The Mammut brand is a multinational company based on Switzerland that has been around in some form since 1862. This gear, apparel, and information exchange base camp boasts a brand motto of “CARE”ing: Clean production, Animal welfare, Reduced footprint, and Ethical production. It is a company that keeps their customers bonded as a community across the country and across the globe, and one that only offers the best in engineering and design when it comes to gear for quality and safety while out seeking the next adventure.

If you search for this jacket on any shopping website that carries such gear and apparel, you are going to learn that it has a vapor permeability of 15,000g/m2/24h. The number of people shopping for waterproof jackets who know what that means is considerably smaller than the number of people who are shopping for a waterproof jacket in general, so rather than quote a figure or specification that you might not understand, consider this instead: the DRYtech stretch polyamide material and polyurethane membrane material are both designed with keeping the exterior moisture out and keeping you from overheating and sweating inside the jacket at the same time. The Kento also features a long zipper under the armpit that unzips to let out a lot of heat quickly, if you find yourself feeling too warm and in need of ventilation.

The components and materials that make up this product are designed with the idea in mind that being dry while out in the rain or wind is a form of comfort. This is absolutely true, but there is more to a product than keeping you dry to be considered comfortable. The adjustability of the sleeve openings at the wrist, the hood being rolled up or rolled out to use, and the drawstring waistline suggest that this jacket will be comfortable because of its ability to adapt to the individual’s comfort. To an extent this is true, but also consider the design of shape. The high collar can vary in reaction from a delight at one’s neck being covered to an uncomfortable, possibly even claustrophobia inducing closeness due to being too high on the face and neck. The jacket falls to the general length of “hip” but for some people this may not be long enough, leaving an unfortunate gap between the bottom of the jacket and the top of the pants where wind, rain, or snow could get in and make them miserable. You should have no problem shrugging into this jacket and making it your own with the Velcro sleeves and drawstring adjustments, but also consider that you just may not find the style acceptable. Weigh all of your options – for a jacket this expensive, you must consider what you are willing to live with, and what will be a deal breaker for you.

Most times an item will declare itself durable on the site when you buy it, or on the tag in the store, or in the commercial on television. While it is very likely that the advert information is true, it is also possible that “durable” could mean something different to them than it does to you as the consumer. At a two-hundred US dollar price tag, you do not want to have to replace your chosen outerwear in a year, and that is not unreasonable of a request. Of course, it then begs the question: how do you know just how durable this product will be? The answer: reviews. Users giving feedback is always a pool of information, and the overall trends of good versus bad can be a useful indicator of how well a product will fare.

The durability of the Kento jacket ranges from one to over four years. The potential that you may receive a product that you find sub-par is there, but it is a low possibility. Keep your receipt and be sure to purchase from a reputable retailer just in case. For the most part, however, reviews mentioned four years or more of use of this product without an issue. It is worth mentioning that Mammut has discontinued the Kento jacket, but that does not mean you cannot purchase it from an honest seller who will return it if you are dissatisfied, because it is still very much available if you know where to look. With a four year promise, suddenly two hundred dollars is not so startling a number. Especially when it also boasts features like a reinforced hood peak, and a hood that stays in place in even the strongest gusts of wind, wherever you may be.

On a medium, the jacket length is seventy-two centimeters. On that same size medium, the sleeve lengths are ninety-three centimeters when measured from the neck of the jacket. These are pre-shaped sleeves, designed to keep your entire arm covered and snugly protected from the wind and rain. The emphasis on snug cannot be understated – while some users considered this jacket a true to size fit, others reported needing to go up a size. Further, it was noted frequently that despite the adjustable hemline and sleeve Velcro, there could be almost no layering underneath, making this jacket less helpful if someone was wearing more than one layer and suddenly needed to don their waterproof garment, only to find they could not fit their arms into the sleeves comfortably on top of their current apparel. The only suggestions available are to consult the sizing chart online – even if you buy the product in a store, consult the chart to have a good idea in your mind of where to start – and be prepared to try on different sizes if need be. Test the jacket out with the layers you intend to be wearing on your trek, so that you have a real idea of what you will be able to do once you are on the side of a mountain or on the Cliffs of Moher, with the wind and the moisture in the air hitting you from all angles.

The intended locations that the Kento will be of great use are generally listed as high alpine terrains. More specifically this item is intended for use while climbing, mountaineering, or hiking in the mountains. If you are on a trek and plan to be out for a long while, this jacket is small and lightweight enough to pack up flat and be left in the bottom of your bag until you have a need of it. Since it weighs only fourteen ounces, you will likely forget you even have it until a storm cloud or gust of wind make themselves known. The hood, which declares itself always capable of staying in place, is also helmet compatible, insisting that it is not floppy without the helmet option but perfectly capable with it.

The Kento is a light weight jacket by design, and despite boasting 2.5 layers of waterproof breathability, you still have full range of motion thanks to such features as the pre-shaped sleeves and underarm venting zips, which act like a gusset and give you extra mobility range.

With all of that in mind, you will still hit a wall when it comes to movement if you try to layer on a snug fit. If you have the opportunity to try on the jacket before you buy it, do so. Wear the layers you think you will be packing for your journey and put them and the jacket on at once. Raise your arms over your head, bend down, crouch, lean over, reach forward, twist at the waist – do anything you think you might need to do in terms of position while you are out in the world (and maybe even several things you do not think you will need to do) because you never know what you might need to be capable of. If you slip on a rock and lose your footing, stick your arm out to grasp something for balance and hear the shoulder rip because you were wearing your jacket too tightly, you now have to finish the trip with your waterproof and windproof jacket compromised. Now, it is not being suggested that this jacket is in any way flimsy, but the insistence that you plan appropriately for your fit and sizing is paramount, because your mobility and flexibility while in this jacket cannot necessarily just be hand-waved as you purchase a too-big size. The jacket still has to fit you without layers as well, for it to be correct. Plan accordingly and bend and stretch to test things out.

If you are given specific instructions upon purchase of your Kento jacket, please follow them to the letter. Failing a step-by-step guide specific to this jacket, general waterproof jacket cleaning and care instructions are the best that can be offered. The first step is fairly obvious and does not pertain only to waterproof garments that are about to be washed: empty your pockets. It is also recommended that you fasten and zip all zippers, closures, and attachments in order to prevent them snagging on anything else in the washing machine. Second, take a brush or cloth and wipe off any noticeable or prominent dirt or muck. Ideally you will want to do this as soon as something gets on your jacket, but if you have no means of doing this spot-clean method until you get home, then be sure to do so before putting it in to wash to save both your washing machine from having more work to do, and to get dirt off as soon as possible. Every lingering bit of dirt or debris runs the risk of setting in and damaging your waterproof coating. Next, be sure to obtain only a detergent that is waterproof material safe, and make sure that your loader and washing machine are both free of any remnants of other types of detergent before you begin.

Most waterproof materials say to wash them at forty degrees Celsius, but if you can wash your Kento jacket at thirty degrees instead it is more economical and offers a gentler wash. Keep the spin cycle slow, and then add a dry spin in order to get out as much of the moisture as possible. After that, do not place your jacket in the dryer. Instead, simply hang it on a hanger and let it air dry the rest of the way. You may also want to consider keeping some re-waterproofing materials around because after it has been through a few seasons of use it may need a bit of help to retain its waterproof capabilities, especially after a few seasons’ worth of rides through the washing machine.

Bright colors or subtle, the Kento jacket is always lightweight and impressively capable. Several points of note: the Kento is sometimes listed as a “Kento HS hooded jacket” (where HS stands for hard shell) and sometimes listed without the hard shell clarification. At first glance the jackets are identical but be warned that sometimes a fleece lining is mentioned, instead of the membrane layer. That distinction might seem small, but it changes potentially all of the clothing and gear you may pack for the entirety of the event. Pay close attention to a technical specification and any pictures of the jacket that are enclosed if you shop online, and if you are buying in person or privately, as the seller what kind of lining it has. Be sure that the lining you are acquiring is the lining that suits your needs and that you are taking into consideration what a change in lining material might mean for your intended wardrobe in its entirety.

The Kento jacket has a waterproof rating of 20,000mm. In layman’s terms, that means it is it is going to keep you dry if the weather is wet, unless you take it swimming. The seams are splash proofed to keep water out, even across the zipper closures of the pockets, and the DRYtech stretch polyamide material keeps you enveloped in two and a half layers of waterproof shell with breathable membrane, to keep you from sweating as you hike, climb, or mountaineer your way across the globe. While there have been some reviews that mention snow landing on this jacket’s outer shell and remaining dry for more than two years, others have mentioned some permeability after a year or so, so be prepared to re-proof your jacket maybe once a year, depending on how well you keep it clean. As with most gear, it is recommended that when you take it out after a decent amount of time in a closet or “off season” span, you test it before packing it for a trek or trip. It is a selling point about this jacket that you can pack it in your bag and forget about it until inclement weather hits, but you still need to be certain that it is in good working order before you begin.

The outer shell of this jacket is waterproof, making it strong enough to be windproof as well. The hood clarifies from the manufacturer that it will stay on during even the strongest gusts of wind. It notably does not offer what miles (or kilometers) per hour that gust of wind might be measured at to be considered ‘the strongest’ but suffice it to say that the adjustable aspects combined with he high collar are likely going to be more than enough to stand up to the climate and normal conditions of where you are heading with this jacket. The Velcro sleeve tighteners are also intended to keep wind out of the jacket and thereby further keep you snug and warm. Use your Velcro, drawstrings, and zippers to your advantage and keep all gaps closed whenever possible.

-DRYtech stretch material
-Waterproof 20,000mm
-Packs small and stretchy for full mobility
-Multiple points of adjustability

While this product is discontinued by the manufacturer, that does not mean it is a bad investment to make in your health and wellness while out seeking new adventures. The longevity users have experienced, the protection from the elements it offers, and the engineering and design that went into its creation make the Mammut Kento hooded jacket a great buy for anyone willing to invest in a product that will see them through multitudes of rain or wind. Even if your uses are more domestic, it is still a dashing and functional raincoat with three zip-closure pockets to keep your daily items secure, safe, and dry if you head out in bad weather.

Just remember not to throw it into the wash with your normal hoodies and jackets; you still need to take $200 level care of your jacket, even if you use it to get you from the car to the building during your daily commutes or weekend errand running. This jacket is a good value, as long as you take proper care of it.