive balance of windproofing and breathability, but at full price it's expensive for what you get

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Monton Ghat Windbreaker Jacket

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the jacket is for

Monton calls it a 'Windproof & Water Resistant Cycling Jacket'. It has enough versatility to be worn on its own or as part of a layering system.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the jacket?

From Monton:

Lightweight compound windbreaker fabric main panels

Shell mesh fabric back middle panel with excellent wicking ability to keep to dry and comfortable

Double-faced milk silk compound windbreaker fabric zipper cover tape

Single face stretch reflective cloth back panel and back of sleeve

A153 underarm and sleeve cuff

Micro-vent back pocket

Full length zipper

Monton epoxy brushed elastic hem holds jacket in place while riding

Hi-vis reflective print detail for your added safety

Rate the jacket for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the jacket for waterproofing
 
5/10
Rate the jacket for breathability
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for fit:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for sizing:
 
8/10

Follow the size guide on the website.

Rate the jacket for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the jacket for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the jacket for value:
 
5/10

How easy is the jacket to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

No issues whatsoever.

Tell us how the jacket performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very good at keeping your core warm without becoming a sweat box.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket

Great flexibility.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket

Motivational quote.

Did you enjoy using the jacket? Yes

Would you consider buying the jacket? Yes, for 80 quid.

Would you recommend the jacket to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Ghat offers a lot of flexibility, either wearing it on its own or as part of a layering system. Its performance is excellent, and for £80 it's a very good buy, but at full price it is expensive.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithein

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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