Montec has been rapidly growing in popularity on mountains around the United States. In addition to seeing their jackets on my fellow skiers and snowboarders out on the mountain, their ads have been all over my Instagram newsfeed thanks to their great social media presence. I’ve always thought their gear looked cool but have been curious if their trendy designs translated to solid technical performance as well. So, I took matters into my own hands and thoroughly tested some of their gear out on the slopes to share my experience with others that might be wondering about this brand. Specifically, I tried out the Women’s Doom Ski Jacket, Fawk Ski Pants, and Scope Ski Goggles. 

Starting with the Doom Ski Jacket, I picked out this jacket because I love the look of an anorak jacket although I tend to get frustrated with their usual pull-over design when layering up or down, this unique coat has a discreet asymmetrical full-length zipper that was the perfect solution to my affliction. When it arrived, I was immediately impressed by the soft fabric and fit. This jacket runs true to size and has a flattering but loose fit. It is well insulated without being bulky. The Lycra wrist gaiters are the most comfortable I have tried on and seemed sure to keep my wrists warm and dry without compromising my dexterity. The asymmetrical full zipper design also surpassed my expectations, it provides the style of an anorak without the hassle of a pullover. Once I was all comfortably zipped in, I felt like a ninja and was ready to test it out on the slopes. Day 1 of testing was a bluebird day in Beaver Creek, Colorado with temperatures hovering around freezing and no wind. I opted to just wear a base layer under my jacket and was the perfect temperature. I loved all of the exterior coat pockets that gave me easy access to everything I needed (phone, Chapstick, lift beers, and more) throughout the day. Not to mention, I got tons of compliments and felt comfortable and confident in this flattering jacket, which is rarely the case in bulky skiwear. In perfect weather, this jacket exceeded all expectations and seemed like it would be my new go-to coat. The next weekend we had snow in the forecast which provided a great opportunity to try out the jacket on a powder day.

Before I go on about the jacket, let me introduce the Fawk Ski Pants which are a bib design, not just your average pair of ski pants. It was hard to choose a color in these because Montec has so many cool fun combinations, but I decided upon the Atlantic which is a beautiful blue online that looked even better in person! Similar to the Doom jacket, my first impression of these bibs was great, they are comfortable and flattering, perfectly insulated yet not bulky. I ended up sizing down because the size medium was a bit too long on me (I am 5’5” with a curvy build for reference) and the size small fit perfectly. The adjustable suspenders and side-snapper adjustment allowed me to customize my fit from there, so I could be super comfortable even with different layer options underneath. The front access zipper for these bibs made them easy to get in and out of but does make bathroom breaks a bit less convenient for us ladies compared to the side zip design of other bibs I’ve tried before. The elastic and hooked ankle gaiters kept the liner exactly where I wanted all day with no riding up, while the zippered gusseted hems allowed me to unzip if I wanted a baggier style to my pant hems. Again, these bibs were designed with storage in mind and have plenty of easy-access pockets. On day 1, I was impressed by how comfortable these bibs were, they provide excellent maneuverability and stay where you want them all day, from charging down groomers to hitting the park and even back to après at the end of the day. 

As I’ve said, I was impressed with the performance of the jacket and bibs on my first few days of trying them out in ideal bluebird conditions. The next weekend I was able to put them both up to the real test, with fresh powder on the mountains and a forecast of single-digit temperatures, snow falling, and 30 mph wind gusts all day. Given the weather, I added a mid-layer top and base-layer leggings, which all fit comfortably under the Montec outer layers. On the early morning lift, the chill wasn’t getting through and I felt great. My jacket hood stayed put over my helmet all day, even with the wind blowing. We were chasing powder all day, but I was happy to report the snow stayed on the mountain and out of my clothes thanks to the elastic ankle gaiters, comfy jacket powder skirt, and Velcro sleeve closures over my gloves. Most importantly, I stayed totally dry despite the tough conditions and deep powder. The 20,000 mm waterproofing held strong against the snow but was surprisingly breathable as well. Sitting on the lifts I noticed that the water droplets just rolled right off of my gear rather than soaking it, no matter how hard it was coming down. Overall, I was blown away by the technical performance and comfort of both the Doom Ski Jacket and Fawk Ski Pants in the variety of conditions I tested them in. 

Finally, I want to give a special shoutout to Montec’s new line of goggles. Browsing their site, I loved the sleek look of their Scope Ski Goggles in the Tourmaline Green lens color. I needed a new pair of goggles so I went for it, although I was again a bit skeptical of their technical performance since they seemed to be new to the eyewear game. As I’ve come to learn with Montec, the performance of their gear goes far beyond pretty packaging, and the goggles are no exception! I only ended up getting the one Tourmaline Green lens, which their website says is great for sunny and bright overcast days. I was seriously so impressed by how well this lens did in low and flat-light light conditions. Even when friends started complaining about visibility, the Montec lens continued to provide excellent visibility. The field of vision is great and they haven’t fogged up on me at all, even with a buff pulled over my nose. The fit is also super comfortable and aligned well with my Smith helmet. I went for the size Medium which seems like a perfect fit for my fairly average-sized head! As a bonus, they come with a high quality hard zippered case. So far, the combination of the case and their Scratch Resistant Lens Treatment has kept the mirrored lenses looking great and scratch-free. Of all 3 Montec products I tried, I had the lowest expectations for the goggles and was the most impressed. At $129, the price point can’t be beaten for the quality. The Scope Ski Goggles by Montec are sure to be my go-to goggles for the season.

So, there you have it, if you are looking for high performance and stylish gear at an affordable price point, Montec has what you’re looking for. I am excited to see this brand continue to grow its product line and presence on the slopes in the coming years! 

If you have any questions about sizing, product features, or whatever else I didn’t cover, I’d recommend getting in touch with their super knowledgeable and friendly customer experience team. www.montecwear.com

by Isabelle Kunz

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