Which men’s hardshell jacket should you choose for hiking?
On a ridge, the wind drives rain sideways, into your collar and sleeves. For a full day’s walking in the rain, choose the COSMIQUES or the CASCADE. With an Ultrashell membrane, the COSMIQUES weighs 390 g in size M; its five pockets remain accessible when wearing a rucksack. Heavier at 525 g, the CASCADE uses a Cimashell membrane. Its stretch cuffs close the gap between jacket and gloves, while underarm ventilation zips release heat on the ascent.
To compare them with other walking jackets, browse our men’s hiking jackets.
Hardshell jackets with a Cimashell or Ultrashell membrane: 10,000 or 20,000 mm
With a Cimashell membrane, the STORM, CASCADE and LANDES withstand a 10,000 mm water column and allow 10,000 to 12,500 g of water vapour per m² to pass through in 24 hours. For long climbs in the rain, choose Ultrashell : 20,000 mm and 80,000 g/m²/24 h, releasing six to eight times more water vapour.
Compare these details on each product page:
- Waterproof rating: 10,000 mm with Cimashell, 20,000 mm with Ultrashell.
- Breathability: 10,000–80,000 g/m²/24 h.
- Wind resistance: 60 to 90 km/h, or 40 to 60 km/h for the LANDES.
- Weight in size M: from 225 g for the STORM to 710 g for the GUIDE PRO.
Hardshell jacket for mountaineering and ski touring
In a couloir, the jacket rubs against rock and your harness, and the hood needs to fit over a helmet. For mountaineering routes, choose the GUIDE PRO. Its rip-stop fabric and shoulder reinforcements resist abrasion; its roomy hood fits over a helmet. The cut leaves room for a thick down jacket. The GUIDE PRO weighs 710 g in size M, compared with 285 g for the STORM PRO, with the same waterproof rating.
The ADVANCED weighs 410 g and uses the lightest fabric in the range for long ascents and ski touring. Both jackets have a RECCO reflector that rescuers can detect in an avalanche; it complements, but does not replace, an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe. All our high-mountain jackets are in the mountaineering jackets.
Hardshell trail jacket and cycling rain jacket
On the trail, the jacket comes out of the running vest at the first sign of a shower. The STORM weighs 225 g in size M and its retaining tab lets you run with the jacket open. With an Ultrashell membrane, the STORM PRO weighs 285 g; its central zip also opens from the bottom for ventilation. Expandable panels let you wear the STORM PRO + over a running vest. Before a race with mandatory kit requirements, read our guide to mandatory waterproof clothing for the UTMB. The full range is in the men’s trail jackets.
For cycling, the LANDES fits over your everyday clothes with its roomy parka-style cut. Zips widen its peaked hood to cover a helmet.
Men’s and women’s hardshell jackets: same models, weights in size M
The models come in both fits under the same name, except for cycling: the men’s LANDES corresponds to the women’s HENDAYE. Their product pages give the weight in men’s size M and women’s size S. Depending on the fit, expect a weight difference of 25 to 110 g, with the largest difference on the GUIDE PRO. Women’s fits are grouped under the women’s hardshell jackets.
To keep your jacket waterproof, wash it with a detergent-free cleaner, such as the one in our care products, and restore the water-repellent finish with a waterproofing treatment as soon as water stops beading. Like all Cimalp clothing, these jackets are covered by the free repairs for life. For your lower half, choose from our men’s waterproof trousers.