i have a marmot "precip" shell from 2004, and it lost some of it's waterproofness, so i was in the market for a new version. reviews here said the same jkt i have - got a little shorter. but i need coverage for hiking in the rain, and the skyline was touted as having more length and roomy to allow for layering. unfortunately, i did not find this to be true. it's just a shell, so i need it to zip up over a couple of layers, and it doesn't - at least not comfortably. i've always liked my marmot precip for being a very lightweight/packable layer for all kinds of weather. but unless you're a stick, i don't see how this one will work with layers. my guess is that they save a lot of money by removing about 5" of fabric, but that's what made it a good shell for layering. too bad.

I purchased this shell for my mom for a Christmas gift as lightweight and transportable protection. My folks spend weekends touring the western parts of Colorado and surrounding states as well as the vast Rocky Mountain Range. Changing weather conditions required a versatile shell she can whip out when the snow flies and the summer showers erupt. I got her the XL as she wanted a longer, over-the-hips fit, which worked out perfect. She's rather small up top and only 5'7" and wanted to be able to wear over heavier layers too. Packs up small for keeping in the car or the bags for short hikes.