Put through its paces

By Andrea Murland Ranked #6 - Women's Rain Jackets September 29, 2009

Ok, if I could give it 3.5 stars I would.

This jacket has been worn in some pretty brutal weather over a 2 month-long backpacking (the hiking type) trip, as well as other shorter hiking trips and while travelling. It's been through rain of every description: drizzling, douwnpour, misty, big drops, etc. Sleet. Snow. Hail.

Most of the time, this jacket did the job. It kept out water, the hood kept water off my face, the pit zips helped me dump heat, and it wasn't too clammy inside, though it sometimes stuck to me under my pack straps if I was wearing just a tank top underneath. However, it did start to leak on one of the sleeves partway through a rainstorm, and then kept leaking there during all the ones after it. Granted, I wasn't treating the jacket very well...it was stuffed everywhere, dragged across branches and rocks, and got washed a couple times in conditions where I couldn't really follow the care instructions and had no dryer (which you need to get the DWR back working). Once I got home, I treated the jacket with a repellency-restoring wash, stuck it in the dryer, and I haven't had it leak again. I do find myself reaching for Gore-tex in a downpour though...I don't quite trust this jacket in heavy rain anymore. For durability, it's been great. No rips, tears, or fading.

I've also used this jacket as a windbreak while climbing, and the Angel-Wing Movement worked great - the jacket didn't pull out of my harness at all. =)

Some of the things I like:
Angel-Wing Movement. Durabiality. Hood design

I don't like:
It leaked. The velcro on the pocket flaps sticks to the mesh lining.

Overall, this is a great jacket if you're looking for something that's lightweight and that you won't feel bad about carrying in your pack all the time "just in case". It's great for backpacking.

View Details: Marmot PreCip Jacket - Women's

Helpful Votes: 2 Yes | 0 No