Mountain Equipment Kongur

Brand new jan 2012 Not properly tested yet but feel like good quality to me and keeps wind out well with a -5 wind and thin layers below. and the mishaps with the phones sounds like was fault of the users. Would always keep phone inside the jacket, why risk it?

(Written by: Stejb02)

I'm a little confused as to why anybody would keep a £200 mobile phone in the outside pocket of a waterproof jacket. I'm pretty sure if you did it with any waterproof jacket, your phone would get wet. The important thing here is that the water was held in the pockets and did not leak through to the inside of the jacket and get the user wet. I use a waterproof phone case for my phone when climbing and it stays inside my pack (less likely to fall on it). Your life may depend on it at some point, so best keep it somewhere safe and dry.....

(Written by: slackasulike)

Just wanted to add to my previous comments, as I got caught in a bit of downpour today. The jacket totally failed, pockets filled with water and my £250 phones has been wiped out. The jacket's only 8 months old. This makes it the worst Gore-tex jacket I have ever owned.I only hope I can get my money back, as other comments left here leave me feeling the Kongur is a lost cause...

(Written by: xxxKalixxx)

Like others here, the best in test results and the auspicious ME name had me believing I was buying the best jacket out there. I ignored the annoying lack of hip pockets and the impracticle 4 breast pocket system because I knew I would be dry as a very dry thing and as someone who loves walking in wet weather this was the one for me. So I ditched my old and dated looking Mera Peak. However... After several months of use the Kongur doesn't keep you dry for long. The hood and sleeves are particularly prone to permeance and this is now spreading to the front of the jacket. Sure the stealth hood is innovative but not much fun when your heads soaked.

(Written by: xxxKalixxx)

Hi its James Coxon again, i have been to the peak district and climbed kinder scout. when i was at the top it started to rain and half way down i checked the taped pocket of the jacket to get my phone soon discovering the wetness of the pocket, i reached can wondering if my phone had made it threw the wet wonder of it all but sadly no. i now have a useless phone that cost £200 all because of the design of the chest pockets. when i was home i did a little test on the pocket, i found that it wasn't the zip leaking but where the zip goes when its unzipped, there is a little finger size pouch for the rain to collect into and build up then flow into the pocket. ^£$& ^$&*&%

(Written by: cyphir666666)

Hi im James Coxon I have just chosen my new jacket and have been testing the new Kongur 2009, the zips are stronger and the hood is still amazing, i can really say anything bad about the jacket because is just been improved.

(Written by: cyphir666666)

I'm surprised by the number of negative reviews of this coat. I've had it 3 or 4 years of regular winter use and found it to be very waterproof. Pros : * Keeps you dry even in howling gales and driving rain. * Pit zips * Warmer than my ME Matrix Paclite jacket * Robust - with one exception ( see in cons ) Cons: * Definately not a summer jacket - not even in Britain. I find it too warm between May and Sept. Perfect in the winter though! * Zips not easy to open zips in old XCR version - new version has much improved zips * Zip on main chest pocket broke after 3 years of regular use. I glued it closed with waterproof glue and now use it for walking the dog - still waterproof! I have just bought the 2009 version of this with Gore-text Pro Shell. Not used it enough to comment but definately lighter and better zip fastenings

(Written by: paulw2020)

This jacket was reviewed as the best in test, i dont know how this test was compiled but it must have been done on a dry day, it has let me down on a number of occasions most recently when out walking on fairfield and dove crag, i had to go into the priest hole for the night to try and dry off. I was soaked to the skin and very annoyed at this jacket for letting me down again when i most needed it to protect me. The cut and fit of the jacket is exactly what i was looking for when i bought it in january, i have just returned it to ME and i hope they can resolve my issue, however i will not be holding my breath. Up to now i feel robbed, i have a cheap peter storm jacket for walking round town when out shopping that performs better.ME need to sort this problem of one of there so called high profile products or i would envisage customers looking elsewhere for there gear and i dont just mean jackets.

(Written by: stretchyourlegs)

I have the old XCR version and its a bomb proof jacket. A couple of days after i bought it was was in horizontal Snowdonia Rain on a four day hike and fell onto a barbed wire fence with a huge rucksac on. The barb ripped though the outter layer of the pocket but not the next and that tear hasnt got any bigger in 3 years. Its been used and heavily abused and looks almost the same as the day i bought it. Its been wet and muddy for days and days, scaped over rocks and had many attacks from rucksac and winter gear. If Im doing anything rough this is my jacket, ill put up with a but of sweat. However its goretex and after buying a Rab event jacket goretex is a distant second. I sweat alot and event can cope any goretex wont. My ME kit has ben the toughest i have ever used but they need to rethink their materials not just features to keep up now.

(Written by: sponger46)

I've got the old xcr one and got it for £120.00 brand new. Could'nt see the point in paying the extra £140 for the proshell version as i don't sweat as much as most. But, what a fantastic jacket and i bet the difference between txcr and proshell is tiny. just a way of marketing and making loads of money for the manufacturer.

(Written by: cozy)

So this is the best winter jacket you can buy? And gets the perfect 5/5 score from Trail and also from me…………erm no! Lets get one thing straight from the start this is a great year round jacket, good fit with a fantastic hood. It just seems flimsy to me. I was out over Stanage last week and the wind was really blowing, I felt cold in the jacket to the point that I took it off to check the vents were closed up correctly, the cold wind seemed to rip through it. Other than the worst of the weather this jacket will be on my back, if the weather then turns then I’ll reach for my Berghaus 4 seasons Trek (See separate review). I know that ME has almost a mystical image with some of the Outdoor fraternity and can do no wrong; all I say is judge for yourself.

(Written by: Brookie)