Mountain Equipment Lhotse XCR Jacket Review

Good Points
Excellent rain protection.
Well designed hood.
Whistle (for emergencies) included in the map pocket.

Bad Points
Long length can limit movement slightly.
No "pit zips".
Does not pack down as small as other minimalist jackets.

General Comments
I bought the Mountain Equipment Lhotse XCR after trying a number of Mountain Equipment jackets, including the Karakorum and Changabang, and a few other brands (including Macpac, Sprayway and Berghaus).

As I do a lot of hillwalking, especially in winter, and so I need Gore-Tex for when it rains or snows (which it does in the winter in the UK!).

The jacket has pretty good freedom of movement. Ultimately it's designed for rock climbers so it needs it. Although you do need to be aware of the length of the jacket and may need to cinch the lower drawcords up a bit.

One of my favourite things about this jacket is the inclusion of a tethered whistle in the map pocket! This is a standard Mountain Equipment design add-on and is quite clever.

The hood design is very good as well. When worn properly, you can turn your head and won't end up looking at the inside of the hood! This is something that really set this jacket apart from others I tested.



Well worth it. In fact, when the time comes to upgrade, I will be looking at similar Mountain Equipment jackets.