Montbell Tachyon Parka

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(Unfortunately, we are unable to ship MontBell products outside of the UK)

The Tachyon is a well thought out weather resistant shell. Weighing just 72g this hooded jacket provides protection from the wind in a zoned, breathable shell that is ideal for fast and light activities. 

Montbell says

Montbell’s Tachyon Parka has been redesigned to significantly increase breathability without sacrificing its wind blocking performance. With the new fabric, we have manipulated the weave and how we process the material to expertly balance its ability to release built up humidity inside the jacket, yet still block wind. The new 7-denier nylon fabric is coated with Montbell’s POLKATEX® durable water repellent for shedding light precipitation. The redesigned Tachyon Parka now weighs 72g, but the marginal weight gain by using the new fabric makes up for this by being what we consider an exceptional wind shell with improved comfort due to its ability to breathe. We have controlled weight throughout the garment, using thinner elastic bands in the cuffs and eliminating unnecessary ventilation mesh.

Our Verdict

Montbell’s Tachyon Parka is a versatile wind shell that’s well suited to fast paced mountain activities. The mixture of fabrics on this jacket allow for wind blocking, very good breathability and stretch, making for a very comfortable jacket. At just 72g, this is an impressively lightweight top and the 7D fabric is a major factor for that weight. With underarm vents this wind shell breathes much more effectively than many other heavier weight windproofs and the DWR coating means that it is highly resistant to light rain too. 

This jacket performs really well for intense activities such as fell and mountain running but also works well as an emergency layer for cold, windy days. The fabric is too lightweight and delicate to wear under a full backpack but it is fine under a running vest pack or light daypack. 

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• Elastic cuffs to seal out drafts
• Under arms vents
• Packs easily into integrated stow pocket
• Front zipper: Left hand insert

Specifications

• Small weighs: 68g
• Medium weighs: 72g
• Large weighs: 74g
• XLarge weighs: 78g
• Centre back length: 72.5cm / 28.5in

Materials

• 7-denier Ballistic Airlight rip-stop nylon
• POLKATEX® DWR treatment