one soft shell to rule them all

By Ben Reff Ranked #261 - Men's Softshell Jackets November 9, 2010

You must understand a few things about this jacket before you buy it, or you may be severely disappointed.

First - This is not a standalone winter jacket or a replacement for your knee-length down parka. If you plan on wearing this over a t-shirt to stand around in northern Minnesota, you will wind up severely disappointed and/or dead.

Second - This jacket is not designed with a generic, boxy fit for boxy-shaped bodies. If you're carrying a little extra weight, or you're built like a linebacker, this jacket probably isn't going to fit very well on you. This jacket is designed for folks who are on the long and lean side. They're not kidding when they say the fit is athletic... and by that, I mean that this is the best-fitting, most comfortable soft shell I have ever encountered (on my slim frame, anyway).

What this jacket IS is incredibly, ridiculously versatile. Wear it by itself as a windbreaker in spring and fall, or even on a chilly summer night. Wear it as a light rain jacket in moderately damp conditions. Wear it in winter for aerobic activities like jogging, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or biking. Wear it over a warm mid layer as a perfectly-fitted shell for skiing or boarding. Wear it under a hard shell for that extra bit of comfort and warmth when a hard shell isn't quite enough.

I like what a previous reviewer said about this jacket feeling like a new skin. It's true. The material is soft and supple but strong enough to take a beating. The fit is perfect, with no excess material hanging around the arms and gut like so many other shell jackets. Wearing my normal size, I've still got enough room for a substantial fleece mid layer, but the jacket isn't baggy, boxy, or bulky when I wear it on its own. If you're between sizes and you plan on layering this jacket over something, I'd suggest sizing up. Thanks to the fit and the material, this jacket is substantially more comfortable than nearly any other technical garment I've ever encountered. Additionally, as the name implies, it affords you an incredibly free range of motion for all your outdoor activities.

As I said before, this jacket won't replace a heavy winter parka or a hard shell if you really need them. But for physically active outdoorsmen, this jacket offers great versatility and function in a wide variety of circumstances at an affordable price. Get it, you won't regret it.

View Details: Marmot ROM Softshell Jacket - Men's

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