MontBell Dyna Action Parka and Pant Hard Shells
By Cori Jones

When you are going to be in wet conditions while enjoying your favorite outdoor activity you need to make sure you have the right gear to keep you dry (unless you plan to be wet.) Your choices range from a simple trash bag, to a lightweight water resistant windbreaker, to a top of the line waterproof breathable technical hard shell. Which one you bring depends on how much protection vs. weight vs. functionality you want or need.

For example when I decided to climb Rainier I knew I needed a good waterproof breathable shell made with tough materials, loaded with key features like vents, adjustability, pockets in the right places, and the ability to be put on and taken off in a hurry. On top of that I wanted them to be lightweight.

I went searching for some hard shells to fit this bill and I found that several companies have excellent offerings. I was attracted to the Dyna Action Parka and Pant from MontBell because they were among the lightest shells and MontBell claimed they didn't sacrifice any of the quality, durability, or features in their quest to reduce weight.

After committing to the trip I learned that Rainier is one of the most difficult and dangerous mountains to climb and has the most glaciers of any mountain in the lower 48. I also learned that the mountain creates its own weather system that can dramatically change within a few minutes. Turns out that Rainier was a great place to test every aspect of the MontBell hard shells.

The MontBell Dyna Action Parka and Pant are among the lightest technical alpine hard shells available at 18 oz. and 20 oz. respectively. They are built with some of the most advance materials available and are loaded with well thought out features.

Both the Parka and Pant are made using super-light, ultra-thin, highly durable Ballistic® Airlight™ nylon in a 3-layer Gore-Tex® XCR construction on the body, and 40-denier stretch Gore-Tex® on the shoulders, elbows, knees, and seat. They both have Aqua-tect™ waterproof zippers, articulated stretch shoulders, elbows and knees. And of course taped seams.

The hood easily fits a climbing helmet and is very adjustable, the pockets have drains built in to allow melting snow to escape without letting water back in. Two elastic draw cords keep the parka fitting snug and the waist cord can be adjusted from inside the pockets. The cuffs have elastic stretch with Velcro, so you can easily get just the right fit.

When it comes to design these shells are very well thought out. They are designed to fit well without any extra or excess material. This doesn't mean they fit tight, it just means they fit well. They are sharp looking and comfortable to wear. I never felt restricted in any way wearing these shells, whether I was hiking, rappelling, or ice climbing.

We tested these shells it warm wet, cold wet, cold dry, and fair conditions. The weather on Rainier could and did change often, and drastically. Some days we would be hiking in direct warm sunlight. and the next minute we would be in drizzly fog, then a few minutes later it would snow on us. Then before we new it the sun would beat down on us again. The shells worked great. I was able to quickly unzip and zip up the full-length pit zips, and venting pockets. Occasionally I would vent the full zip pants. This gave me a bit of trouble because if I zipped the pants from the bottom I had to deal with my gaiters covering the zipper. If I zipped them from the top the snaps to hold the waistband together weren't quite strong enough and they popped open a few times , causing the pants start sliding down. For the most part I was never too hot or too cold in these shells and I kept dry even in the wettest of conditions.

The Aqua-tect zippers were great for their lightweight and their waterproof-ness, but they are a bit harder than other zippers to get started, and to zip. For the most part this wasn't an issue, but once in a while the pit zippers gave me some trouble and I had a hard time getting the pant zippers started a few times.

Probably the most outstanding aspect of these shells is that you get all these features and functionality and they weigh only 38 oz. together. In addition to that they compress down to 4.3'' x 4.3'' x 6.8'' for the parka and 4.3in x 4.3in x 8.6in for the pants. They each come with their own stuff sacks as well.

The length of our test wasn't long enough to truly test the durability of these shells but they give every indication of living up to the MontBell claim of being very durable and I expect them to wear very well.

The Dyna Parka retails for $359 and the Pants Retail for $335. This is a chunk of change, but actually a very good price compared to other hard shells with these same features.

Summary: All in all my few concerns are far out weighed by the many positive aspects. I feel very comfortable in recommending these shells to anyone seeking top of the line technical hard shells in a lightweight package.

Cori Jones, a contributing editor at GearReview.com, has just taken up mountaineering—another sport to dominate.

For more information, contact:
MontBell America Inc.
2800 Wilderness Place
Boulder, CO 80301
866-546-6824