Why We’re Impressed by Kathmandu’s Most Technical Range Ever

Ella’s had a suss of the fresh XT Series from Kathmandu. With the promise of being lighter than ever with elite performance credentials it’s a huge step for the NZ brand, so what’s new?

I’d like to think I’m an open-minded person. I don’t judge books by their covers, and I certainly don’t place people or things into boxes destined to stay there forever.

Or do I?

Take Kathmandu, for example. For years, I’ve had them filed away in the ‘entry-level black puffer jacket’ category. You know the one, the jacket every uni student wears around campus. (The Epiq Hooded Jacket, and yes, I still wear mine all the time. Thanks for asking.)

Recently though, Kathmandu gave me reason to unpack the box I’d placed them in with the launch of their new XT Series hiking range. It’s the most advanced technical, performance-focused gear we’ve seen from the brand since their alpine-focused collection from 2018. This time however, the gear is aimed at the conditions you’re more likely to be in: big days, wet weather, and regular movement.

Average XT Series kinda day

Safe to say, this wasn’t the Kathmandu I thought I knew. Here’s why I’m impressed: 

Module Behaviour

Before I get nerdy about each of the pieces in the XT Series, I want to touch on how the entire range is designed. Each piece was created to serve a purpose and solve a problem that occurs when hiking in challenging terrain. They work beautifully on their own, but together they are *chefs kiss*.

The full XT Series range covers base layers, a hybrid mid-layer, down insulation, rainwear, and a 40L XT Pack, all designed to work cohesively as a modular system without adding excess weight or bulk. It’s technical without feeling over-engineered. It also makes packing for a quick multi-day adventure VERY easy. 

My face when my kit all works together

There’s also a base layer range on the way, but it’s not out yet so I haven’t included it in this piece.

XT Series Hybrid Hooded Jacket

This little number is an ultralight mid-layer with a twist. The jacket combines Octa fleece and recycled Cordura panels, strategically mapped for airflow, wind protection and durability in high-contact areas like where your pack sits. 

Kinda jacket I’m never taking off

Kathmandu’s Head of Materials, Chad Leeder, explained that the Octa panels ‘are positioned in heat-generating zones like the back and underarms to improve breathability, while the stretch Cordura sections add structure and abrasion resistance without restricting movement.’ 

In practice, it creates a layer that regulates temperature very well while you’re moving. Perfect for cold starts or hiking in high-winds or cool conditions. 

Tough Cordura panels are placed in high wear areas like the shoulders

XT Series LT Down Jacket

We’re back to Kathmandu down jackets! This is the layer you’ll throw on the second you stop moving and your body temperature suddenly realises the wind chill is, in fact, personal. 

The LT Down Jacket uses high loft 800-fill goose down for warmth while keeping the overall weight pretty low, coming in at just 295g for the women’s version. It packs down quite small too, which makes it an easy addition to your kit even if you’re trying to keep pack weight under control.

Goose down is super warm for its weight, yum

What makes it feel a little more trail-oriented than your average down puffer though is the use of recycled Cordura ripstop throughout the shell. Most ultralight down jackets can feel almost too delicate, but this has a bit more structure and abrasion resistance without losing that lightweight, packable feel. 

It’s still very much an insulation layer rather than something you’d willingly drag through dense scrub, but it feels reassuringly less fragile than a lot of other jackets sitting in the same ultralight category.

It’s also super packable!

XT Series 3L Rain Jacket

The standout piece from the shell system for me was definitely the 3L Rain Jacket. For a fully waterproof three-layer shell, it feels absurdly light in hand, to the point where it almost doesn’t register as a proper rain jacket at first. The recycled Cordura fabric has a soft stretch to it as well, which gives it far more flexibility and movement than the stiff hard shells a lot of us have sitting in our closets. The women’s jacket comes in at a respectable 270g, placing it firmly in the lightweight category while still being durable enough to handle proper trail wear and tear. Most three-layer jackets are 350g-plus and nowhere near as packable as this, either.

How I feel in 35K breathability

What really elevates it, though, is the technical performance. The jacket carries a 20K waterproof rating, meaning it’s built to withstand heavy rain, wet snow and sustained pressure from pack straps without wetting out, alongside a seriously impressive 35K breathability rating. In real-world terms, that means it dumps heat and moisture exceptionally well during high-output hikes and climbs, avoiding that clammy ‘greenhouse’ feeling a lot of waterproof shells fall victim to.

The huge chest pocket is also a great addition and works really well with the pack harness system, giving you easy access to essentials and snacks instead of awkwardly battling hip belts and pack straps trying to reach traditional hand pockets.

Super packable thanks to lightweight construction

XT Series 3L Rain Pants

The rain pants follow the same philosophy: lightweight, packable and designed to disappear into your pack until conditions turn miserable, which realistically is exactly what you want from rain pants. My pair weighs just 160g and packs down tiny, making them an easy ‘throw them in just in case’ addition rather than something you resent carrying all day. The fit is relaxed enough to comfortably layer over hiking pants or shorts, while the lower-leg zips make them quick to pull on over muddy boots when the weather suddenly turns.

Rain pants also keep the chill out in cold little glens like this

The XT Series Pack

Saving my favourite piece for last. The XT Pack is a 40L ultralight pack built using ALUULA Graflyte fabric and it feels remarkably tough. 

Originally developed for high performance sailing and aerospace applications, ALUULA uses ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres that are molecularly fused to a waterproof film rather than traditionally laminated or stitched together. The end result is a fabric with an impressive strength-to-weight ratio, high tear resistance, and very little excess bulk. How cool is science? 

High tech ALUULA fabric is super light and tough

The pack itself leans heavily into lightweight, modular design. The roll-top closure allows for flexible storage depending on how much food, gear or extra layers you’re carrying, while the vest-style harness system is designed to distribute weight more evenly across the torso for improved stability while moving. 

The comfy harness has heaps of storage

At 40L, it sits in a really versatile category size-wise, suitable for short multi-day trips, while still compact enough for fastpacks and lighter overnight missions. Visually, it also feels quite different from more traditional hiking packs, with the structured Aluula fabric and streamlined silhouette giving it a very modern technical look.

Kathmandu Unboxed

So yes, it turns out I had put Kathmandu in a box.

But the XT Series feels like Kathmandu deliberately stepping outside of that category. The collection was field tested extensively across New Zealand’s backcountry, with gear subjected to prolonged wet weather, abrasive terrain and repeated wear over a multi-year development process, alongside lab testing focused on everything from waterproofing and breathability through to tear strength and abrasion resistance. That level of technical refinement shows.

Turns out Kathmandu’s place is actually in a bag, made of ALUULA composite

The collection leans heavily into modular layering systems, ultralight construction, technical fabrics, and performance-focused design in a way that feels far more aligned with modern fast-and-light hiking than the version of the brand I’d mentally filed away years ago.

More than anything though, the range feels considered. Every piece has a pretty distinct role within the system, from thermal regulation and weather protection through to packability and load carrying, without the collection feeling overly complicated or intimidating. 

Anyways, off to pack for my next backpacking trip. See you out there!

All photos by Lachie Hand