The Montane Cetus Lite Jacket is a three layer waterproof/breathable rain jacket with a two-way adjustable hood with a bendable brim, hook and loop wrist cuffs and an adjustable hem. Weighing 11.3 oz, it has two very large zippered hand warmer pockets and excellent waterproofing and breathability ratings. I sized up to an XL because Montane garments usually run a little small.

• Gender: Men’s (Women’s Available)
• Size tested: (XL – 11.8 oz men’s)
• Weight: 11.3 oz
• Hydrostatic Head: 20,000
• RET < 5 (Resistance to Evaporative Heat Transfer – this means its highly breathable)
• Pit Zips: No
• Materials: 21D recycled nylon shell, seam taped, YKK Aquaguard zippers

Montane makes very good rain jackets, in my experience, both in terms of features and performance. Based in the UK, you have to be, since it rains there so much. The company has recently re-entered the US market after an absence of several years and now has a US-based website store, which should make their products easier to obtain. Montane excels in making clothing and gear for fast and light hiking, trail running, and mountaineering adventures. Check out their selection. You’ll be impressed.

The hood provides good protection without the need for a billed cap.

The Montane Cetus Lite Jacket is very nice three layer jacket with great waterproofing and breathability ratings. But what “makes” this jacket, is the hood, which is sized for a human head and not a ski or climbing helmet (like most US manufactured rain shells). It has a rear volume adjustment and cords to adjust the size of the face opening so you prevent the wind or blowing rain from entering and chilling you. The neck runs high providing excellent face protection and a fabric brim with a wire inside that you can position to keep the rain off your glasses or out of your eyes. I haven’t see a hood this good since the last time I tested a Montane rain jacket (the Montane Podium, in 2022).

I like to wrap the hook and loop wrist cuffs over my rain mitten gauntlets to seal in warmth.

The rest of the jacket is also very nice. The interior seams are all taped, so they won’t leak. There are hook and loop wrist cuffs that you can slide up your arms to vent excess heat or wrap around rain mitten gauntlets to keep the heat in and cold out. There are a pair of elastic hem adjusters along the bottom to block cold from entering from below. Finally, there are a pair of hand warmer pockets, both with Aquaguard zippers, that are simply huge (as in tall), and partially accessible when wearing a hip belt.

The Cetus Lite Jacket performed well in some very dirty weather.

I’ve been wearing the Cetus Lite Jacket the past few weeks in some very dirty weather and been impressed with its performance. It’s kept my upper half dry and comfortable in torrential rain. It is a pricey jacket, at the high end of the price range (MSRP $325), but if you want a lightweight waterproof/breathable rain jacket with a decent hood that is made for hiking and backpacking, it’s a great choice.

Disclosure: Montane donated a jacket for review.

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