MontBell Tachyon Anorak

Ultra light wind shirt, great protection, folds up tiny, not superb on breathability.

Construction:

I can be short with this review — The Tachyon anorak is one of the lightest, if not the lightest, wind shirts on the market. A size Large weighs in at 69 grams. 

It folds up the size of a kiwi. 

The (very) thin ballistic nylon the Tachyon is made of is very strong. I have worn this for two years, weekly. Not a rip or frayed piece of fabric. Only some discolouration from dirt etc. A friend of mine fell off his bike and opened his hands and forearms, but not this jacket. 

A photo of the thin Ballistic Nylon around the shoulder area, often a point where you see wear from shoulder pack straps. Not a scuff after two years of weekly use.

There are no unnecessary items or features on this jacket. It has no pockets or anything. But, it does have an adjustable hem, and a very nicely adjustable hood that gives great coverage.  

Flexible reinforcement added to the brim of the hood and cord to cinch it down tight to keep out the wind. 

Use:

When in good weather in Alpine environment this jacket can keep the cold winds off of you. It is very windproof. As such it is also not the most breathable (an inherent tradeoff). When cold this jacket is great over a thin fleece. 

The DWR is very good, more so than with other wind shirts. I like to wear this jacket in the rain in warm weather or when I move hard in colder (but above 0˚C) weather. I will get wet but not soaked, and stay warm as long as I keep moving. Of course I do have a proper hardshell with me for when I stop. This breathes better than the hardshell though.  

Still, I wish it was more breathable. I don't know if it is much of an issue if you are doing more regular treks, where you take your time to enjoy the environment. If you run or climb fast, the Tachyon is still really good a lot of times. But you might find yourself taking it on and off more than you'd like and wishing for a more breathable wind shirt. 

Conclusion:

All in all a great backup piece to keep with you that will provide you with a surprising amount of warmth on the move. For what this is designed for I think it is close to perfection.

For two years this has been my favourite and most used item, other than my shoes and my pack. I still take it with me, but often go with a more breathable hoodie, that gives a bit less protection, but works better for what I use it for. 

If you want a more breathable (but heavier) wind shirt the Rab Alpine Jacket is a good alternative.