The Mountain Equipment Ogre/Nanga Parbat is definitely one of my favourite jackets of recent years, and the benchmark general-purpose hill-walking jacket in my view. There are no changes from previous years and as this was ‘Best in Test’ last year it is up to the other brands to come up with something better to shift it from the top slot. It is a little longer than the average jacket, so the hem protects your bum from the wet. There is excellent freedom of movement in the jacket, so the hem and cuffs never ride up when scrambling over stiles or up crags for example. You get three huge chest pockets, and they maintain superb access even while wearing a rucksack. The hood can be rolled down and secured at the collar, while on the head the fit and movement are incredible. I’ve been wearing an Ogre for years and it is hard to see why I should stop. But some other jackets are even longer than the Mountain Equipment Ogre/Nanga Parbat and have base pockets that can be accessed while wearing a rucksack. A mesh lining would be a more comfortable alternative to the 3-layer fabric used here. There are no pit zips either, so this is not ideal for wearing with a climbing harness when that extra venting is useful.
Outer 3-layer Gore-Tex Pro Shell
Inner none
Fabric waterproofness extremely waterproof
Fabric breathability extremely breathable
Sizes S- XXL (men’s); 10-16 (women’s)
Weight 550 (men’s L)
Made in Hungary
Stores in the UK 100