Top Choice: MontBell Freney Parka

Jan 22, 2009  ·  07:54 PM  ·  permalink

As I mentioned previously, having tried out the North Face Free Thinker jacket, I was a hair's breadth from making it my pick for the season. It's extremely well made, packed with features, and feels totally bombproof.

But then one evening I wandered into MontBell on Boulder's 29th Street and started poking through their parkas. The MontBell Freney Parka jumped out at me: it came in a highly visible green, the fabric was soft to the touch but durable, the weird Japanese sizing worked great with my body type, and it was $220 less than the North Face Free Thinker.

To be sure, the Freney is not as high tech, polished, or consumer oriented as other jackets I've reviewed: it lacks a Recco reflector, it doesn't have show-offy laser cuts and bonding like Arc'Teryx and North Face, it doesn't have a "media pocket." But, the Freney is minimalistic without sacrificing requisite utility or features and I like the simple ingenuity of the design. Also, I have to admit, I was attracted to the idea that I would probably be the only person on the slopes with this jacket.

Above and Beyond: Unique Selling Points

Stowable, helmet-compatible hood

Two-way front zip (you've heard me harping on this in other reviews)

Big internal pockets on both sides for food, skins, water, etc

Big, easy-to-use pit zips

Gore Tex softshell system (fuzzy interior, more breathable than GoreTex Pro Shell

Bright, visible acid green (which is also a color I like)

Big-ass collar comes almost up to my nose

De Rigueur

• Fully taped seams
• Waterproof zippers
• Powder skirt
• One handed hood and hem cinches
• Two large external Napoleon pockets
• Internal zipped pocket for wallet, cell phone
• Lighter than most, though not as light as some: 25oz (713g)

I've been skiing in the Freney for more than a month now and I must say, I've been thrilled. It packs down to nothing into its own (supplied) ditty bag--which I've had a bunch of opportunities to test. It sheds moisture like a champ which I tested in December in Vermont in the middle of a freezing rain storm.

It's very comfortable--like all GoreTex products it can get clammy on warm days, but it vents easily, which I got to test a couple of weeks ago in Aspen. The slim fit is very comfortable under a pack--unlike my old North Face Triclimated which bunch and pulled. With my MontBell UltraLight mid layer underneath, I've weathered some cold days with no problem. Although it's lighter than some other parkas, the wind-proofing is excellent, so cold days at the top of Breck have been totally manageable. And the high collar provides excellent face protection which means I can wear a lighter balaclava (or skip it entirely) and avoid icing up. I've only had a few complaints worth noting.

Down Sides

Hood stowage is a little awkward

MontBell products are hard to find

The Freney seems to have been discontinued, though it's available on sale for the even cheaper: $215

Zipped up, the inside front of the collar gets a little annoying in wet and icing conditions

So, if you can find it, I highly recommend the Freney. If you can't, try checking out the MontBell Alpine Therma Shell which is very similar to the Freney. It also looks like MontBell has some new items on their international site (though I haven't seen them in the store).

MontBell Freney Parka
Price as tested	$329.00
Shell	3-Layer GORE-TEX Soft Shell 30-denier anti-grease Ballistic rip-stop nylon body 40-denier stretch reinforcements in shoulders and arms
Weight	25 oz 713 gm
Sizes	S, M, L, XL
Colors	Black, Dark Blue
Features	Tri-axial hood, fits climbing or ski helmets Hood rolls into collar Offset chin guard Long pit-zips wrap towards the front allowing access to interior mesh hand pockets and waist draw cords Two chest pockets with Aqua-tect zippers protected by micro-flaps Two way front zipper protected by double storm flaps with rain gutter Alpine Cuffs - elastic cuffs with Velcro adjustments Elastic draw cords for waist and hem Fully seam sealed Two external napoleon pockets Internal, zipped cell phone pocket Two large internal gear pockets Integrated powder skirt