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This Expert-Approved Jacket Just Outdid Itself with a Warmer, Bolder Redesign

Mountain Equipment’s new, fully synthetic belay jacket doubles down on innovative insulation, far surpassing its award-winning predecessor.

Bright orange insulated jacket with a high collar and front zipper against a green background.Mountain Equipment
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By Hayley Helms

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If everyone lived by the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” we’d see far less innovation in this world. After all, why bother improving something that already works just fine?

Fortunately, for those of us obsessed with product advancements, material updates and the constant pursuit of gear-oriented perfection, Mountain Equipment’s new jacket refuses to rest on its laurels.

Person in a red jacket and yellow mountaineering boots sitting on snow outside a tent with a red backpack and trekking poles nearby.
The Mountain Equipment Super Oreus received an ISPO Award for its innovations, just as its predecessor did.
Mountain Equipment

Supersize me

The original Mountain Equipment Oreus was a very warm, very capable jacket — so warm and capable, in fact, it won an ISPO Award upon its debut and subsequently cracked the top 10 of our own GP100.

Climber in red jacket and helmet ascending steep icy mountain slope with ice axes and crampons.
Testing of the Super Oreus was conducted over two full Scottish winters.
Mountain Equipment

Now, two years later, the super-sized second version — the Super Oreus — just took home an ISPO award of its own, thanks to its improved design and out-of-this-world heat retention.

It was fully put to the test during two full Scottish winter seasons by the instructors of Plas y Brenin, the National Outdoor Center for Mountain Sport in England, and alpine climber Tom Livingstone.

Thermal image showing two people wearing hooded jackets with warm heads and legs, cooler torsos and arms.
At -4°F, infrared thermography showed the Super Oreus to be warmer than Mountain Equipment’s market-leading Citadel Jacket, while being 2.1 ounces lighter.
Mountain Equipment

This fully synthetic belay jacket delivers the comfort of down while being twice as warm as its predecessor.

Built to withstand the rigors of alpine and winter climbing, the Super Oreus utilizes two layers of Mountain Equipment’s Aetherm Precision Insulation, which is designed to be light, compressible and reliable in cold and wet environments.

Person in black jacket and gloves holding a thermal camera pointed at two people in orange insulated jackets and gloves standing indoors.
Behind-the-scenes peek at the Mountain Equipment Super Oreus cold chamber testing.
Mountain Equipment

This new jacket’s two-layer Aetherm design makes it twice as warm as the original Oreus, without adding bulk or reducing mobility.

Thanks to its exceptional thermal efficiency, resilience and ability to withstand moisture, it’s been recognized as one of the most impressive belay jackets ever produced.

Availability and pricing

The award-winning Super Oreus Jacket will be available through specialty retailers and at Mountain Equipment’s official website in Fall/Winter 2026.

Bright orange insulated jacket with hood and two vertical chest zip pockets.Mountain Equipment

Mountain Equipment Super Oreus Jacket

About the Author: Hayley Helms is an associate editor at Gear Patrol specializing in outdoor gear. Once upon a time, she wrote for Men’s Journal, Gearjunkie and Shape. Whether it’s testing a new rain shell or putting a pair of hiking boots through its paces, she leaves no stone unturned (however, she always Leaves No Trace).

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