Essence Jacket
| Page Type | Gear Review |
|---|---|
| Object Title | Essence Jacket |
| Manufacturer | Marmot |
| Page By | Dow Williams |
| Page Type | May 16, 2007 / May 16, 2007 |
| Object ID | 3216 |
| Hits | 4774 |
| Vote |
Product Description
The Marmot Men's Essence Jacket is so light, you'll feel the essence of wearing a jacket (you'll stay dry), without feeling the substance of an extra layer. It's lighter than even Marmot's original PreCip jacket, which makes it ideal for packing in preparation for mid-spring thunderstorms. An attached adjustable hood, PreCip Plus fabric, and welded seams create a waterproof barrier. Reflective highlights keep you visible should oncoming traffic prove a problem, and a chest pocket lets you stash an extra energy gel or credit card.Features
Material: PreCip PlusLining: None
Core Venting: None
Pockets: 1 Chest
Seam Taped: Yes
Powder Skirt: No
Hood: Yes
Removable Hood: No
Zip-in Compatibility: No
Recommended Use: Emergency raincoat, backpacking
Weight: 9oz (255g)
Warranty: Lifetime
Colors/Size
Autumn, Fire, Indigo Blue, Tempest...I thought they wear larger than I like and traded a medium in for a small. I am not going to wear much underneath this kind of light weight product. Mostly using it as a wall jacket in the desert.Images
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Reviews
Viewing: 1-2 of 2 |
Autoxfil - Apr 23, 2010 8:09 pm - Hasn't voted
New and improved.
I think the 2009 jacket is the same as the 2010, but I have the newest one as of my writing.
The jacket is greatly improved in every way. PreCip plus was not very good, the new MemBrain Strata is. Not only does it breathe well for a WBM, it is slightly stretchy and looks/feels pretty supple/durable. Non-zip, mesh-lined vents have been added under the arms. The hood now has a volume adjustment which also can be used to stow it neatly by attaching the Velcro adjustment tab to the little piece for hanging the jacket on a hook. There's a nice elastic cord in both the hood and hem. Also, weight is down to 7oz (confirmed on my scale for a men's M).
This is designed for the adventure-racing and UL backpacking crowd(s). As such the cut is a bit short in the sleeves and hem for climbing. It does have a nice drop in the back for a little more coverage, and the cuffs do something similar, but I'm lanky and wish for 2" at cuffs and hem to fit like an alpine shell would. It's slightly baggy, but a very good compromise between being trim and moving enough air to breathe well. I don't think I'd make it tighter. The hood fits a helmet acceptably, but it's not as nicely designed for the task as shells from Patagonia and Rab.
The lightest sil-nylon or other non-breathable/slightly-breathable jackets you can get are 4.5-6oz, are only available from specialty UL backpacking companies (Anti-Gravity Gear is the only one I can find as of this writing), and they all look silly and feel too fragile. I'm not a huge fan of W/B membranes, but this jacket provides way more than that over the true UL stuff, at a modest cost increase. If that's what you're looking for, this jacket provides a great solution.
On the other side of the spectrum are similar jackets from other companies - GoLite, Rab, and Patagonia all have alpine and adventure-racing 2.5 and 3L W/B shells from 8-11oz. For me the alpine-specific cut and features were not worth the weight and cost penalties, as it's not my primary shell. If you're going to spend a lot of time in this, the other options are worth considering.
The jacket is greatly improved in every way. PreCip plus was not very good, the new MemBrain Strata is. Not only does it breathe well for a WBM, it is slightly stretchy and looks/feels pretty supple/durable. Non-zip, mesh-lined vents have been added under the arms. The hood now has a volume adjustment which also can be used to stow it neatly by attaching the Velcro adjustment tab to the little piece for hanging the jacket on a hook. There's a nice elastic cord in both the hood and hem. Also, weight is down to 7oz (confirmed on my scale for a men's M).
This is designed for the adventure-racing and UL backpacking crowd(s). As such the cut is a bit short in the sleeves and hem for climbing. It does have a nice drop in the back for a little more coverage, and the cuffs do something similar, but I'm lanky and wish for 2" at cuffs and hem to fit like an alpine shell would. It's slightly baggy, but a very good compromise between being trim and moving enough air to breathe well. I don't think I'd make it tighter. The hood fits a helmet acceptably, but it's not as nicely designed for the task as shells from Patagonia and Rab.
The lightest sil-nylon or other non-breathable/slightly-breathable jackets you can get are 4.5-6oz, are only available from specialty UL backpacking companies (Anti-Gravity Gear is the only one I can find as of this writing), and they all look silly and feel too fragile. I'm not a huge fan of W/B membranes, but this jacket provides way more than that over the true UL stuff, at a modest cost increase. If that's what you're looking for, this jacket provides a great solution.
On the other side of the spectrum are similar jackets from other companies - GoLite, Rab, and Patagonia all have alpine and adventure-racing 2.5 and 3L W/B shells from 8-11oz. For me the alpine-specific cut and features were not worth the weight and cost penalties, as it's not my primary shell. If you're going to spend a lot of time in this, the other options are worth considering.
Viewing: 1-2 of 2 |
Dow Williams - May 16, 2007 10:31 pm - Voted 5/5
Essence Jacket