Mammut Taiss HS Review

In the name of testing the Mammut Taiss HS, our review team braved stormy days on the ski lift, deliberately went backpacking with a poor weather forecast, and went climbing on the windiest of days above treeline. What we discovered is that this layer can rock it with the best of them, which was surprising given it's half the price of the premium layers.

Weather Protection

The Mammut Taiss HS features a fairly weather-resistant design that's great for intense storms, from lengthy summer rains to winter snows. Though not our top recommendation if you want the most protective shell jacket on the market, for many recreationalists, the Taiss HS will be all you'll need.

Mammut made the Taiss HS with a mostly polyamide construction, which is common among hardshell jackets, and it kept our review team dry across most of our testing seasons. During prolonged rainstorms, we had minor leaks at the shoulder seams and zipper seams. This layer also offers a proprietary laminate from Mammut called “Dry Expedition”, which we found to perform similarly to mid-tier layers that partnered with Gore-Tex.

As is always the case with waterproof or water-resistant garments, we had to keep the Taiss clean and follow the manufacturer's care instructions for keeping it effective against precipitation. Mammut recommends reactivating the DWR by ironing the Taiss HS with a cloth between the iron and the jacket. We found this to be effective in reviving the jacket mid-season before another trip.

Mobility and Fit

Mammut did an excellent job tailoring this layer to be loose enough to fit jackets underneath without creating excessive bunching, and the partially relaxed fit allows for overhead mobility.

Simply sizing up the Mammut Taiss HS will accommodate the bulkiest underlayers, though we were able to fit a variety of layers underneath even with more precise sizing, whether skiing or winter camping. The hood's baggier cut accommodates helmets, but it's a bit tight when turning your head side to side. With a hat, the neck mobility of the Taiss was great.

Venting and Breathability

The Mammut Taiss HS is among the most breathable hardshell jackets we've yet tested here at GearLab. For snowy ski tours, wet backpacking, or moody alpine climbs, we were able to wear it much longer than some other hardshells (though it still isn't nearly as heat-shedding as a softshell layer).

Mammut achieved breathability with the Taiss HS through multiple features and a thoughtful fabric construction. The pit zips are around 14 inches long, and unless precipitation was blowing sideways, we could open the pits mid-hike or mid-ski without getting too much rain or snow inside. The relaxed fit also encouraged airflow throughout the jacket when we could leave the hem loose.

The fabric provides good weather protection, and the thinner build improves breathability. This jacket has three layers: the polyamide outer fabric, a polyurethane membrane, and a polyester lining. This is important because three-layer designs reduce air gaps between layers. Gaps can block moisture vapor from escaping, so fewer gaps allow sweat to move through the jacket more effectively. All of these aspects keep you drier during higher-output adventures.

Weight

While there are a few lighter hardshell jackets we put through the wringer, the Taiss was lighter than the average jacket we tested (though some of the heavier options provided better protection for intense precipitation).

We measured the Mammut Taiss HS at 15.1 ounces in a size medium, making for a fairly light layer in the world of hardshell jackets. This is about 30-40% heavier than the ultralight models, but for a 3-layer storm-fighting jacket, the Taiss is a great companion for outdoor missions that are more gram-conscious. It's also a relatively packable jacket.

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Features and Design

Overall, the Mammut Taiss HS offers thoughtful features, including a harness and backpack hipbelt-friendly pocket layout. The Velcro cuffs on the Taiss HS were simple yet effective, even when adjusting them mid-storm with gloves on.

However, there were a few nitpicky qualms we had. There's a drawstring for adjusting the hood and hem, which is great, but the hood uniquely has a drawstring that's on the outside of the hood. Most of the time, this wasn't an issue, but we occasionally had the drawstring catch on branches or other gear when crammed into a backpack.

The Mammut Taiss HS's internal pocket is unfortunately too small for a cellphone. While this isn't a huge deal, we sometimes didn't have any other jackets underneath the Taiss during warmer storms, making it more difficult to securely stow cell phones to keep them dry. Outside of these relatively minor setbacks, this is still a very functional hardshell with an intelligent design that Mammut is long known for across a wide variety of product categories.

Should You Buy the Mammut Taiss HS?

This is an incredibly affordable jacket that kept up with many of the highest-performing hardshell layers on the market today. The Mammut Taiss HS should be put in your cart if you don't have a lot of money to shell out, but you're looking for all-around weather protection that can be used across four seasons. Most of our qualms with the Taiss are ultimately minor, and this is likely to meet your needs unless you brave the most intense of storms on a regular basis.

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