Engearment

When you’re shoveling snow one day and riding on hero dirt single track two days later, you just learn how to roll with ever-changing conditions.

Thankfully, the Mammut Taiss Light ML Hooded Jacket is exactly what I need to get me from one season to the next in relative comfort.

Constructed from a polyamide, polyester and spandex blend, the stretchy jacket can be used as both a mid layer and outer layer.

Surprising Warmth

I was surprised how much warmth the lightweight Mammut Taiss ML Hooded Jacket provided as an outer layer.

The warmth is comparable to my old Mammut Runbold ML Hoodies (I was a devotee for several years and owned them in multiple colors) that were a bit heavier weight.

What made the Mammut Taiss ML Hooded Jacket superior to my much-loved Mammut Runbold ML Hoodies was the abrasive resistant material, its zipper, and its pockets. All those features (more on these later) made it more versatile for outdoor recreation.

I wore the Mammut Taiss ML Hooded Jacket as an outer layer on cool mornings and evenings to walk the dogs and most recently mountain biking at altitude. As a layer for mountain biking, it was fantastic!

The athletic cut was very flattering and was neither too roomy or too close a fit.

Even when I wore a long sleeved base layer underneath, the jacket didn’t feel cramped. I was pleasantly surprised how easily it accommodated long sleeves. I’ve had similar midlayers where the sleeves just bunched up underneath, or the movement was severely restricted. This was not the case with the Mammut Taiss Light ML Hooded Jacket.

Then there is the zipper.

In recent years, my layering preferences have changed and I’ve swapped out pullovers in favor of the more practical full zippers. It’s just easier to add or remove layers and avoid the hassle of having to remove any helmets, hats, sunglasses, etc. while doing so.

Zippers serve such an essential function while outdoor recreating. Being able to easily layer up and also adjust for my comfort level for different sections of my ride was important. Am I approaching a steep section? Unzip!

What I liked the most about the Mammut Taiss ML Hooded Jacket are the pockets. Not only does it have two exterior concealed zippered pockets with pulls to keep essentials safe, but it also has two spacious interior pockets where I can stash my eyewear.

The fitted hood features an elasticated border to keep the elements out and also has a ponytail hole. I like that it fits easily under my mountain bike helmet.

On chilly days when the weather turned and I didn’t have any gloves, I was thankful for the thumbholes that kept my hands warm while walking the dogs. They’re also nice to have when using this as a midlayer and preventing the sleeves from getting bunched up.

Other features:

• Lightweight, comfortable, stretchable material

• Robust fabric thanks to polyamide content

• Regulated moisture-wicking prevents rapid overcooling

• Very good warmth-to-weight ratio

• Functional underarm gusset for optimum freedom of movement

• Flat seam design for a high level of comfort and to avoid chafing under the backpack

• Mammut logo on left sleeve

The Mammut Taiss ML Hooded Jacket is available in sizes XS to XXL and five colors. Be sure to read other reviews of colors, as some of the colors appear differently on the computer screen. I wore Mammut Red-Black, and I would say the Mammut Red is closer to an orange red than a true red.

Overall, I really like the Mammut Taiss Light ML Hooded Jacket for its functionality and versatility. I look forward to wearing this in upcoming months as an outer layer for nordic skiing and as a midlayer for alpine skiing.

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Sansa.

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers.

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.