Monton Ghat Windbreaker Jacket

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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