Montane Norste XT 3L Jacket Review - ''My MVP piece of kit on a very wet and windy TGOEast''
Posted by Liam Hollinshead on Jul 10, 2026
It is not often when you have a piece of clothing that really impresses you with not only looks but also its performance. The Norste XT 3L jacket is a simply stunning piece of kit.
Rain? No problem.
The main function of a waterproof jacket is that you want to remain dry, or in challenging weather conditions, as dry as possible. Keeping the water out is the outer fabric ‘Pertex Shield 3L’, touting a 20,000mm hydrostatic head and 20,000g/m²/24hr MVTR. Making this jacket ideal for those long days slogging it up hill in the wind and rain.
Even when the rain kept lashing down this jacket kept me dry and locked out the wind, especially on higher ground.
What really surprised me is how lightweight and comfortable it was. Never did I feel like I was fighting with fabric when moving, this is even with a fully loaded rucksack on my back!
Adaptable Comfort
Weather can be erratic. One minute it could be raining cats and dogs; 5 minutes later, glorious sunshine. Just like how you adapt to the weather. You want a jacket that can also adapt.
Starting at the top, built into the hood of the Norste XT is the PIVOT 2 system, allowing for fine adjustments of the hood, fitting your head with almost bespoke quality. This is achieved with a toggle at the back of the hood and the internal drawstrings located at the neckline of the jacket.
In addition, the jacket also features quite deep pit zips! Allowing for ventilation of the jacket which I found a boon especially in wet, muggy conditions where the heat clung on, even while it was raining quite substantially. As a bonus these pit zips have two-way zips!
Finishing off the Norste XT 3L jacket's adjustment points are the Velcro cuffs which while common, I still appreciate as a feature.
Lastly, the pocket on the jacket is pleasantly spacious and tall, making it easier to store long maps and larger phones with ease.
Wrapping things up…
The Norste XT 3L Jacket was my MVP piece of kit on a very wet and windy TGOEast. It kept me dry in multiple ever-changing weather conditions that some jackets would struggle in. While on the heavier side (425g in medium size), this is mitigated by its numerous adjustment options, making the jacket seem almost bespoke to you.
So, if you are looking for a sturdy, comfortable and reliable jacket you can’t do much wrong with the Norste XT 3L.
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| Liam Hollinshead | ||
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When he’s not fixing computers or sorting out I.T issues, you can find Liam in and around the North Yorkshire Moors and the Dales. He is currently completing the Cleveland Way section by section and plans to take on the English Coast to Coast. |
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