I ordered the Nano because I wanted a lighter weight option than my other hard shells. It's definitely much lighter and just as waterproof as my older parka.

I first used the Nano on a 4 day trip in the Northern Cascades -- Two days were on glaciers, two days were on trails. We hadn't planned on it, but the trip turned out to be an excellent test of all our gear. We got rain, freezing rain, snow and precious little sun. The Nano performed better than I expected. It stayed dry and breathable, even during a day of famous Cascade snow-that-melts-when-it-hits.

The hood fits nicely over a helmet. I didn't notice the jacket when hiking, practicing crevasse rescue or ice climbing. I just stayed dry and comfortable.

I live on the West-coast of Michigan and I’m an avid Disc-Golfer. We have four very distinct seasons here in Michigan and I play year round. Michigan weather is notorious for its unpredictability and large, rapid swings in conditions, so my gear needs to be high-performance, lightweight, packable and versatile. I purchased my Nano primarily for use as a three-season (Spring, Summer & Fall) wind and rain shell. And after a month of putting the Nano through its paces in what’s been an unusually dynamic spring, I’ve come away very impressed (amazed actually) with it performance. The day I took delivery of my Nano, the conditions were mid 30’s, breezy with a light drizzle. Perfect conditions to test shell performance, so my boys and I geared-up and set-out for a night round at our local park. My comfort level using the Nano with only three light layers consisting of a body-hugging T, loose-fit long sleeve T and a light vest blew my mind! Not warm or cold, dry or wet, simply comfortable. Like sitting in your living room with the temp and humidity at an optimum. The following weekend, a round played in similar temps and breeze but with a constant down-pour instead of a drizzle, had me dry as a bone after 9+hrs of hiking and disking in the elements. NO soaking or bleed-through, even on the shoulders under my straps. Gore-Tex talks of the “micro-climate” concept they attempt to achieve with their gear and the effect simply incredible. I’ve used a Marmot Pre-Cip for years and the Nano is in a completely different league, on every level. I’m a sweater, so moisture management is always an issue for me. The breathability of the Gore-Tex Pack-Lite material has been a revelation. It breathes like your favorite old wool-shirt, yet is absolutely oblivious to wind and rain. A strange (in a good-way) sensation actually. So far I’ve used the Nano in conditions ranging from sunny, cool and breezy to snowing, cold and windy and it’s taken whatever Mother nature has thrown our way without breaking a sweat. And it will now likely see action as a winter shell as well. The Nano is soo thin and light-weight that I was initially concerned with its durability, but that was soon replaced with admiration. I use a Revolution “Carolina” bag with Phoenix Quad-straps to carry my discs, water, gear and nick-knacks. Fully loaded for a day of golf it weighs around 25lbs, putting a lot of stress on the shoulders much like a pack would. After ten-plus rounds, my Nano is showing NO signs of wear in this area, and it’s simply shrugged off the many scrapes with tree-branches, the ever-present and gnarly Raspberry thickets and my new puppy’s best attempts to tear the material with her “happy to see you” jumping and flailing. I’m 6’ 2”, 200lbs and the large fits like a glove with perfect arm-length. It’s a slim, athletic fit that at first I felt may be a-bit too small in the torso, but it easily supports the multiple, thin layers I prefer to use. The range and freedom of motion is another amazing aspect of the Nano. Throwing a disc involves a large amount of dynamic motion, yet nowhere in my swing do I feel any binding or limits to my motion. Just awesome, and unprecedented in my experience. It seems the hood on most shells is something of an afterthought, but this deceptively simple Marmot design is really amazing! The most elegant, functional, effective and comfortable hood I’ve ever used. Why every hood doesn’t include a formable metal bar in its brim is a mystery, but once you experience the effectiveness, every-other design seems flawed and you’ll never go back. DO NOT buy the Nano as a jacket to be used alone in harsh conditions. It will keep you dry and break the wind, but you will still freeze! It is a SHELL, and when used as such I feel it just may be the best in the World at what it was designed to do. And, if such things matter to you, the look/design of my Nano in Black are incredibly trick as well! It gets A LOT of attention. ~ peace, J

Keeps you dry, lightweight, and plenty of room to move while also fitting well at the same time.