Update September 2018 - the latest version of the Flux is slightly different to the one reviewed here. Instead of an inside top pocket, the Flux now has a lower inside mesh stash pocket for gloves etc. The fit has also changed to become a tighter fit, especially on the shoulders and the arms. The tighter fit on the arms makes it feel warmer (to me at least). I'm an athletic fit and felt the shoulders on the latest Flux are just slightly too tight (have noticed this on other manufacturers like ME at times too). The Flux reviewed below has a slightly easier fit than the latest version. The latest Flux also has shorter sleeves which is a good thing as the Flux I have has sleeves that are a bit too long.
Is It For Me?
If you do find yourself getting very cold (as I do, having a very fast metabolism) then you'll need to consider other options with more fill (e.g. Montane Ice Guide Jacket) when it's colder, or take more layers. You'll also realise that Primaloft Eco has the lowest warmth ratio of all the Primaloft fills, with Primaloft One being the warmest and then Primaloft Sport (this is as of June 2014).
Synthetic vs Down
Synthetic insulation is of great importance in the UK with the mainly wet or humid conditions. Synthetic insulation loses less of its insulating properties when wet. Down is much warmer pound for pound but loses all of its insulation when wet through. However, it's good to compress synthetic insulation as little as you can as it will eventually lose its insulating properties (and certainly faster than down).
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| Montane Flux on a slightly chilly descent |
Here is some of the manufacturer's info:
High performance synthetic mid-loft insulation
Warm when wet and fast dryingWind-resistant and water repellentCompresses like downFibres produced from post consumer and post industrial plastic wasteMinimum of 50% recycled content
Fill - Pimaloft Eco 100g (core) and 60g elsewhere
Weight - 550g
Outer - Pertex Microlight
Hood Area
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| Front side showing hood, drawcords etc |
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| Rear of hood with volume adjuster (velcro for tying back hood) |
The Montane Flux is loaded with many good features and one of those is the hood. At a push this will go over a helmet too. Great one handed pull drawcords to tighten the hood and a volume adjuster on the back to give a great fit! Don't under-estimate the warming effect of a good insulated hood such as this one. On one windy and cold day around Scafell and on Flattop Mountain in Colorado, this came in very handy!
Zip
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| Double zip |
The zip is another great feature with a nice chunky zip and 'zip guard' to avoid the zip snagging as you do it up. A double-zip is also a very useful feature found on technical jackets like the Flux, meaning it can be opened up from top or bottom when done up. Great feature.
Pockets
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| Some of the Montane Flux's pockets |
Aside from the two hand-warming pockets on the jacket, there are also two chest pockets (will take a folded map although probably not a laminated OS one that easily). You also have an inside secure pocket. All pockets have the very visible orange colouring and good zips with little zip pulls on too. As many pockets as you'll need and then some!
Inside / Hem
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| Inside the Montane Flux |
The inside of the Flux continues in the orange colour - maybe Montane feel people will experience a placebo effect making themselves think they're warmer! Either way it's not too bad and I actually like the colour of the Flux.
The Flux also has drawcords on either side of the hem of the jacket to adjust. Very helpful to lock in the heat a bit more on windy days!
Cuffs
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| Montane Flux - Cuffs / Sleeves |
The Flux has velcro cuffs to adjust to your delight! This is a very helpful feature to vent / keep the warmth in which is another useful feature found on technical tops.
The Material
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| Montane Logo and Pertex Microlight |
This shows the pertex microlight up a little closer. I must say that it didn't look quite so 'bobbly' until I spun dried the top! You can do this and it won't affect the top or performance but it does look a bit more shabby than chic now! Pertex Microlight is pretty much windproof so this is an excellent choice of outer. It won't hold up to being dragged through brambles but is pretty resilient. Just take care!
Performance
The Flux is good for Britain and I'd say that unless you get pretty cold this will suffice for all your needs. I have worn this many a day. It packs up easily to stuff into your pack. Personally I do get a bit cold so I'd say that if you get cold / have high metabolism (I get hot fast and cold fast with no real body fat!) you may want to consider getting a warmer jacket for the winter months. The downside of that will be a heavier top (The Montane Ice Guide is almost double the weight). So for me the Flux has the perfect balance as a technical insulated jacket, esp here in the UK.
UPDATE (Oct 2015). As this review states, the Flux is great for a general Spring / Autumn day but in the cold (and if you're sitting around), I would recommend something with a bit more fill (perhaps a 100 fill). On a few days out in October 2015, I found the jacket just wasn't warm enough as a stop jacket - on days that I'd got very hot going uphill but where summits were fairly windy. So good for the slightly colder days. Other possibility is that the jacket has been compressed so much it's losing a bit of its warmth which happens with synthetic fill.
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