Marmot Essence Jacket - Men's

the lightest!!
April 20, 2011

If it is light you want, this is undoubtedly the lightest rain/wind jacket you are going to find. It packs down to just about nothing. My xl weighs 167g! Only problem I note is that it is sized small for sure. I'd recommend sizing up if it is to be worn with anything more than a light sweater under it. I don't think any but the lightest down shirts and sweaters will fit under it..... BUT YOU'LL BE DRY. I wore it over a sweatshirt in a hard (and not very cold) rain, about 60 degrees, and it kept me dry and not sweaty. It is more pricey than many of the light shells, but it's not like them because it's not just a waterproof layer, it's a Membrain 2.5L, so it breathes too. It shows craftsmanship and I think it is probably hard to manufacture a waterproof/breathable in such a lightweight piece.

I LOVE THIS JACKET
March 27, 2011

I'm a fair weather backpacker and I don't intentionally go out on a trip when I know it's going to rain. I'm also an ounce-counter (I weigh everything) so I bought this jacket a couple of years ago to carry as insurance for those times the weatherman missed the mark. This jacket weighs only 7.2 ounces for size large (!) and the fabric is very light and flexible, so it is easy to shove into a convenient crevice in your pack. The quality of construction is IMPECCABLE, it keeps you absolutely dry, all the zippers are waterproof, and the hood does not let in wind and rain like so many other rain jackets do. To keep the jacket light there are no pit zips although I haven't seen that as a problem as I'm not usually on the move during a rainstorm. One caveat - the fit is what Backpacker magazine calls "athletic". I purchased my normal size large (I'm 5-9, 175 lbs and a bit wide in the middle) - it's fine wearing a long T shirt and fleece shirt, but I can NOT wear it over my puffy down coat which could be a problem if I was hunkered down in the rain on a very cold day. In retrospect I wish I had purchased size XL instead of L and in fact, getting a replacement is on my future want list. Also, I'm not a climber, but I'm not sure one could fit a helmet under the hood. I've owned a lot of rain jackets, some very expensive, but this is by far the best. I HIGHLY recommend this jacket, but also strongly recommend going a size larger than normal to allow for layering in cold weather.