At first sight, the Berghaus MTN Guide Hyper Alpha looks similar to many other lightweight shell layers, but when you open it up you’re in for a surprise: the interior is lined with a thin, fleecy material, designed to provide some extra warmth to your sides, back and arms. It’s an unusual look – not least because this fluffy stuff is bright red, which contrasts dramatically with the rather gloomy gray-and-black colorway that the men’s version of the coat comes in. But no-one can see the inside when you’re wearing the jacket.
So the more important question is: does it improve the garment’s performance? There was only one way to find out, so I hit the chilly rain-strafed trails and put it to test, to see how it compares with the . The outer layer of this Berghaus jacket is made with the brand’s Hydroshell Elite fabric, an impressively lightweight, 2.5 layer, PU-based waterproof and breathable membrane-based material with a of around 12,000mm.
Designed for dynamic activities such as climbing and mountaineering, Hydroshell Elite fabric offers 6D ripstop durability and it scores very well for during lab tests (something that could be affected by the addition of fleece panels). British brand Berghaus have built a whole range around this material, but what’s more surprising and innovative about this particular jacket is the use of Polartec Alpha fleece panels on the inside, positioned in the places where you really need to keep warm – so around your vital organs a.