Marmot Mainline Jacket - Men's - 2009 BCS

I was looking for a waterproof, breathable shell to be used primarily for extended Winter travel in Europe. My itinerary generally consists of a lot of walking/hiking in places like Edinburgh, the Scottish Highlands, Prague and Bavaria where there are loads of hills & unpredictable weather. I was looking for a jacket that could ward off water and provide warmth without excess heat buildup, yet still be light & easily packable. I also needed strong fabric on the shoulders to resist wear from a backpack and lots of pockets, including at least one Napoleon/chest type.

After looking online and in stores for several weeks, I had come to the conclusion that such a jacket simply did not exist. It seems as though everyone is designing the higher tech stuff for the serious mountain climber or skier. I don't care for the non-removable hoods that are cut extra large to accommodate helmets nor do I want chest-height hand pockets that require arm contortion to use. And, I really have no need for a jacket that hangs to my knees in the rear.

Upon receiving the Mainline from Back Country, I knew I'd found the perfect shell to meet my needs. It's got plenty of pockets and is easily used over a fleece and/or other layers to provide all the warmth you could need, even in really cold weather. It has a NORMAL hood that is removable, rather than the huge attached hoods seen on so many Gore-tex shells these days.

If you're looking for a durable coat that is suitable for the types of conditions you're most likely to encounter on a day-to-day basis, be sure to check out the Mainline.

3 stars, because for $350, it should do more for you. Quality is very average as a whole. Patagonia/Mountain Hardwear/Arctyrx/Helly Hansen - seem to have better offerings for the same price.

Gore-tex performance shell, soft and lightweight. Feels nice, and has great breathing and waterproof features. Jacket is pretty steezy, if it will fit you right.

My main gripe IS about the fit. I'm 6' 170lbs, have pretty broad shoulders. I ordered the large. Everything fits, except the sleeves are too short. They'd be fine if this was a casual jacket, but not for a technical shell for outdoor activities.

They won't fit over an under-the-cuff glove (which I prefer). The arm openings are small. On the Marmot site, it says something about how the cuffs are velcro and elastic. Well, there's no elastic at all, and the velcro feels cheap. Sad.

I was pretty excited about this one, but didn't keep it.

Pros: The mainline is great shell with good pockets, will fit a ski helment in hood, and has a nice low powerskirt. Stiching on the jacket seems to hold up so far through the falls of the park, backcountry, and cornice/cliff jumps.

Cons: Since it only weights 750+grams you will need to layer. I live in Colorado, ski 40+ days a year, and expect that on the really cold days to need a fleece or something else warm underneath it. Also the zipper has caught a few times but other than that this rocks it.

Enjoy the snow and good work marmot!

Firstly, very stylish winter jacket.
Second, very thin Gore Tex Hard Shell
Third, Make sure you layer up in this thing if you want to stay warm. It has no insulation at all, which I think should be emphasized a bit more in the product details.