Mammut Haldigrat Hardshell Jacket Review

Swiss design has come a long way. Maybe it’s a generational thing, but I remember the bright one-pieces dominating European outerwear for a good stretch of time. But now I’ve seen Mammut’s new line and the aesthetic has completely flipped the other way.

The Haldigrat freeride shell is a jacket that is meant to be punished. While not Gore-Tex, I found the waterproofing to be more than adequate, and the DWR actually worked really well for quite a while before even needing to consider the membrane.

Mammut Haldigrat HS Hooded Jacket: First Impressions

This jacket is on the heavier side for the backcountry, although it’s called a freeride shell so it’s not a purely skinning jacket. But with that in mind, It’s not necessarily one that packs up super well, so it’s best used if it’s mostly being worn.

The next thing I noticed when putting it on was the nice mesh stopper in the hood that can fit around a helmet and keep it in place. This was obviously designed for helmet wear, which makes it all the more easy to maneuver with. It’s a subtle feature that works really well.

A couple main features in a jacket are flipped, so it might be a bonus to left-handed people or those who just want to do things differently. The two differences are the internal zipper pocket, which sits on the right side, and the zipper, which is on the left. These are a few cosmetic differences that set the jacket apart, and while trivial to some, may be a defining feature for those who prefer the other side for whatever reason.

Notable Features of the Mammut Haldigrat HS Hooded Jacket

Drytech Pro membrane: The waterproof membrane is polyurethane-based, and Mammut lists a 30,000 mm water column and 30,000 g/m²/24h breathability.

All the seams are taped and sealed, and I found the craftsmanship to be excellent. Nothing really stood out as lacking, and the quality control on this jacket seems to be top-notch.

Recycled, PFC-free fabric: The outer fabric is durable post-consumer recycled nylon with a PFC-free DWR, and Mammut lists the jacket as bluesign® PRODUCT certified.

Helmet-compatible hood: The hood adjusts with a single pull, has a reinforced peak, and is designed to fit over a helmet.

A few small details such as lining on the hood and at the top of the zipper where it hits your face are nice, and go a long way toward warmth/comfort when it’s really gnarly out there. You can tell a lot of thought and care went into designing the jacket.

Underarm ventilation: The vents close with water-repellent zippers.

Having the pit vents zip from two different sides allows you to manage your heat without having to take the pack off. And the vents are HUGE, meaning you can dump heat pretty quickly.

Pockets: The jacket sports chest pockets and two front pockets (all backpack-compatible, with water-resistant zippers), a sleeve pocket, a zippered inner pocket, and an elastic mesh inner pocket.

The chest pockets are huge. Some of the biggest I’ve tested. That fares well for guides, instructors, filmers, and people who have a bit more than usual to work with out in the field.