Mountain Equipment Earthrise Hooded Jacket review: 100% recycled!

With a name like Earthrise, Mountain Equipment is clearly pitching this jacket at the eco-conscious adventurer – and on that front, it delivers in spades.

Made from a 100% recycled polyester shell, 100% recycled polyamide lining and, more impressively, filled with 100% recycled down, the Earthrise Hooded Jacket boasts some of the most compelling sustainability credentials on the market right now.

But a top quality insulated hiking jacket needs to do more than just look good on paper. Fortunately, the Earthrise ticks a lot of other boxes too.

Its athletic cut is well-proportioned and comfortable, with a sleek, minimalist style. The features are clean and unfussy, the weight is reasonably low (411g, men’s small, on my scales) – though not ultralight – and it delivers a decent warmth boost for a wide range of everyday outdoor activities. In short, it’s a versatile, good-looking jacket with real eco appeal.

That said, there are trade-offs. At £200, it’s not cheap, especially given its 700 fill power down, which doesn’t offer quite the same plush loft or toasty insulation as some pricier alternatives using 800 or 900 fill power down. If you’re after maximum warmth for minimal weight, there are better options.

But if you're the kind of outdoor enthusiast who prioritises sustainability and is willing to trade a little technical performance for a lighter environmental footprint, the Earthrise makes a compelling case.

To put it to the test, I wore the Earthrise Hooded Jacket on a four-day, three-night hike along the 100km Northumberland Coast Path, where surprisingly chilly temperatures and biting sea winds gave it plenty of opportunity to prove its worth. Here's how it performed…

Insulation, warmth and weather protection

I wore the Earthrise Hooded Jacket for four days straight while hiking the Northumberland Coast Path in early spring, facing cold conditions and a bracing sea wind. While temperatures hovered around 4–5C at the lowest, the jacket provided a welcome and reliable warmth boost throughout.

This isn’t a super-toasty, thickly insulated winter jacket – instead, it sits firmly in the mid-range category. With 155g (size large) of 100% recycled down at a minimum 700 fill power, the Earthrise delivers decent insulation without bulk, making it ideal for 3-season use and active pursuits where you need to stay warm but not overheat.

The stitch-through baffle construction keeps things lightweight and allows for good mobility, while the baffle-by-baffle down distribution seems to prevent cold spots or down migration – the insulation stayed even and effective throughout my trip.

The outer is a 100% recycled 20-denier Earthrise fabric (100% polyester) with a PFC-free DWR, offering decent wind resistance and shedding light moisture, while the matching 100% recycled 20D lining (100% polyamide) is soft, downproof and breathable.

It's not designed for prolonged exposure to heavy rain or deep winter cold, but in chilly, blustery and variable 3-season conditions, it performs very well.

The 700 fill power down used in the Earthrise is decent, but not top-tier – many premium down jackets use 750, 800, 850 or even 900 fill power, which tends to be fluffier, loftier and warmer for the same weight.

So while the Earthrise doesn’t deliver maximum warmth-to-weight performance, the real innovation lies in its insulation’s sustainability. The down is 100% recycled, sourced entirely from post-consumer goods like old clothing and bedding that would otherwise end up in landfill.

It’s meticulously cleaned, sterilised and sorted before being reused – a significant step forward in reducing waste and lowering the environmental impact of technical outdoor gear.

Fit and comfort

I found the Earthrise Hooded Jacket very comfortable, with a streamlined, athletic cut that gave it a clean silhouette and sleek feel. I tested a men’s size small – my usual size – and while it worked well for me overall, it definitely sat on the snug, figure-hugging end of the spectrum.

I’m pretty slim, and even I found it close-fitting, so there’s a good chance this jacket runs a little small. If you prefer a looser fit or plan to layer up underneath, sizing up might be a smart move.

That said, the proportions across the arms, neck, hood and hem all felt spot on, and I had no issues with comfort throughout long days of walking. If you can find a shop that stocks it, trying it on before buying would be wise – but for me, the fit was trim, technical and ultimately very wearable.

Features

The Earthrise Hooded Jacket sticks to a no-nonsense, tried-and-tested design – nothing flashy or radical, just a solid, well-thought-out feature set that works.

The Mountain HC hood is fully adjustable, helmet-compatible and provides reliable protection against wind and cold, while a 2-way YKK front zip with an insulated baffle helps seal in warmth. You get three external zipped pockets (two handwarmers and one chest pocket) plus an internal security pocket, and the whole jacket packs down into one of the hand pockets, complete with twin karabiner loops.

The elasticated cuffs and articulated sleeves keep things snug and mobile, and dual hem drawcords let you cinch it in to retain heat. Overall, the features are sensible and effective – nothing groundbreaking, but everything you need.

It’s also worth noting that a hoodless version of the Earthrise jacket is available for £180, a saving a £20 compared to the main jacket.

Price and performance

At £200, the Earthrise Hooded Jacket is a little pricey – though to be fair, most decent down jackets come with a hefty price tag these days. For that money, you’re getting solid all-round performance, comfort and functionality, along with genuinely impressive eco credentials. But make no mistake: this jacket is aimed squarely at the environmentally conscious adventurer.

If your top priority is technical performance or a top-tier warmth-to-weight ratio, there are more specialist options out there. Jackets like the Montane Alpine 850 Nano or Rab’s Mythic Alpine Light are significantly more technical (and more expensive), while Decathlon’s Forclaz range offers great budget options, albeit with fewer features and no real sustainability focus.

And if better warmth is your goal, it’s possible to find jackets with 750 or 800 fill power down in a similar price bracket to the Earthrise if you shop around.

That said, the Earthrise still offers a very respectable blend of performance and purpose – and for most users, especially those who value low-impact kit, it will hit the mark.

Verdict

A well-designed down jacket with excellent eco credentials including 100% recycled down – but it’s quite pricey and could be warmer.

If you're in the market for more warmth and lightness, check out our roundup of the best synthetic insulated jackets.

About the author

James Forrest writes regular features and route guides for Trail and LFTO, and has been one of our main gear testers for the last few years. James is based on the edge of the Lake District so when he isn’t off on his latest crazy adventure or challenge, he’s walking in his local fells.