Editor David Lintern is impressed by the Highlander Munro V2, dubbing it a 4-season bagging bargain.
The new version of the Highlander Munro hardshell has me a little confused – why does some other outdoor gear cost quite so much? The fabric of choice here is a 3-layer PROT3X, which is PFC (fluorocarbon) free and promises a respectable hydrostatic head of 20,000mm. It’s a heavyweight fabric with some stiffness and taped seams all round best suited to colder and harsher weather, but soft to the touch and comfortable to wear.
David’s verdict
The feature set is frankly bewildering for a jacket at this price point. Hats off to Highlander for making affordable, fit for purpose kit.- Price
- Full feature set
- Breathability lower than some competitors
| Quick Specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £119.99 Weight: 563g Materials: PROT3X 3-layer waterproof Hood: Wired, 3 volume adjusters Front closure: 2 way zip, storm flap Underarm zips: Yes, 2 way Pockets: 2 handwarmer, 1 internal Hem: Drawcord with 2 way adjuster Cuffs: Tapered, Velcro adjusters Sizes: XS-XXL Sizes: EU 34 – 52 (UK 8-26) Women’s version: No direct equivalent www.highlander-outdoor.com |
The cut is short and boxy, almost alpine style. It has long-ish, tapered sleeves with Velcro tabs easily adjustable with big gloves, that are wide enough to pull up and expose the forearms to dump heat if needed. There is a little hem rise with the arms raised, but it’s not unmanageable.
Sizing errs on the side of small, so if you are broad chested, have wide shoulders (as I do) or find you often sit between sizes, it may be worth sizing up. That will help with the shorter length, too.
The feature set is frankly bewildering for a jacket at this price point. The hem has adjusters on both sides (although that hip length cut means I didn’t need to tweak). All the zips are waterproof YKK with big pulls easily used with winter gloves and the front zip is two way with a rear storm guard. The pit zips are also two way and meet in the middle – a small detail I think really matters, as you can vent just the armpit, or the underarm, or the ribs, or all of the above.
The two external handwarmer pockets are huge, and while the pocket bags might be partly covered by a hip belt, access is not. The internal pocket is smaller but zipped and perfectly fine for most phones.
Lastly, the hood is helmet compatible, soft wired with a small peak and moves with the head without restricting line of sight.
I’ve had this on extended test in an attempt to ‘break’ it, and I’ve been genuinely impressed. The DWR on mine is still going strong, even though I’ve ridden bikes in it and it’s now filthy, and while the breathability can’t quite match pricier, lightweight alpine shells when working hard, it’s still perfectly acceptable and costs 2 to 4 times less than most of the competition.
Those two-way zips really help with ventilation once things do warm up, and by the same token, the jacket feels really protective in horrible weather. Only once – in persistent, driving rain, have the arms just started to wet through, and even then, I stayed warm and only slightly damp – not wet.
I’d prefer if the hood adjusters were internal, but again, with the hood cinched tight and in winds high enough to make me stagger, I’ve yet to have one of the pulls flick me in the face.
Overall, my advice would be to watch the sizing, especially if you have wide shoulders or prefer a slightly longer cut… but otherwise and especially for someone’s first 4 season shell, I think the Munro V2 is pretty unbeatable. Hats off to Highlander for making affordable, fit for purpose kit.
Testing Notes
David took the Highlander Munro V2 out numerous times on autumn and winter day trips and while backpacking during an extended test throughout the latter half of 2024 in the Highlands. This review was published in the March 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors. To compare more options, read our guide to the best waterproof jackets.
