Marmot down jackets & softshell jackets

Before I start showing you jackets and talking about them, I’ll usually write an intro paragraph… right about here, actually. In this case, however, I’m not going to.

Why bother? Marmot Jackets have become the standard, with unquestionable durability and construction quality, and most of you already know and trust the brand. Instead, I’m going to leap right into discussing this season’s Marmot down jackets and Marmot softshell jackets; most of these are old favorites with some tweaks and updates!

 

Marmot Down Jackets:

 

• MARMOT ZEUS JACKET (men’s)
   
  The men’s Zeus Jacket is the best-seller of Marmot’s down jacket line, and it’s no surprise the company who began by making down jackets and down sleeping bags excels so thoroughly at both. The premium 800-fill goose down is awesomely warm, with an ultralight down-proof fabric with classic baffling, and the jacket stuffs into its own pocket.

  There are also two variations to this jacket — the Marmot Zeus Vest and the brand new Marmot Zeus 1/2 Zip — that are only available at rockcreek.com and won’t be found in stores.

 

• MARMOT VENUS JACKET (women’s)
   
  The Marmot Venus Jacket is the women’s version of the Zeus, with all of the same features, a cuter chevron baffle and a flattering, feminine cut… not like the “Michelin Man” profile of some women’s down jackets! Super light and comfy — the whole jacket is just over 9 ounces! — and incredibly warm. You can wear this around town just as easily as you can at a backcountry campsite in January, and you’ll look good doing either. Actually, this is my wife’s favorite Marmot jacket.

  Also available (online only): the Marmot Venus Vest.

 

• MARMOT AMA DABLAM JACKET (men’s)
  MARMOT AMA DABLAM JACKET (women’s)

  What happens when you add a hood to a Zeus/Venus jacket, then give it a chest pocket, two-way zipper and a drop hem? You get the Marmot Ama Dablam Jacket. With these technical features, the Ama Dablam stands out as the workhorse for your outdoor activities; this is especially true for cold-weather climbing or ice climbing, since the zipper allows you to belay a partner without unzipping the jacket. With 800-fill down, the warmth-to-weight ratio is off the charts… this will become a staple for all of your winter outdoor adventures.

 

• MARMOT GUIDES DOWN HOODY (men’s)
   
  Still following along? Good. Now that you’ve read all about the Ama Dablam, the Marmot Guides Down Hoody is to explain: it’s like an Ama Dablam with 650-fill down instead of 800-fill down, which means it’s a bit puffier… and about $40 less expensive.

  It also employs a burlier fabric, potentially making it a better choice if you’re rubbing shoulders with sandstone crags all winter. Between the fabric and the down, it’s about 4 ounces heavier than the Ama Dablam. Don’t need a hood? Try the Marmot Guides Down Sweater.

 

 

Marmot Softshell Jackets:

 

• MARMOT GRAVITY JACKET (men’s)
  MARMOT GRAVITY JACKET (women’s)
   
  The Marmot Gravity Jacket is Marmot’s best-selling softshell jacket, available for both men and women. Highly wind-resistant, it’s made from a comfy 4-way-stretch nylony and is warm enough to work as a standalone jacket in cold weather. Like any softshell jacket, it’s not waterproof, but still repels water effectively for use in light rain.

  Packed with features including a driclime-lined chin guard, adjustable waist hem, laser drilled sleeve pocket, and velcro wrist cuffs.

 

• MARMOT SHARP POINT JACKET (men’s)
   
  The Marmot Sharp Point Jacket is a truly windproof softshell using Gore Windstopper technology. Looking for a tough, functional, breathable softshell jacket that cuts the wind completely without limiting your range of motion? The Sharp Point Jacket is exactly that, and an iconic favorite of outdoor professionals for the last decade.

  Durable and surprisingly warm, with a great fit and a technical ripstop shell fabric, the Sharp Point Jacket also features pit zips, making it more suitable for active use than the Gravity Jacket.

 

• MARMOT ROM JACKET (men’s)
  MARMOT ROM JACKET (women’s)
   
  The Marmot ROM Jacket isn’t quite brand new — this debuted last year — but this is probably my favorite jacket and I’m glad it’s returning for Fall 2011. The Rom is a midweight, stretchy, body-mapped softshell that combines a lightweight Gore Windstopper fabric with highly-breathable stretch panels that run down both sides of the jacket and the underside of the sleeves. It also features a hood, which adds tremendously to its versatility. The result is a jacket that’s windproof exactly where you need it to be, and as breathable as possible. Check out my review here!