Makalu is one of the eight-thousanders in the Himalayas – number five to be exact, which also makes it the fifth highest mountain on Earth. There’s a fair chance you already know this pub quiz fact, but you may not know whether Mountain Equipment’s Makalu waterproof jacket is as impressive as the peak it’s named after.
Just as Makalu doesn’t earn a podium place for elevation (it’s a mere 8.5km high), the Mountain Equipment Makalu jacket isn’t one of the brand’s most expensive or technical jackets. Coming in at £300, it's about £200-£300 less than ME’s top end waterproof jackets.
So, does that mean the Makalu jacket is overshadowed by more premium rivals and undercut by cheaper alternatives? Well, no. In fact, as we’ve discovered in the mountains of Snowdonia and Scotland, the Makalu jacket is remarkable and one of our favourite waterproof jackets of the moment, winning a Gear of the Year award from us in 2024. Here’s why.
Description
Pros
- Gore-Tex ePE works brilliantly
- Tough 75D face fabric
- Lighter than many rivals
- Many pockets
- Offers excellent protection
Cons
- No stretch in fabric
Design and features
Despite being one of ME’s more entry-level mountain hardshells, there’s plenty to unpack with the Makalu jacket in terms of design and tech.
The main thing gear reviewers like us have been getting excited about with this jacket is its use of a new type of Gore-Tex membrane. Basically, for the last decade Gore-Tex has been developing a new membrane called ePE that has a lower environmental impact than the ePTFE membrane it’s used for decades.
You can read the full story in our ePE explainer article, but long story short, it’s mission accomplished: a more sustainable Gore-Tex membrane that does away with PFCs and still offers the same Gore-Tex performance.
Intended as a four-season hiking and mountain waterproof jacket, the Makalu is armed with plenty of useful features. It has three generous external pockets (two handwarmer and one chest, in which we once lost an entire banana) plus a smaller internal stash pocket, which easily accommodates a phone.
The main zip is two-way job, as are the underarm vent zips. The helmet-compatible hood is fully adjustable and features a wired peak, while the sleeves are articulated with Velcro cuffs.
In terms of fabric and construction, the Makalu has a 3-layer construction – Gore-Tex ePE sandwiched between a tough 75D outer and a backer.
Performance and comfort
Although not immediately noticeable, we found Gore-Tex ePE has another improvement over the old ePTFE membrane: It's lighter, thinner, and more pliable. So, while the Makalu’s fabrics don’t offer any stretch – which some rivals do – the lighter membrane plus nicely articulated sleeves allow for high freedom of movement.
Weighing in at about 520g, it’s a pretty mid-weight waterproof, especially in the company of other mountain hardshells that often tip the scales at well over 600g. It’s reasonably packable too, yet that tough 75D fabric meant that the Makalu happily handles a larger or heavier pack.
We liked the fit of the Makalu Jacket for the weather protection it offers. The sleeves have good length; the hood cinches in close while the peak deflects rain; and the hem drops down below the buttocks. Plus of course, the waterproofing is reliable to a fault.
It feels a little tight under the arms when walking, but the flip side is that you get excellent mobility if you’re climbing or scrambling.
We found it comfortable enough to wear all day on challenging winter mountain hikes. And while you can get better breathability with a lighter jacket, for a tough four-season waterproof, the Makalu isn’t bad at all.
Sustainability
Given the use of a more sustainable type of Gore-Tex membrane, you’d expect the Makalu jacket to have a wider eco focus.
It does have other eco credentials including bluesign-approved fabric and a PFC-free DWR (durable water repellent) coating. Mountain Equipment is also a Fair Wear Foundation member and offers repairs on its waterproofs and other gear too.
Price and competition
At £300 the Makalu isn’t outright cheap, but we do think it offers superb value. We’ve tested the Makalu alongside winter hardshells that cost twice as much (up to three times as much in some cases), and it could absolutely hold its own in terms of performance.
Some of those pricey rivals had more features and were even more durable, but there are very few people who could reasonably justify the gaping chasm in price.
We also think the Makalu stacks up against cheaper rivals as well. One example is Rab’s Arc Eco jacket. At £235 it’s well priced and is a solid performer for year-round hillwalking. But the Makalu has tougher fabric and better overall weather protection.
So, for avid mountain hikers, the Makalu gives you a true mountain-spec hardshell without spending twice as much.
Verdict
To sum up, the Mountain Equipment Makalu Jacket is suitable for almost every hiking scenario from hillwalking to mountaineering. Overkill for casual walkers, sure – but it really is the only waterproof jacket an avid hiker ever needs.
Does it live up to the Makalu name? Absolutely.
How we tested
Two members of the LFTO team have been using the Mountain Equipment Makalu. Matt Jones has been testing it in Snowdonia, while Chris Williams has been testing it in Scotland and in the Yorkshire Dales.
Matt is a self-confessed gear geek and one of our freelance gear testers. He has walked several long-distance backpacking trails in New Zealand, the USA and throughout the UK. Chris has been testing gear for us since 2021, and has journalistic, outdoor industry, and basically his lifetime's worth of hiking experience to bring to his gear reviews.