Superb every day jacket

By twowheels Ranked #466 - Men's Softshell Jackets December 9, 2008

Use: I wear this casually on most days, temps 25-70 degrees. Originally I bought it with the plan to make it more comfortable to bicycle to work in the cool early morning hours, and to wear in spring/fall. The windstopper seems to be in all the right places. In the others (side of torso, and inner-back of arms) it has outstanding breathability for a jacket with casual looks.

Care: Mine is black but I haven't had to wash it for the 6+ months I've had it. It doesn't smell (though I never use it for aerobic excercise), and whenever dirt or anything else gets on it, it usually brushes off immediately with a few hand swipes. Otherwise, a couple drops of water plus rubbing, and presto--good as new. Pet hair doesn't stick to it significantly either. If I picked up a white cat, it might take me a minute to brush off hair. So, this is a black jacket that is as carefree as I would imagine possible.

Fit: I am 6'2," 190 lbs, 32" waist and broad-shouldered for my weight. I have a hard time finding any close-fitting tops that are cut athletically enough. Not a problem with this jacket, but my waist could be a bit bigger and still fit fine. I think the LG fits me great, maybe a hair short, but I would expect that with my height. I could fit a t-shirt and sweater underneath, but not more than that. I can walk around with it fully unzipped and it hangs really well.

Looks & Feel: The collar doesn't get crumpled but isn't stiff or awkward looking either. I don't remember the zipper ever getting caught. Most of the surface feels like a cross between suede or neoprene, something like that, and has a matte-look. The inside of the jacket is pretty smooth so it is relatively easy to get on and off, but has a very low-pile soft inside that keeps your skin from losing heat directly to the shell no matter what you're wearing underneath. It is pretty plain looking in black, but you can see that in the photo and is what I wanted.

For what I use it for, I can't think of any way to improve it. A hood, more pockets, or better waterproofing would probably compromise some of what I like about it, or make it more expensive, or both.

View Details: Marmot Leadville Softshell Jacket - Men's

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