215 grams and 20,000 mm of waterproofing, exactly the spec sheet that made the Salomon Bonatti Trail RunMorph's French reference for trail rain jackets. British maker Montane offers the same promise with its Minimus Lite Jacket, barely 20 g heavier, yet stays almost unknown to runners outside the UK. Is it worth a look, or does the Bonatti Trail keep the upper hand?
© Montane, official photo used for editorial purposes
The Montane Minimus Lite Jacket weighs 215 g and carries a 20,000 mm waterproof rating, a figure confirmed by a detailed real-world test. Its cut runs roomier than the segment average, which makes layering easier, but the cuffs let in a little water according to one tester, and breathability tails off past an hour of sustained effort. Priced between £150 and £180 depending on the retailer, it targets the runner who wants total waterproofing without chasing the lowest gram count at all costs.
Montane has built outdoor gear in the UK for more than twenty years, best known among mountaineers and long-distance hikers. Trail running remains a recent segment for the brand, and its name barely circulates among French-speaking runners, well behind Salomon, Patagonia or On. Yet the Minimus Lite Jacket claims a spec sheet that rivals RunMorph's catalogue reference, the Salomon Bonatti Trail: the same Pertex Shield membrane, the same 20,000 mm waterproof threshold, for 20 g more on the scale.
The angle here isn't a market-shaking new release, but a deliberate catalogue gap: a model already thoroughly tested in the UK, never covered for French-speaking readers, even though its spec sheet earns a direct comparison with what RunMorph already recommends.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Montane |
| Model | Minimus Lite Jacket (men's) |
| Weight | 215 g (size M) |
| Waterproofing | 20,000 mm water column |
| Membrane | Pertex Shield, 2.5-layer |
| Seams | Fully taped |
| Main zip | Full-length YKK Aquaguard with internal flap |
| Hood | 3-point adjustable |
| Pockets | 2 zipped hand pockets |
| Use | Trail, running, fast hiking |
| Price | Around £150 to £180 depending on retailer |
One figure anchors this article: 20,000 mm of water column, confirmed by a detailed UK test rather than simply lifted from the product sheet. That's exactly the Salomon Bonatti Trail's threshold, RunMorph's French reference in this segment. The 2.5-layer Pertex Shield membrane is the same technical family on both jackets, which explains how close the rain results end up.
The difference shows up elsewhere. The Montane cut is described by one tester as roomier than the segment average, which makes adding an extra layer easier in cold weather but leaves a bit more fabric flapping in the wind. The semi-elasticated cuffs let in some water for one tester during a simulated heavy-rain test, a point the Bonatti Trail's own test doesn't flag. On breathability, feedback diverges with intensity: no sweat buildup on the inner panels during moderate outings, but sweat gathering at the seams past an hour of sustained effort.
RunMorph's advice: save this jacket for outings where rain is a given and you're willing to trade some breathability past the one-hour mark. For a sustained pace over several hours in unstable weather, a breathable layer underneath offsets the weak point the tests flagged.
© Montane, official photo used for editorial purposes
© Montane, official photo used for editorial purposes
Three detailed, independent English-language tests were read for this article, given the lack of French-language coverage of this exact model (a cross-search turned up nothing on Wanarun, u-Trail, Materieltrail or Pacing Trail). The first, run under simulated heavy rain in-store, confirms the waterproofing even in sustained downpour, but flags cuffs that could be improved and let a little water through. The second, a multi-week extended test (autumn rain, sub-zero temperatures, muddy outings), confirms protection in normal rain and snow, with one caveat: under a test shower simulating torrential rain, water eventually seeped through in places. The third, run during spring morning outings, describes a trim cut that doesn't hamper stride and a hood that doesn't pull at the neck.
The disagreement centers on fit: one tester calls it roomier than other references, another describes it as trim and tapered. At RunMorph, this gap is most likely explained by the size and model tested (men's versus women's, depending on the source), a point worth checking in-store before buying rather than taking for granted from the spec sheet alone. On breathability, all three tests agree that it holds up in moderate use but drops off noticeably past an hour of sustained effort, a trait already noted above.
| Criterion | Montane Minimus Lite | Salomon Bonatti Trail | On Running Ultra Jacket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 215 g | 195 g | 100 g |
| Waterproofing | 20,000 mm | 20,000 mm | not disclosed in mm |
| Membrane | Pertex Shield 2.5-layer | Pertex Shield 2.5-layer | On proprietary technology |
| Home market | United Kingdom | France | Switzerland |
The simple takeaway: at equal waterproofing, the Salomon Bonatti Trail stays 20 g lighter, making it the reference if weight is the only criterion. The On Running Ultra Jacket targets a different use case entirely, ultra-minimalism at 100 g, at the cost of less-documented long-term protection. The Montane earns its place mainly through its roomier cut, useful for layering in winter, an argument the other two don't put forward.
The Montane Minimus Lite Jacket suits the trail runner who prioritizes total, confirmed waterproofing over the long haul, rather than the gram-counter racing short distances. It earns its place on the long outings of a trail training block, when the forecast is unstable and the distance means setting off covered without knowing what the day will bring.
👉 Check out the RunMorph Trail plan, built for the long outings where a reliable waterproof jacket changes how you manage effort.
The Montane Minimus Lite Jacket delivers on its waterproofing promise, confirmed at 20,000 mm by a detailed real-world test, on the same technical base as the Salomon Bonatti Trail already recommended by RunMorph. It loses points on weight (20 g more than the French reference at equal protection) and on breathability under sustained effort, two limits documented by tests rather than assumed. 7.5/10: a credible alternative to the Bonatti Trail for anyone who prefers a roomier cut, not a model that dethrones it on paper.
Yes, its roomy cut at 215 g stays easy to wear for a beginner, as long as you accept breathability that drops off past an hour of sustained effort.
20,000 mm of water column, confirmed by a sustained simulated-rain test, with one caveat on cuffs that let in a little water according to that same test.
One tester describes it as roomier than the segment average, another finds it trim: trying it on in-store remains the most reliable guide before buying.
Same 20,000 mm waterproofing and the same Pertex Shield membrane, but the Bonatti Trail weighs 195 g against 215 g for the Montane, a 20 g gap at identical protection.