I lost my last waterproof. I left it on a bus on my way to a gig as I recall and I was pretty gutted. Don’t get me wrong, I was due a new one. The old trusty Berghaus had been reproofed many a time but wasn’t keeping the water out like it should any more. So I started the process of researching what the next one would be.
In November 2023, I settled on the Mammut Women’s Alto Guide hooded jacket in blood red because:
- I read great reviews
- Loved the colour
- I am obsessed with the Mammut baselayers I own and really rate the quality of the brand
I know 10 months seems an awful long time to wait to write a review, but I honestly don’t think you can properly review a waterproof until you’ve had it for months and months.
The Mammut Alto Guide Hooded waterproof has been with me for almost a year now through all sorts of weather conditions:
From snowy mountains to showery beaches, from the height of winter to wet summery days, it has been thoroughly well tested.
So with that in mind, here’s my honest review of the Mammut Alto Guide Hooded Women’s Waterproof jacket in blood red.
Mammut Alto Guide Waterproof Price
I bought directly from Mammut, had a discount code as part of Black Friday and paid £189.99.
No doubt the Black Friday deals will be back at some point to keep an eye out for them.
It’s currently (1st October 2024) £260 on the Mammut website but less on Amazon.
Mammut Alto Guide Waterproof Women’s Sizing
I sized up, as I always do with hiking jackets of any kind. I do this because I layer a lot in winter. I’d much rather have several thinner layers I can take on and off than a couple of thicker ones and I don’t like the feeling of being restricted.
So I sized up one size. The risk with that with a waterproof is leaving too many gaps the water can get in. But the sleeves have velcro at the ends to tighten them and the hood does too. So although I have plenty of space in it, I think I made the right call and it has never felt too big.
Mammut Alto Guide Women’s Waterproof Features
The main reason I bought this jacket was because of its water column rating of 20000 mm.
With that sort of rating, I should be able to expect this jacket to keep the rain out over prolonged spells in heavy rain. By contract, my previous 10,000 mm rated jacket, even when still quite new, had given up after a few hours of heavy and consistent rain on CMD Arete.
So that was massively important to me. And of course, when it arrived in the post my first job was to stick it under the tap to see how it fared:
Always reassuring to see the water just run off and to bead in this way.
I also really liked the taped seams for the pockets (and the pockets are huge):
But for me, the highlight feature was (and remains) the hood:
The front zip comes right up over your nose and the hood is really easily adjustable with and shaped to stop water running from the hood over your face.
All the zips, including for pockets, are well taped and don’t let water in.
How has it coped?
I’ve taken this out on some incredibly rainy day hikes where I’ve been in consistent rain for hours upon hours and it has not yet once let me down.
I have not yet reproofed it but I probably will before the winter sets in.
Now, it’s not an insulted jacket of course, so I layer according to the temperature. In the summer I was wearing this over a t shirt if it was hot. In the winter, I was wearing baselayers, t shirts and mid layers underneath and still felt like I had complete mobility.
It’s hugely breathable.
Mammut Women’s Alto Guide Hooded Waterproof Review
In short, it’s a solid 10/10 for me.
It’s highly waterproof, breathable, has plenty of pocket space and really does feel like it offers proper protection from very heavy rain.
I’ve been absolutely delighted with it. Possibly the best waterproof jacket I’ve ever owned.
My Mammut love affair continues…
