What is the Makalu Jacket?

A classic M.E piece, the Makalu jacket is a protective, waterproof shell jacket made with Gore-Tex® material. With an updated, more eco-friendly design, it's still a go-to piece of kit for mountaineering, hiking and anything in between.

What is it made of?

The Makalu uses a three-layer construction with a 75D, bluesign® approved Gore-Tex® face fabric. This updated Gore® material uses an ePE membrane - a key milestone in the leading brand's responsible performance journey. If you were wondering, ePE stands for 'expanded polyethene', which is light, thin yet durable, and PFC-free.

If you're familiar with Trekitt descriptions, you may have seen that 'PFC-free' phrase floating around before. PFCs are per or poly-fluorinated chemicals, aka 'forever chemicals' that stay permanently in the environment and cause lasting damage to our ecosystems. Many companies are working towards a completely PFC-free future, so this is quite a breakthrough for the Gore-Tex® brand!

In addition, this membrane has a reduced carbon footprint, as it uses laminates with a lower-mass membrane and select textiles, making it an ideal choice for more environmentally conscious adventurers.

The material itself provides complete waterproof and windproof protection, with ample breathability to prevent sweat and condensation from building up inside, helping regulate body temperature. It's treated with an FC-free (fluorocarbon-free) DWR (durable water repellent) to further encourage water to bead off the fabric, keeping the jacket dry and breathable in wet conditions.

It's been rigorously tested to ensure a long-lasting product life, which adds to those eco-friendly credentials, as you won't need to buy a new replacement for a long time, saving energy, resources and waste.

bluesign® certifications also ensure that the materials used avoid harmful substances, use reduced air and water emissions, increase resource productivity, and the production line is more transparent and trustworthy.

What are its features?

The Makalu has a helmet-compatible, fully adjustable hood that you can cinch to sit snug around your head when you're not wearing protective gear.

Storage-wise, the jacket has two generous hand pockets and a chest pocket in the front, both with YKK® water-resistant zippers. An additional laminated, laser-cut pocket on the inside makes an ideal place for your phone or small valuables.

The jacket also features adjustable, laminated cuffs, dual tether hem drawcords (that don't catch on poles or ice axes) and a two-way, YKK®, moulded centre-front zip to seal out the elements.

When you're working hard and need to dump excess heat quickly, you'll appreciate the easy-to-use two-way YKK® pit zips under each arm. Toggles used throughout the jacket are also big enough to use with chunky gloves or numb fingers when the weather's a little nippy.

Designed with an 'Alpine Fit', the Makalu has enough room to accommodate a baselayer and a low profile mid-layer underneath. The Alpine fit reduces the dead space between layers, eliminating excess material and resulting in a warmer, lighter-weight jacket that is less likely to catch on jagged rock.

Features:

• GORE-TEX® with ePE membrane and FC-free DWR
• Three-layer construction with 75D face fabric for durability
• Mountain HC Hood is fully adjustable
• Alpine fit with articulated and pre-shaped sleeves
• Two large pockets with YKK® WR zips
• Napoleon chest pocket with YKK® WR zip
• Two-way YKK® moulded Aquaguard® centre front zip
• Two-way YKK® WR underarm pit zips
• Adjustable laminated cuffs and dual tether hem drawcords
• Laminated and laser cut inner pocket with YKK® zip