MAMMUT Ultimate Advanced Jacket 2012

Last year Sept 2011 I bought this jacket in the Graphite Color and I had a dismal experience with it (See my 2011 review).Recently a Mammut Rep who read my review informed me this year the Ultimate series Jackets were all improved for fit and with a new 3 layer gore fabric.

On paper, for what it wants to do, the Advanced jacket has a lot to love about it so I took a chance and placed my order for the 2012 Black color on Backcountry (Mountain Gear also has it).

Right out the box the 2012 Advanced is surprisingly light weight and the material, a micro weaving of 2 layer polyester knit sandwiching a membrane layer of Polytetrafluorethylene, feels soft and smooth yet solid to the touch.

Mammut has not only improved the sleeve articulation and fit for this year but also used better materials 'wisely' to enhance the stretchiness of the fabric so moving your arms about during climbing or activities no longer feels like you are wearing a straight-jacket as it did on last year's model. The pit and pocket ventilation system is also easy to unzip and make use of whiles on the move. The belay zipper and thumb loops are useful when needed and invisible when not needed.

The rubberized shoulder and elbow trims are now a darker gray this year and is seamlessly integrated into the rest of the jacket's fabric and looks much sleeker than it did before. See my pictures.

The hefty $258 price tag could be the only con but once you put it on you will forget how much you paid for it because it is that good. Another con could be Mammut makes a limited amount of their jackets for the Fall season each year so finding one in your size and color is a rather difficult to impossible task after Halloween!

NOTE: I'm 5'8" tall and 155lbs and the size Medium fits me perfect as shown in the pictures.

For this much improved 2012 model I have to give it 5 big stars!