Marmot Precip parka

[nolanr]

My parka is thrashed, doesn't keep out water at all, time for a new one. Saw a Marmot Precip shell jacket on Campmor's website for $99. Seems pretty reasonably priced. Anybody have one of these or know anything about them?

[slothrop]

I have the precip pants. They're pretty light and simple, but they don't seem to be terribly durable. The coating on the inside of the pants is not covered with anything, so it might rub away after a lot of use. They breathe pretty well and water beads up nicely, so overall I'm happy to use them for hiking and approaches. If you're going to get waterproof/breathable stuff, go light...

[hasbeen]

I have a precip parka. It is pretty breathable, has good ventilation (pit zips and core vents) and it is really light. Packs very small, too. My only complaints (and they are pretty minor) are that the cut is a little baggy around the waist (even for a fatty like me) and the hood is kind of snug for wearing over a helmet. I have used it a couple of seasons for bicycle commuting and alpine climbing and find that the coating is plenty durable as is the outside fabric. All in all, I like it. You might want to compare it to the lightweight Lowe competitor (priced about the same, I think).

[Terry]

I used one all summer and found it adequate. Light and cheap. Since it doesn't have a liner, it gets a bit clammy, but you can't have everything for under a $100. I've got an MEC Couloir for more serious alpine and winter stuff.

Terry

[nolanr]

Thanks for the replies, that's helpful.

[Lambone]

Works just as well as any 3-ply Gor-tex coat I've ever had. And weighs half as much .

Mine is still new, so it hasn't been put to the age test yet. I'm sure the DWR will wear off like any other coat. I'm more woried about the inner lamanite(sp?) getting dirty with sweat + grime. But then again, that happened with my $300 3-ply also.

Like hasbeen said, it is a bit baggy. But I put my hood on under my helmet, so I like the trim cut that it has. Actually It's the best simple hood I've ever used!

I'd say it's better than the Lowe version.

[nolanr]

I finally ordered the jacket from Campmor (Christmas gift certificate--thanks Mommy & Daddy), took it out for it's first outing, very pleased. Temps around freezing or below w/ some wind, stayed warm enough. It's amazing, it seems so flimsy and light, but it does the job.

[David Yount]

Precip jacket was on sale at Marmot Mtn Works in Bellevue for a week, 2 weeks ago, got mine for $80

Been skiing, snowshoeing three times, and up Guye Peak twice with it. Small hood not so great on outside of climbing helmet, didn't think to try it underneath - don't think I'd like that. Baggy shape is good for covering multiple layers of insulation while kickin' it in a snow cave for a few days; also good because when you strap a pack on fabric is eaten by hip belt, shoulder straps and sternum strap - excess fabric allows original mobility. It's nicely lite. A few too many velcro closures on the main zipper storm flap - no quick and easy escapes out of this jacket.

But the one point I want to share is why I'll likely return it, the pit zips open at the bottom. Anytime you're wearing a pack over the shell and want to ventilate... fuggetaboutit! The shoulder straps hide the zipper pulls. No matter if I add long dangly cords to the zipper pulls, those shoulder straps will still get in the way.

All the shells I've owned had pit zips that begun at the top, nearest the hand; or they had 2-way zippers (not extra value and added weight in my book). This makes sense.

When trying to remove excess _heat_ why would I want to open from the bottom??

Damnit! And I thought I had found a perfect shell....

[Honkeydong]

I've noticed that same problem with the pit zips. You need to add your own zipper pulls to pit zips or else they'll be next to impossible to fish out of the plackets. The Precip doesn't come stock with zipper pulls, except on the front. Also, why didn't they sew the bottom of the mesh pockets to the inside of the jacket, so you could stash water bottles in there? Seems like an oversight to me. Otherwise, no complaints. Beats the hell out of that Sierra Designs *sauna* I used to wear.