Marmot DriClime Jacket

First off... this jacket is awesome. I've owned two of them. The 1st was accidentally left behind and the second (my present) serves me well despite a minor flaw (it has a twisted cuff at the wrist) doesn't sound like much I know, but it becomes irritating cuz the cuffs are elastic and cling to your wrists like rubberbands. I'd rather have velcro honestly. Plus when you consider the cost (80+ bucks) you shouldn't end up w/ a defect...

Anyway, on the plus side, I got caught in an unexpected 10 hour hail/rain storm while trekking the Andes in Peru and I stayed bone dry! Despite this not being a "rain shell", it worked great repelling wind AND rain. I was pleasantly surprised and can honestly recommend it as a reliable piece of gear.

This is my bicycle commuting jacket, in addition to hiking wear. Breathes pretty well, the Driclime-lined interior is comfortable against bare skin, the shell blocks the wind perfectly, which contributes to the fact that it is plenty warm over a dress shirt on 45 degree, breezy San Francisco mornings or standing atop Twin Peaks in what would otherwise be bone-chilling 20 mph gusts. Haven't had a chance to test its water-repellency yet.

Fits well as a mid- or base layer under a my Oracle or Arcteryx Epsilon AR Jacket. Loose enough fit in the large (I fall right on the line between medium and large sizing guidelines, so I opt for the large) to fit comfortably over a 200 weight fleece for cold, dry temps when not moving. I chose this over the more expensive Marmot Catalyst and the less expensive Marmot Original Windshirt because it has hand pockets, though the chest pocket on all three is ample. I just like pockets.

I would have sacrificed an ounce to have zips on the handpockets, as I tend to drop stuff. The pocket depth is more than adequate that it shouldn't be an issue unless I overstuff though. I wish this one had the more breathable pits of the Original or the breathable side fabric of the Catalyst. Still, an indispensable garment.

If there's one piece of gear that goes with me on every trip, this is it. I've used my DriClime Jacket for hiking, skiing, mountaineering and mountain biking, as well as just casually wearing it around town. For high aerobic activities, this jacket serves as my outer layer, and with a wool baselayer I've used this jacket down the low- to mid-20s. For skiing and mountaineering, this jacket generally gets used as a middle layer.

I personally find that the shell on this jacket wets out pretty easily, so I don't try to use it in wet conditions as an outer layer. But the windproof shell with the lightweight DriClime lining makes this jacket ideal for cooler, windy environments where you don't want a bulky jacket on.

One combination that I found very effective when hiking and rock scrambling in wind and snow in Ecuador at 16,000 feet was combining this jacket with a Windstopper vest.

I also own the windshirt version of this jacket which is every bit as functional. I happen to like the cut of the jacket better since I don't generally want to tuck this garment into my pants, as the windshirt appears to be designed for.

I am writing this review because I think this is a great jacket. It is warm and keeps out light rain great.