Marmot Aegis Jacket

Even at  the $150 price tag which is a bargain price in the outdoor jacket market this is a really cheaply made jacket that feels like it should be sold out of a 99 cent store.

CONS:

-Thin cheap laminate.

-Sloppy collar and storm flaps with little neck protection. Collar fleece also gets wet and cold easily since it is designed to be turned upwards and outwards.

-Pockets are mesh lined with a thin cheap nylon meshing that snags on everything. The don't keep your hands warm when it's cold, they don't work to vent well, they snag on keys or anything square or angular you put into them.

-Expensive for the quality. I won't take this anywhere wild with me, not for a summer hike, a spring hike or even a day hike in Central Park, NY. This sort of fashion is only suitable for the urban high schooler market.

PROS

-Belay zip

-Sort of light weight but they are a billion better lighter cheaper-priced jackets you could buy.

-Color choices are awesome

CONCLUSION:

North Face, Patagonia, Mammut, and even other Marmot jackets offer better choices for a light Spring shell in the $150 - $250 range. I have no idea what type of laminate the Aegis uses but GoreTex Paclite, DryTec, Hyvent or the H2NO stuff that Patagonia uses seem much more practical, durable and realistic than fancy marketing lingo.

I would recommend avoiding Marmot jackets with a MemBrain lining.

On mine the lining delaminated and disintegrated after less than a year, and one of the zips broke.

Marmot refused to repair/replace it under warranty.

Photos a http://picasaweb.google.com/chris2037/Marmot?feat=directlink

I bought this jacket in red. Red is a bit too bright for me. I should have gotten black. Anyhow, the quality is superb and the fit is great. Most jackets ride up when you lift your arms; this does not.

My only con is that the hood is very large. Odds are you won't be wearing a helmet 90 pct of the time so there is a bit extra fabric you will have to deal with up there. Otherwise a great, if pricey jacket.