Mountain Equipment Lhotse Review

With as much weather resistance as the best hardshells on the market and a climbing-specific fit, this jacket is a niche piece for technical endeavors. It's too heavy, stiff, and slim-fitting for everyday use in the city or on hiking trails.

Performance Comparison

Weather Protection

The Mountain Equipment Lhotse offers some of the best weather resistance on the market. It uses a Gore-Tex membrane to keep water out, all seams are taped, and the zippers are completely waterproof. Water never got inside this jacket during our testing, and wind is completely blocked as well.

The hood fits easily over climbing helmets or bare heads. There is a very stiff brim, which sheds water easily and provides some support for the front of the hood, but this brim is stiff and uncomfortable in non-technical terrain and around town, making it less versatile for other activities besides alpine climbing. There is a drawstring on the rear of the hood and one on each side.

Weight

At 17.6 ounces (500 grams) in size large, this jacket weighs more than other hardshells on the market. This is likely due to the use of thick and stiff 80-denier fibers in the fabric on the shoulders and arms. We think this jacket is most appropriate for technical climbing and mountaineering missions where weather protection is important to the user's safety.

This jacket is only a few ounces heavier than other options on the market, and this probably won't matter to most users. But, here at GearLab, we are big proponents of weight savings. Every extra ounce adds up, and if you opt for a lightweight kit over a heavy one, you'll notice that many pounds can be saved, which leads to more fun outdoors. This jacket is heavier than most others, and if you don't need the bombproof weather protection that it offers, there are much lighter options out there.

Mobility and Fit

The Lhotse Jacket has a slim fit throughout the torso, with a decently long hem and sleeves that are long enough to stay over your gloves all day. The jacket fits best on those with long torsos and long arms. Our lead tester is 6'2" (1.88m) tall, with long arms, and a size large had perfectly long sleeves and a good bottom hem length.

Of note, the armpits are relatively snug, as the arm hole is smaller than most other jackets, meaning there isn't as much fabric bridging the side body when the arm is extended above the head. The result is a great fit for ice and mixed climbing, since the arms won't pull up on the waist fabric as much.

However, this snug fit in the armpit also feels less comfortable when the arms are placed down by the user's side. So, the cut is great for climbers, but less ideal for skiers, hikers, and everyday winter users.

Venting and Breathability

This jacket uses Gore-Tex Pro technology in the 3-layer fabric. Gore-Tex Pro employs a thin liner fabric on the inside of the shell, increasing breathability over regular Gore-Tex fabric, which has a slightly thicker lining. However, the relatively thick outer face fabrics used in Gore-Tex Pro can limit breathability. This jacket has plenty of relatively thick 80-denier face fabric around the arms and shoulders, which limits breathability in these areas, compared to the thinner 40-denier fabric areas around the torso and forearms. We find that we start to sweat relatively easily in this jacket, especially while wearing a pack.

The underarm vents are easy to pull, thanks to long zipper pull tabs and no hanging fabric flaps to get in the way. The vents are 13 inches (33 centimeters) long, which is decent, though shorter than many other hardshells on the market. Overall, there are more breathable and ventilated jackets on the market, so if you are an avid hiker, snowshoer, or aerobic winter traveler, there are better options. Winter climbers will find plenty of ventilation with this jacket.

Features and Design

The Mountain Equipment Lhotse is well-designed with great features for alpine climbing.

First, there are two pull cords on each side of the waist hem, which divides the waist into four quarters, each of which can be tightened separately. Other jackets employ this design, but this jacket is the only one to split the pull cords into individual pieces, meaning you pull an individual strand for each quarter, not a loop. This makes customizing the fit a lot easier, and also eliminates a hanging loop of elastic cord that can get in the way of the gear loops on a harness. This smart design reduces the risk of mis-clipping and dropping gear.

Other useful features include two high hand pockets, and a chest pocket closer to the front. These pockets are all easily accessible even while wearing a harness, which is critical for climbers. However, we never used all three pockets at once, and can't envision a scenario where we'd actually need all three. There's a small internal zippered chest pocket, which is sized to hold a phone or small belonging. Another nice feature a the velcro strap that can fasten over a rolled-up hood, meaning the shell can be used without a bulky hood when conditions allow.

Should You Buy the Mountain Equipment Lhotse?

This jacket is expensive, and it's also not the most versatile. It excels for ice and mixed climbing in winter conditions, and to alpine climbers, this jacket is well worth the price. It also has great construction quality, adding long-term value. That said, if you are in the market for a hard shell for skiing, hiking, or city life in rainy winter conditions, the climbing-specific features of this jacket will be under-appreciated.

What Other Hardshell Jackets Should You Consider?