The Mono Point is Black Diamond's lightest Gore-Tex shell, using Gore-Tex Paclite fabric with relatively minimalist features to give a weight of 253g, which puts it among the lightest of the jackets we tested.
It packs away with ease, but at the same time you still get the waterproof and breathable qualities for which Paclite is known (and all the seams are taped, of course), making this a good shell for the activities it's particularly aimed at - weight-sensitive alpine hiking, climbing and backpacking.
That said, the helmet-compatible hood isn't especially adjustable when not actually wearing a helmet and there is just a bit too much material to deal with, so without a helmet your peripheral vision is slightly restricted as the hood doesn't move effectively with your head.
However, we do like the harness- and map-compatible chest pocket, and the drawcord hem and cuff tabs keep out wind and spindrift. The loose fit of the Mono Point means you could probably wear it in winter as it would be possible to layer up pretty effectively underneath it.
It's a shame the hood let the Mono Point down a bit as it's otherwise a very good and very lightweight shell (albeit at a price) and the orange version we tested also had a bright, cheerful look to it; and if you don't want to be bright and cheerful you can always get a darker option.
