Marmot DriClime Catalyst Jacket - Men's - 2008 BCS

I bought this jacket in Alaska after being unimpressed by the Northface Cypher. It just won Outside Magazine's Gear of the Year award so I figured I might as well try it out. I got it the day before I left for an 11day back pack trip in the Talkeetna mountain range in Alaska. It was a great jacket. I really loved it. It is as warm as a light fleece but nearly windproof as well. It shed some light rain (but it certainly did rain on that trip). I actually barely used my brand new Arcteryx fleece because it was just so comfortable and warm and just generally great. At the same time it was warm it certainly wasn't too warm. I wore it hiking in relatively warm alaskan days (60 degrees and cloudy) and didn't overheat. Even when I did get hot the jacket not once got clammy or even damp to the touch. A great, lightweight layer.

This jacket is a typical Marmot product. It is well made and well thought out. It's really lite, pretty warm for how thin it is, and fits really well. I am 6'1 185 pounds, 42L, 33 waist, 36 arms, and a large fits me perfect. I have a lot of problems with jackets being too short in the torso and arms, but not this jacket. It fits well with just enough room for a single long sleeve layer. You won't get a heavy fleece under this jacket unless you size up. Keep in mind this jacket is not meant for activities where abrasion could occur because the outer part is pretty thin and not stiff like many soft shells. This jacket is great for casual wear as well as physical activities like running, biking, and hiking in cold, but not freezing temp. My only real complaint is that it does not have an inside pocket, but it does have the chest pocket in the front, so its not that big of a deal. At the sale/clearance price, its a great deal.

Marmot makes some great clothes and the DriClime Catalyst is no exception. I simply love this jacket. It's thin, light, allows freedom of movement and breathes really well. Fit wise, I'm 5"10"/155 lbs. & the Medium fits perfectly. I originally bought the DriClime Windshirt to wear while running in colder weather, and while it performed well, I found I missed hand pockets (the Windshirt only comes with a chest pocket). I searched some more and discovered the Catalyst jacket made out of the same material. In addition to the hand pockets I've found that the neck and hem drawstrings allow me to use the jacket in colder weather. I've run along a river trail in breezy 15 degree weather wearing only a short sleeve technical shirt underneather the jacket and remained toasty warm inside (yet, the jacket's so thin!). The best feature of the jacket is how well it breathes. I sweat at a pretty healthy rate once I'm warmed up and this jacket does a great job at dumping all that perspiration while not allowing the wind to chill me. If I start to overheat, I open a couple of zippers, loosen the drawstrings and the heat dissipates rapidly. I can't say enough good things about this jacket. It's my new favorite piece of clothing, so much so I bought a 2nd one in a different color.

This is very warm for the weght. This jacket is always lying around because it is perfect to grab in so many occasions. Wind resistance, and repels a little water. I always grab this jacket and then my wife grabs it from me when she is cold. easy to pack up small. For me it is good down to the 40's. All around good piece.

Only reviewing fit of this jacket here. Picked this up because of the reviews. I cannot comment on the performance in weather, but its fit is exactly the opposite of an Arc'teryx jacket. The arms are short, there is little room in the shoulders and the waist is for what I would deem to be a fat person. Not an athletic cut. I am 5'10" and 200lbs, 46" chest, 34" sleeves and 36" waist, with an overall athletic linebacker type build. I just put on an XXL and the arms are barely long enough, the upper back barely is big enough to give me enough room to close my elbows together, and the stomach is sized for Will Farrell after drinking for three years of beer to play another frat bum. Cut of an XXL is just below my behind, somewhat short for on a 5'10" dude, but welcome for bike rides. It may be great material, but it is appears to be built for guys with bellies or without any chest or back muscles. So be careful in selecting your sizing.

- Useful as a light jacket for high-elevation summer hiking, throughout autumn, and as a shell into winter.
- Extremely windproof
- Not 100% waterproof, but very water-repellent and dries instantly
- Comfortable and super lightweight

I used this product for a trip through the jungle in Mexico and Guatemala and all I can say is that it NEVER let me down. This is really good as an insulating layer, it breathes great... it's made with recycled materials.. what's not to love? The fit? I ordered a medium and it is a great fit on the neck (15), shoulders, arms, and JUST a little tiny big on the stomach area but it can be adjusted. I ordered a whole bunch of products with this through bc and this by far is THE BEST piece of equipment i've bought in 2008. Period.

Did I mention it's like running with a t-shirt? The sensation of comfort you feel with this jacket is nonequivalent

Perfect for spring through fall. It's a little thin for the winter. Super light. Great pockets. Love it.

At first, this little guy looks like a track jacket from the 80's. Its simple, plain, but very functional. I have used it for running, layering, and keeping me warm during long handing belays. That said, I love it because it is so light weight, so compressible and durable. My partner took a whipper that slammed me into the wall and it came out unscratched. It's my go to for spring/fall multis.

Only qualm, is the one pocket. Great that its a Napoleon, but I wish it had 2 more. If I could, I would give it 4.5 stars for that, but it's use isn't for storing thing, its fast and light, so I'm gonna give it a 5.

I have the Driclime vest and it is phenomenal for running so I thought I would get this to add to the stash for slightly colder days. I know Driclime is a great material and it would be great for running, but when I tried the jacket on I felt like I didn't have enough belly for it so I returned it. A+ on material and construction, D (for me) on fit. I'm in good shape and have an athletic build but nothing that I think would be unusual for the outdoor crowd that shops here. I'm 5' 9" weigh 165 lbs and normally wear a Medium. It fit well in the shoulders but I'm going to need to up my sucrose encrusted torus consumption before I get this jacket.

I have a version of this jacket that I've had in heavy use since around 2003. Even with the patching it needed after one particularly rough incident, it's done a wonderful job. When I wanted to get a newer version, Marmot was the first place I looked. I haven't used this much yet, but my first impressions are good -- it's very similar to my original, but with side hand pockets and a waist cinch.

My only complaint, and one that others have mentioned, is that the fit could be better. I'm 6'3", 170 pounds, and there's a bit more room in the waist area than I really need. I also wouldn't mind an extra inch in the sleeves. However, the cinch waist makes a big difference in keeping breezes out, and the length is great. If Marmot would add tall sizes, this would be a 5 star item.

Have an original DriClime from the late 90's and loved it except for I found the front a little short. This new version is great. Love this coat. Wear it in the fall, out on runs, under my shell at the resort, as an outer layer wehn touring. Really like that the front isn't as short as the original. Great piece of gear. Bought one for the wife and she loves hers as well.

While I agree that this is a good windbreaker and the fleecy lining is insulative, the "advertised" stretch (**nothing** like a softshell like Powerstretch, etc) and fit are not great at all. I'm 6'4" (normal proportions, athletic fit) and the XL sleeves are too short. The back is constrictive/tight (despite the extremely limited" stretch") and the sleeves ride up when bending elbows while jogging (i.e. no raglan sleeves). Also the fact that the fleece is non-bonded to the nylon jacket makes for long sleeve T's to ride up/shift underneath against the fleece. IF you can forgive all these shortcomings or have exact dimensions for this jacket, then the jacket does its thing, but in the universe of jackets, this is a BAD, overhyped option. I went with a Pearl Izumi award winning wind shell (with more pockets, GREAT fit) and just add a power stretch lining for more warmth versatility. I also have an award winning Windstopper N2S wind blocker for runs (better fit, stretchier, more rain proof).

I replaced my original DriClime jacket with with the Catalyst. I appreciate the stretch panels and zippered hand warmer pockets. This design means it can be used under a shell, great for skiing in the Sierra. The only drawback is the slightly baggy cut around the waist.

I'm 6ft, 165lb and the medium coat fit perfect. for northern California weather it's a perfect outdoor weight for the fall and spring. I am looking for a jacket that i can both wear outdoors and wear to work, but this one was too "outdoor" and not enough "office". My search continues.

I give this five stars for everything but ...Marmot forgot to send this jacket to their creative department. The fabric colors in my opinion are dated looking. For such an incredible backcountry jacket Marmot in my opinion dropped the ball on looks. Maybe their idea is that it's an under-layer and doesn't really merit some cool looking hi-tech styling. The orange fabric to me doesn't look so hot and the blue is ...not very exciting either. It's super functional but the colors are not really "fun".