HIMALI Monsoon Hardshell Review

The world of hardshells is a full one, and the expanse of options can be overwhelming. While many among us may be tempted to find an option that says “Gore-Tex” on it and call it a day, that approach casts too many exceptional options off the table. The HIMALI Monsoon Hardshell would be among those written off, and that would be an absolute shame, because it’s tested phenomenally for me over this past Winter season. In fact, it’s one of the most versatile, well-designed hardshells I’ve ever worn. Let me tell you why I think so.

HIMALI Monsoon Hardshell Features:

• Toray® 20K/20K breathable waterproof membrane for 4-season protection
• Fully seam taped
• Waterproof YKK® zippers
• Eco-DWR coating for added water resistance
• Helmet-compatible hood with laminated bill
• Wrist straps and both hood and hem drawstrings help keep the elements out
• Underarm zips let you dump heat on the move
• Silky smooth interior liner for a great next to skin feel
• Lifetime warranty and repairs
• Weight: 445 grams (as measured in size Large)
• MSRP: $365

A Soft Spot for a Hardshell

HIMALI is all about their roots in mountaineering. If you look through their catalog, you’ll find a wide variety of products designed for use at 8,000 meters, and while my use of the jacket didn’t take it to those altitudes, it’s clearly designed with a hard-mountaineering mindset. Over my months using the Monsoon Hardshell, I’ve used it for technical mountaineering, but I’ve also used it for ice climbing, long days out ski touring, and more. And you know what? It devours all of those things. Looking back over my testing period, versatility strikes me as a strength for this jacket. It’s certainly cold-weather focused, and I’ll dive into why that is later, but it isn’t limited by activity type. It works beautifully for all the cold-weather activities I’ve thrown at it.

When it comes down to it, quality performance for any activity is directly attributable to quality design and materials. For my money, the Monsoon Hardshell has both. The shell material is soft and pliable in the hand, but still withstood the abuse of scraping against rock, ice, and pointy little climbing toys while out mountaineering. It has a good stretchiness to it too.

And how is it with water? Phenomenal. I’ll give a couple examples. In late January, I went to the Lilooet, BC ice festival. Temperatures sat just below 40 Fahrenheit, and conditions were abysmal. Each waterfall that we climbed had plenty of flowing water. Everyone wore fishing gloves, and everyone’s hardshells were put to the test. After a full day in the freezing vertical shower, I was perfectly dry. Not all my friends could say the same.

A shell always has to balance waterproofing with breathability, and the Monsoon Hardshell takes this in stride. Near the beginning of February, I was out to climb Mt. Index. I spent a fair part of the day on snow so steep it touched my chest as I climbed. It was sunny and clear, and the climbing was physically taxing, so I went about it with the pit zips wide open. Breathability was good before I did, but the pit zips improved things even more so. These days out, and many others, have convinced me that the Toray membrane is top quality. Balancing waterproofing and breathability is no small thing, and the Monsoon Hardshell does it wonderfully.

Beyond the fabric, the jacket has a solid handful of other quality touches. It’s got waterproof YKK zippers all around, each of which is easy to operate with gloves. Two enormous pockets adorn the sides of the jacket well above the harness line. To give you an idea of internal capacity, I’m fairly certain I could fit two foot-long submarine sandwiches into each pocket without squishing down the bread at all. I might just validate this claim on my next mountaineering objective. A smaller zippered pocket on the inside could accommodate a phone or a couple bars. Moving north, you can cinch down the hood in two directions (tightening front to back and top to bottom) and it’s easy to adjust it with gloves. It’s that perfect size which accommodates a helmet comfortably, but can also cinch down to fit a head naturally.

If anything is missing on the Monsoon Hardshell, it might be in-pocket storage. Being able to stuff a jacket into its own pocket, clip it to a harness, and have it easily on hand when you need it is a nice perk. With that said, the Monsoon does pack down quite well, so it only occupies a small space in the backpack. You do have to take off your backpack to get to it… but so it goes.

Earlier in this review, I mentioned that the Monsoon Hardshell is best suited to cold-weather activities, and I stand by that. It’s not a matter of features. I’d say its features are excellent for any wet weather. It’s a matter of fit. The design of the Monsoon Hardshell is intentionally more roomy. It really accommodates layers. When out ice climbing, I wore my belay parka under the shell, and the shell material wasn’t drawn taught around it, which is unusual. The design allows you to wear a lot of clothing under the shell, which is great when it’s cold, but might be excessive for warmer weather activities, especially for those who like more of a svelte aesthetic.

So who wants this jacket? With a solid lifetime warranty to back it and a price comparable to other high-performance jackets out there, I’d say anybody in the world of winter sports. Mountaineers and climbers in particular will find it to be an excellent alternative to, say, an Arcteryx Beta AR or a North Face Chamlang jacket. Only it costs less and it’s still really good.

Fit: I’m 5’11” and a lean 170lbs, and I tested a size Large. The fit is generous enough to fit ample layering. For folks considering the jacket for less top-of-the-world applications where a thick puffy is mandatory, sizing down might be appropriate.

Buy Now: Available at HIMALI.com