New Blue Montane Coat and Rab Trousers

Ellis Brigham in the Lion Yard are having a "refit sale" so I got this coat for half of its std £250; and the trousers for half their std £90. The coat weights 390 g, 110 more than my previous Rab Orange at 280 g. It is a Cetus (not the Lite); arch; officially 395 g but I see I have a "small" (accidentally; it was on a L coathanger and I failed to check. Still, it seems to fit, including over a down jacket).

What sold me on the coat was the pockets; the orange Rab only has one, and it is high. This means that when walking I can't put my hands in my pockets; or, I have to lift up the coat and put my hands in the pockets of whatever is underneath. Either is annoying, and I readily get cold hands. The new coat is slightly (but only slightly) stiffer material - which I think I only notice because the Rab is so nice and slinky. The "true mountaineering style" is high pockets so the harness doesn't get in the way, but well: I spend more time walking than with harness; and quite often put the coat over the harness anyway.

The new trousers are the same model as the previous, except they are in a women's make, which seems to mean a smaller waist. I think that's OK; for £45 it was worth an experiment. The old trous have a minor hole in one knee, as tends to happen.