Marmot Super Hero Softshell Jacket - Men's

good.

I bought this jacket before I knew about any of its features. I mainly got it for the removable hood and Windstopper fabric. I live in Georgia and it does not rain often, but the winters do get cold. I needed a jacket with a removable hood and would stop the strong gusts of wind whenever they do appear. I also wanted something that could be used casually as well as be versatile enough for most weather conditions.

This softshell jacket is great for moderate aerobic activity, mainly because of the gussets on the underarm area. It seems to breathe alright but I have not done anything strenuous in it yet. The shell material is amazing and feels softer than other soft shells. Even the wrist adjustments are soft. It is mildly water repellant. In a downpour, this jacket will get wet. In light drizzles, the water will bead up. A thing to note is that the hood is made of hard shell material. The Windstopper fabric does a very good job of keeping out winds. However, I think it may only be wind proof up to perhaps 20-30 mph. This may be because the seams are not taped.

The removable hood is a great feature since this jacket can double as a casual jacket. However, because the hood can be tucked into the collar (which is also a handy feature), it makes the collar look very bulky. This does not bother me.
There are 4 pockets total: 2 hand warmers, 1 Napoleon chest, and 1 inside. These are very handy. Note that because of the pockets, this jacket was probably meant to be used as an outer layer for access to essentials.

And speaking of layers, this jacket can be used as a mid-layer or an outer layer. If used as an outer layer, it can keep you warm by itself until perhaps high 30s F. Any lower and you will need a mid-layer. A 3 layer system with the Super Hero is perfect because the Super Hero does a good job of retaining heat while breathing out moisture.

The fit is great. I'm 5'5", slim athletic build and the arms do go past my wrists by an inch. It has a trim cut and I particularly liked this because I wanted a jacket that did not look bulky. A jacket that can keep me warm and look like I'm not wearing much is always a good thing.

All in all, this jacket is good for what it does. It retains heat, is water resistant, is nearly windproof, and allows for aerobic activity. It does has its limits and knowing what they are will help you enjoy the jacket even more. Like most softshells, it's a versatile jacket that doesn't really excel in any one area, but with the right layering system and planning, you can take this almost anywhere.

Perfect for these conditions:
-Slightly wet
-Windy
-Mildly cold to very cold (must use mid-layer)
-On Snow, but not snowing. Do not fall down either.

Most important features:
-Removable hood
-Water resistance
-Windproof
-Drawstrings on all extremities to keep out drafts and retain heat

This is my favorite shell by far. The two types of windstopper is well laid out and the jacket breathes pretty good. What I really love about the shell is how it's cut. The Super Hero just fits me like a tailored suit. The waistline and sleeves allow excellent mobility and though it's a trim fit with one layer, I've also been able to squeeze a base layer and a Marmot Zeus underneath with no issues in movement.

The Super Hero is kind of a general purpose shell that either works for you or doesn't, but I find any reason to pick it up. I just love the way it fits.

I love this jacket. Wore it out with a tee on windy days and I don't feel the wind at all!

This was the first high-end softshell I ever bought, and I still wear it even though I now have about 5. The fit is athletic, but good, it looks great, and it keeps me warmer than it's bulk would lead you to believe. It's also pretty decent at shedding water unlike some other soft shells. Marmot Quality delivers again.

I am 6' 1" tall and weigh 190 lbs. This jacket fits perfectly and looks great as well. Range of motion is very good even though the arms seem narrower than normal. I highly recommend this jacket.

This is the second Super Hero that I have owned. The first one was from 2004 and was awesome. It was breathable, water resistant and stretchy. Did I mention it was breathable. My new Super Hero is not very breathable. I use it primarily as a ski touring jacket and had to stop wearing it in public because of it's ability to hold onto odors. The Windstopper fabric does not breathe well in this coat. I eventually went to a local seamstress and had her sew in twelve inch pit zips and things have improved because of having the additional ventilation. The hood fits over a helmet, but I don't like the zip-off aspect of it. The collar is bulky because of this feature. I am 6'2 195 pounds and Large fits well. Extra large was way to big, I had to exchange to a large. This jacket sheds water like a hard shell, and breathes like a plastic bag without proper ventilation.