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Run Guide 2014Run Guide 2014
Mountain Hardwear Zonal Insulated Jacket - Men's
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Always remember to stretch.

Mountain Hardware built stretch panels into the insulated Men's Zonal Jacket where you need them most. On the sides, the Technostretch panels provide extra mobility and breathability. Everywhere else, you get ultra-lightweight warmth from the Thermic Micro insulation. Wear it alone as you boil coffee over the camp stove on a cool morning, or layer it under a shell for just the right amount of low-bulk warmth on an epic backcountry ski day.

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Review Summary
6 4
4 3
3 2
2 1

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Mountain Hardwear Zonal Insulated Jacket - Men's

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Here's what others have to say...

5 5

Well this is wonderful

  • Familiarity: I've used it several times

Lightweight enough to forget it's on, compressible enough to store it in one of the smaller pockets of your pack, and warm enough to keep you toasty on a good hike or a cross-country ski in the dead of winter. Layers perfectly with hard shell for cold rainy days. To top it all off, it's on sale. If you want a mid weight synthetic that'll look good on you, stop looking and buy it.

Why are there two mountain hardwear zonal...

Posted on

Why are there two mountain hardwear zonal jackets? they seem to be very similar but the price is drastically different. Is one from a past season?

Responded on

Different seasons I believe. The ones on sale are past season's color and design which make them good deal. The new one is lighter and looks better in my opinion but at 3 times the price, I'll pick the old award winning design/look for general use.

2 5

Tight around the arms

Not for folks with shorter torsos and broad shoulders. I tried both the SM and MED, and in both cases, it felt tight around the armpits. I felt that if I were to hug my arms across my chest, that the back material would rip open.

5 5


Great mid layer - packs real small and I just love the red color on this model.

4 5

Get in the Zonal

Pretty clean and simple mid layer or lightweight jacket. Good looking enough for around town and functional for stuffing in your pack for skiing or climbing. Packs down really small. Fit is pretty slim, but my girlfriend like that. Bonus!

Thanks Wally!

A follow-up question: What...

Posted on

Thanks Wally!

A follow-up question: What about the compressibility between the zonal, compressor, and lado?

Responded on

Hey Easy rider,

The compressibility between all three jackets will be pretty similar as in they can compress pretty well, but with a bit more of a baffle construction, the Zonal will compress more than the other two.

Responded on

The Zonal Jacket will compress quite a bit more than the Compressor or the Lado due to the difference in the amount of insulation used in the jackets. I used a Zonal this weekend while climbing 2 14'eers here in Colorado in a small 6 liter pack and it fit perfectly in the bottom as that lightweight emergency layer. I hope this info helps!

How does this jacket compare to the MH...

Posted on

How does this jacket compare to the MH compressor? What about to the Lado from last year, which is no longer made? Thanks!

Best Answer Responded on

Hey Easy Rider,

Nice profile name. The Mountain Hardwear Zonal Insulated Jacket has Technostretch side panels that the Compressor and Lado don't have which helps with comfort and stretchability. The Zonal has the same amount and type of insulation and also has a baffle design that allows for better movement than both of the jackets. Its outer shell has 20 denier fabric like the Compressor and the Lado is slightly more durable at 30 denier.

Responded on

Good answer Wally but you were incorrect on one fact. Easy Rider, the insulation in the Zonal Jacket is the same as in the Compressor Jacket but the Zonal utilizes 60grams of Thermic Micro where the Compressor utilizes 120grams of Thermic Micro. So, the Compressor will be quite a bit warmer than the Zonal due to this increase in insulation. I hope this info helps!

5 5

good for high exertion

I liked the fit (5'10", 155, medium) - athletic - but was the wrong jacket for my needs. I wore it under a shell walking the dog in low 30's with a breeze and was cold. It'd be great for the right activity.

3 5

a bit snug

I'm 5'11", 185 lbs and had purchased the large from When the jacket arrived, it was everything I had hoped for, but the fit was a bit too snug for my liking. I do have rather broad shoulders, but a large is usually perfect. In this case, the fit wouldn't have allowed me to layer anything other than a t-shirt under the jacket, and that just made it too limited for my liking.

3 5

good (for the price i paid)

got this jacket of SAC for 89. i am relatively happy with it at that price point. would not pay the 185 full retail. It is warm enough as a mid-layer, but not as warm as a circumferencially insulated jacket would be. without the polyester/elastane sides, i feel it would be much warmer, but they vent pretty well if you plan on wearing this thing on the move. wore it down into the windy 20s (windchill in the single digits) as a mid layer (1 of 4 layers total) and was not cold. 6'3" 220, and fit a midweight long sleeve icebreaker and a midweight merino halfzip under with a windstopper softshell over with no problems. i will say like others have said, that it does not seem up to the material quality that i am used to getting from Mountain Hardwear; just a gut feeling...its not falling apart or anything and has no scuffs or snags in a couple outings. Got the XL.

overall impression: the Zonal is a decent, lightweight, compressible, insulated jacket for mildly to moderately cold temperatures. is it worth 90 chucks? probably. is it worth 185? no. would i use this as a winter alpine layer? no.

4 5

Just right!

I bought this coat for my wife. I bought it in a mens' cause she is taller than most women. The fit is GREAT she says. It's warm, stylish, and comfy. The only knock is that she wishes it had an exterior pocket like the Marmot it replaced.

3 5

Questionable Sizing

I ended up having to return this jacket due to the size. I ordered a large. I'm 5'11" and 185 lbs with broad shoulders, but I felt I would only be able to wear a thin t-shirt under it. Other than that, I really liked it.

2 5

A jacket with no real purpose

I was excited to get this jacket based on the positive reviews. When I received it I was disappointed. I got the jacket in green and actually think it does look pretty cool and has just enough shine. But the lack of functionality definitely over-shadows what I like about the looks. While the jacket is very light and packable, the fleece sides limit its warmth. It is only slightly warmer than my Mountain Hardware fleece, but not warm enough to wear below 30 degrees. I can only see a real use as a mid-layer.
As for build, it is an athletic fit which I like. I typically wear a L (6'2" 200), but an XL fits well for me. I love MH products, butthe materials in the Zonal jacket seem cheaper than any other MH product I own.

Responded on

Would you say a Patagonia Nano Puff would be a better choice for a synthetic insulated jacket?

5 5

Great Jacket

Got this jacket for Christmas and decided it's time to write a review. This jacket is an excellent mid layer and good outer layer down to mid 30's depending on the base layer you wear underneath. I am 5'11" 185 lbs and the large fits how it is suppose to (snug but not skin tight). I have a 43/44 inch chest and its a little snug in the shoulders. However I prefer this rather than have it be bulky around the torso. Plus, it does not inhibit motion in any sort of way due to the stretch fleece side panels.
It fits as a mid layer under every hard shell and soft shell jacket I own with ease (my purpose for asking for this jacket). As far as the materials they are quality MH materials that I would expect in this price range. Even with knowing the weight, I was still shocked when I first put it on at how light weight it actually was. So while it does not feel like much, the thermic insulation does an excellent job of trapping heat without bulk. I wear a smart wool base layer, the zonal, and my north face bionic and am good down into single digits no problem even with wind. I would not say the zonal itself is windproof but wind resistent (except for side panels which are not) and it is water resistent.
One note on breathability, I wore it while shoveling snow under a hard shell with a polertec power dry base layer and the outside of the zonal was soaked while the inside was pretty dry. My hard shell is not very breathable (north face resolve) so all the moisture was trapped between the two layers but the mh kept me warm even after I stopped to take a break staying outside. After I went inside and took it off it dried completely in about a half hour to 45 minutes, def would have been even quicker had I kept it on...

1 5

Not impressed

Ordered the Zonal and was not impressed. Size ran way too small (I wear a large in virtually all other brands 6ft/190, and was expecting a slimmer fit so I could layer under a shell, but not this tight), materials seemed cheaper than expected and insulation lacking. Would not recommend.

4 5

Pretty warm for the low bulk

I spend most of my winters near Syracuse where snowfall can reach triple digits and temperatures plunge well below zero at times.

I'm 5'8" and 135 lbs and I wear a small and I can still fit a sweatshirt under it.

I previously had the Patagonia Down Sweater until it was stolen from me. I would consider the zonal nearly as warm and much less bulky. For this reason, I think the Zonal is superior. I haven't tested its waterproofness as I usually layer it under a Mountain Hardwear Drystein jacket, I highly recommend that as well.

I do wish It had a hood though for those days when I don't want to ruin my beautiful flowing locks with a beanie.

5 5

Great Jacket

I bought this to use primarily as a mid-layer and it works great for that. This jacket alone is warm down to about 30 with just a tshirt underneath. It is not windproof since the sides are a breathable, stretchy fleece. It is very lightweight and does not limit mobility at all. I'm 6'1", 170 lbs and a large fits perfect. I like MH jackets because of the slim fit around the torso and waist. Wearing this under a shell for a day in the backcountry or at the resort in a great combo. It packs downs really well which is nice if you need to stuff it into a pack for a long hike when body temps rise.

4 5

Great 'between temps' layer

Bought this as an insulating layer, around camp, and while waiting between ski races. Wore it in ~20F with just a wool thermal and was fine. The fleece side panels make for coolness there, but it vents nicely and with arms down keeps the wind out. Nice collar and cuffs, and typical Hardwear excellent build quality and details. I give if 4 stars only because of it's length, which is about 2" longer than I would prefer. I normally wear M, found that to be too tight across the lats and chest, and ended up with L. Both had the length issue. Otherwise I'm very satisfied.

5 5

Awesome outer layer

Fantastic jacket. Lightweight and packable. Was my primary outer layer in northern India in their winter. Got down to about 40 at night and I was comfortable in short sleeves. Wore in windy low 30s in NYC with a t-shirt and was just a little bit cool, but that is to be expected with the active armpit fleece. I am 190lb, 6 ft, chest 42, waist 33, arms 34, and the large fits perfectly. Fitted. Medium was too tight in armpits and sleeves were too short. Just a bit of shine on the exterior which makes it look sharp. Tried on the Montbell BC thermawrap in large and it was too big, had a baggier cut, and the exterior was dull.