Review: Marmot Clothing
In 1971 experienced climbers Eric Reynolds and Dave Huntley were in Juneau, Alaska where when they came up with the idea of the Marmot club. To become a Marmot, you had to climb a glaciated peak with another Marmot. One of the rules of the club was that everyone was president. A company by the people and for the people.
The threesome rented a 100 year old stone building in Grand Junction, CO near downtown that used to be a grocery store, and opened a rental and retail shop under the name of Marmot Mountain Works. They taught cross-country skiing in the winter to get by. Thus, in the spring of 1974, Marmot the company was born.
Although the company has grown rapidly, with over 650 authorized Marmot dealers in the U.S. and distribution to 27 countries, the company has not changed much, it is still all about the highest quality performance product.
This active sport pant has it all! One of the coolest things about these pants is that they are an UpCylce product which means that they are used from recycled plastic! When you recycle plastic you get more plastic; when you UpCycle plastic, you get get fabric! So instead of ending up in landfills they have greater value and a broader use. The finished product is incredible- lightweight, comfortable, durable, nylon stretch performance woven fabric!
They have UPF 30, which we are finding is ever more important. They have a durable water-resistant finish and are quick drying. I love the stretch in the fabric and the roll-up cuff, they allow me to do everything and go everywhere without constriction.
If you want to find one pair of pants that you can take with you that can stand up to whatever you through at them and still look good, look no further!
Marmot was founded in 1974 as a manufacturer and seller of premium quality down jackets, vests, and sleeping bags. To this day they only use the finest quality certified goose for the down insulated outdoor products. The fill is a by-product of the meat industry. They only use mature birds, which give large down clusters with strength and durability. All Marmot down is independently tested for content, cleanliness and fill power…then tested again once it arrives at Marmot.
The Quasar down jacket lives up to the reputation of superior quality Marmot has earned over the years. It weighs slightly more than a carabiner and is made of the best 900-fill down available. 900 fill-down = 900 cu. Inches per ounce of down….that is an unbelievable warmth to weight ratio that stuffs into its own zippered chest pocket!
Even though it is incredibly light and compact, it doesn’t skimp on the durability. It is made of an ultralightweight, DWR-treated Pertex Quantum shell fabric which is 100% nylon micro ripstop.
There is a zippered chest pockets as well as hand pockets. The elastic bond cuffs and elastic draw cord hem keep you warm even in serious weather. I love the Angel-Wing Movement, which allows full range of motion in arms. I am a smaller women but have broad shoulders and often feel constricted in the upper arms, so even though I wear a small, I often find myself purchasing medium jackets to compensate. So nice to have a jacket that fits- both my body size and my active lifestyle! I throw this jacket in every time I leave the house on an adventure!
Over the hill and through woods is where we trekked to give the Speed Light Jacket by Marmot a workout. We had perfect weather for a product testing. It rained, stayed in the 80s during the day and dipped down in to the low 50s at night. With full seam taping and the gale force hood our tester stayed perfectly dry. As most hikers already know, it can get awfully hot in a rain jacket when hiking. This is not a problem with the Speed Light Jacket due to the pit zips and Gore-Tex Pro Fabric.
Gore-Tex Pro is advertised to keep wind and rain out while releasing vapors from the body. The best way we could test this was to work some body heat in the rain. Our tester took a rigorous 2-hour hike in a light but steady rain. Their core temperature was definitely up but managed to stay fairly dry. The rain and wind stayed out while most of the sweat vapors were released. The Gore-Tex Pro definitely performed well and the pit zips were the proper back up when the temp was too hot. The Speed Light Jacket is a perfect addition to any hiking, climbing, or paddling trip. The arms have what is called “Angel-Wing Movement” that allowed our tester to move freely in their activities. It only weighs 14 oz. so there is always room for a high quality all-purpose jacket like the Speed Light.
This is a tent for Baby Boomers if we’ve ever seen one! First off, it is super easy to set up. Reflective guide points around the rain fly allow you secure your tent down in windy or stormy conditions. The lightweight poles are color-coded to the webbing on the clips so you know where they go. Rain fly is also color-coded so you know exactly which way it goes. No more rotating the fly until the doors and windows finally match up!
This is a lightweight 3P tent, weighing in at max weight 6 lbs. 11 oz. We were 2 people backpacking with our canine critic, Charlie, who is a Border Collie, and there was no way he was not sleeping right in between us. My hubby is 6’4” and I am no slight woman at 5’11”. Room is always a challenge. There is tons of head room and the brow pole creates a near vertical side wall at the door creating even more internal space and head room. There was plenty of room for us as well as our beloved Charlie!
It is so important to me to have a good night sleep when backpacking and this tent has some really great feature to help everyone in the tent achieve this. 2 vestibules, 2 doors means I am not waking up tent mate getting up 2 or 3 times a night when nature calls! The new D-shaped door makes it really easy to get in and out. Jingle free zippers make for a quiet escape in and out of the doors as well as a quieter sleep on windy nights.
But wait….There’s more! Already a great value, Marmot throws in a free foot print, which helps protect the bottom of your tent as well as a free hanging gear loft!
Ok Ladies, let’s talk function and FASHION! Just because we want a jacket that will keep us dry in the rain and warm in the wind doesn’t mean that we have to look like we are heading out on the trail for a hike. How about when we are touring the streets of Rome, heading out to the vineyards in Tuscany and biking through Florence. Don’t want to pack 3 jackets? Problem solved with Zoom softshell!
This street-savvy jacket is made from Marmot M3 softshell fabric that water repellent and breathable with a nylon fabric lining inside that cuts througt the wind. I love how the fabric has a little stretch, gives you flexibility in movement and doesn’t feel restricting. You’ll love it! And you’ll look good, too!
The Tempo Vest is one of those pieces that is a go-to for a wide range of activity. A Marmot M3 softshell, they are the most breathable in the M-series, as well as water repellent, ideal for heart pumping activity. Our tester put it to the challenge camping and hiking in the Smoky Mountain National Park where the temperatures can fluctuate from freezing rain to hot and sunny from sunrise to sunset.
It is sized Specifically for Women - To Fit Your Body, Not a Smaller Men's Version. While it is a fitted vest, it has enough stretch to not restrict movement in arms or body, allowing you to move from walking to running comfortably, maybe even a little bouldering along the way.
It has reflective logos, great for running or biking in more congested traffic areas. The Chest pocket with concealed zipper is a great place to store a key and id or other small essentials.
This is a great spring, summer and fall piece for the outdoor enthusiast who may have a specific activity in mind or is up for just about anything!
...Fiftysense Product Review Panel