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Finding the perfect puffer is a lot like trusting a weather forecast – full of lofty promises, but often a letdown when the cold really hits. Explorer Jess tested the Mont Zero Ultralight Women’s Down Jacket and deemed it a downright winner.
Puffers are the ideal item to layer between your base and outer shell, but they’re damn tricky to purchase. It’s too hard to tell in a shop if a jacket is going to keep you warm when it’s absolutely freezing, and shops don’t take too kindly to exchanges after extended camping trips to try them out.
Mont’s Zero Ultralight Women’s Down Jacket promises to deliver warmth without the weight – a tempting proposition for ultralighters like me. But at what point is light simply too light?
Why am I the right person to review this?
As someone who hikes, camps, and can be found shivering on sunny days when the average person is comfy in a T-shirt, I’m well versed in choosing warm clothing. I also hate unnecessary bulk, always hike and travel ultralight, and refuse to carry gear that doesn’t justify its weight.
Over the years I’ve managed to accumulate multiple puffers – Cederberg, Adidas, Kathmandu, Macpac, and even a random hugely overpriced Spirit of Tasmania puffer that time I left behind a bag en route to a hiking trip down south. Aside from that last regrettable purchase, none of them suited my brief of being ultralight so my hopes for the Mont Zero Ultralight Down Jacket were high.
Layered up and ready to go
Quick Specifications
Weight: 210g (size 12)
Fill Weight: 75g (size 12)
Colourway: Shadow, North Sea
Fabric: Anti-Gravity Ultralight Nylon (7 denier, mini ripstop)
Insulation: 1000+ loft RDS white goose down with DWR treatment
Fit: Standard fit (true to size, it’s been designed to layer over a base layer so you don’t need to size up)
Packed Size: 20 x 9 x 9cm
RRP: $399.95
The jacket looks exactly like it did online. In different light, the North Sea colourway sometimes looks more blue and sometimes more green
Performance
At just 210g, the Mont Zero is absurdly light – I barely felt like I was wearing a jacket – and I was more than a little sceptical about its ability to keep me warm and toasty. I wore it on cold morning and evening walks and it was perfect – light enough that I didn’t feel bulky or hot, and insulated enough to keep my core at an ideal temperature.
It’s not insubstantial but it’s thin and no-nonsense. The warmth is clearly coming from clever tech and not bulk
This didn’t feel like enough of a test though, so when the opportunity came to spend a week on the Sapphire Coast by the beach, I jumped at it – taking only the Mont Zero for warmth. I found that it won’t replace a bulkier mid-layer for extremely cold or windy conditions, especially if you’re just kicking back and not moving, but it’s ace for active trips.
High Loft Down
The Mont Zero features 1000+ fill power white goose down, which is what keeps you snug, warm, and insulated. Loft refers to the thickness or fluffiness of down insulation, while fill power specifically measures how much space the down takes up. You’ll often see down rated by fill power, with 800+ being on the higher end.
Essentially, the higher these numbers are, the more air gets trapped so you need less down filling to achieve the same level of warmth. Anything over 800+ is considered extremely good and means the down is pretty darn efficient at trapping heat. With 1000+ fill power rating, I found the Mont Zero trapped heat very efficiently.
Read more: Down vs Synthetic Filling – Arc’teryx Cerium vs Arc’teryx Atom Jackets
I didn’t need to wear it for long on chilly evening walks before I was sweating. It was absolutely perfect on cold beaches though, while my legging-clad legs felt the wind ripping through them, my torso remained blissfully warm and protected.
My nose was pretty chilly though
Durability
When something is this light, durability is always a concern. The puffer is made from ‘anti-gravity’ nylon which Mont claims is the world’s lightest. It’s a big claim that I’ve got no way of testing so I’ll just take their word for it. Essentially it’s been made using ultrafine threads which when sewn so densely create an exceptionally strong, ripstop fabric.
While it’s not actually anti-gravity, it does feel like it floats rather than settles heavily onto my shoulders. It’s this factor more than anything else that makes it feel so ultralight.
The fabric is super thin so I was nervous bushbashing my way along coastal trails and winced more than a few times when I almost got snagged on a branch. The jacket never ripped but I’ll definitely aim to wear a shell over the top for future hikes to ensure its ongoing longevity.
The moment after you get caught on a branch and are wondering if you’ve just put a hole in the most expensive jacket you’ve ever worn
Interestingly, unlike all my previous puffers, this one shows no sign of down feathers poking through, a nice bonus!
The YKK zips (known for their durability) are strong and reliable though I found I needed to pay attention and do the main zipper slowly or I’d snag the jacket in the zip. Possibly that’s just my clumsiness but it seems to be the case on every puffer I’ve got so I’m not overly worried about it.
It also has a durable water-repellant coating which means it’s fine in a drizzle or light rain but isn’t totally waterproof.
Read more: How To Wash Your Down Jacket
Without my hands in the pockets weighing it down, the jacket seems to sit higher than other down jackets, creeping closer to the ears!
Comfort
The standard fit is true to size and allows for a base layer underneath without feeling restrictive. I typically wear a size 8-10 but grabbed a 10 knowing I’ll wear layers underneath. In hindsight, I should have grabbed a size 8 because Mont has designed these knowing they need to be roomy.
The cut is streamlined so if you have the right size, there won’t be any bunching at the shoulders. It’s a bit big on me, but thanks to the elasticed toggles on the bottom of the jacket this isn’t a huge deal. I can cinch it in as needed, and when it’s super cold or I want to sit down, it’s so long that I can sit on it without taking it off. Very handy to beef up the insulation of a sit-mat or cold ultralight mesh chair.
There’s a toggle inside the jacket on both sides so you can make it tighter as needed
I’m also a big fan of the elasticated wrists. None of my previous puffers have had these and wow are they a game changer! They keep the jacket snug and in place and prevent drafts from travelling up my arms. Love them.
Don’t buy a jacket without these, seriously
Design
For a down jacket this light, Mont has still packed in the essentials. It comes with a small stuff sack so you can keep it contained (it’s about the size of a standard Nalgene when compressed). When hiking I rarely use these stuff sacks as I find puffers perfect for filling up all the random spaces in my pack, but for casual weekend trips, I can see the usefulness. But don’t regularly store the puffer in the stuff sack as it’s not great for the down.
Pockets
I got excited reading the product description and seeing ‘zippered hand warmer pockets’. Oh yeah, they’re going to be fleece-lined, right? Wrong. The pockets are zippered but the inside is exactly the same as the outside surface of the jacket.
When you’re in the cold and you pop your hands in, it takes a while for them to warm up and it’s not the toasty soft warmth of a fleece-lined pocket.
The zips glide like a dream
High Collar
The high neck on this puffer is awesome. Too many puffers have a measly collar that barely registers let alone keeps the wind off. The collar on this Mont Zero Ultralight Down Jacket is lofty in comparison. It kept my neck warm in the absence of a buff and I could zip it up to just under my nose to keep my face warm too.
Perhaps the only improvement I’d make is to add a removable hood. But this would add extra weight and in any circumstance when rain was forecast I’d have an outer shell or my North Face Dryzzle Futurelight raincoat with me anyway, so while the versatility would be good, it’s by no means a major problem that there isn’t one.
When zipped up to the top it covers everything below the ears
Sustainability
Mont uses Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified down, meaning no live plucking or force-feeding of animals that the down is sourced from. Ethical insulation is becoming standard practice now but it’s not as high on most consumers’ radar as things like free-range eggs, and non-ethical options are still out there. Make sure to check the label before you buy your next puffy item.
Mont is quite on the pulse when it comes to sustainability initiatives and responsible production. When I think of brands with sustainability as a key part of their mission, my mind jumps to Patagonia, but Mont is definitely creeping very close to their league. Take a squiz at the Mont sustainability page and you’ll see what I mean. Short of being a B-Corp, Mont is almost on par. It’s great to see and certainly a brand I’m more motivated to support as a result.
Patagonia sings like a canary about sustainability but Mont is doing some incredible work too – just more quietly
Price
At an RRP of $399.95, the Mont Zero Ultralight is an investment. But given the insane warmth-to-weight ratio, high-quality materials, and ethical production, the price feels justified for serious Explorers.
Obviously, if you’re after a budget puffy, this ain’t it. But it’s also a hell of a lot more affordable than buying five ‘budget’ puffers and not getting the performance you need from any of them. It’s also better for the planet to buy one and be done.
With both a men’s and women’s version you might be able to snag one on sale at Wild Earth or Ultralight Hiker – keep an eye out!
The combination of zips, internal toggles, and elasticised wrists means no drafts are getting in
Final Thoughts
The Mont Zero Ultralight Down Jacket is an ultra-packable, high-performance insulation layer that punches well above its weight. If you’re an ultralight gear nerd like me or just hate carrying unnecessary grams, this jacket is a no-brainer.
Will it give you wings? Only temporarily
FAQs Mont Zero Ultralight Down Jacket
What are YKK zips?
YKK is a Japanese zipper manufacturer known for making the most reliable and durable zippers on the market, commonly found in quality outdoor gear.
What temperatures is this Mont jacket suitable for?
The exact warmth the Mont Zero Down Jacket is suitable for depends on layering. I’d happily take this on the Overland Track, and coupled with thermals, a shirt, and a raincoat, I wouldn’t be remotely worried about staying warm.
Does this Mont jacket come in a men’s version?
Yes, Mont offers a men’s equivalent of the Zero Down Jacket with the same ultralight design and high-loft down.
Is the Mont Zero Down Jacket water-resistant?
Yes, the outer fabric has a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating, meaning it sheds light rain and snow, but it’s not fully waterproof.
How packable is this jacket?
The Anti-Gravity Nylon and high-loft down allow the jacket to compress down to a tiny size, making it perfect for stuffing in a backpack. It scrunches up really small but just make sure to store it hung up or gently folded to protect the down.
How do I care for my down jacket?
Use a down-specific detergent, wash on a gentle cycle, and dry with tennis balls in a tumble dryer to keep the down well spread and lofted.
Find Your Ultimate Puffer
- Best Puffer Jackets in Australia for Men & Women
- Arc’teryx Agrium Hoody Reviewed & Tested – Arcteryx Agrium Jacket
- Kathmandu’s Any Time Down Short Jacket – Reviewed & Tested
- Patagonia Triolet Waterproof Jacket – Reviewed & Tested
