Marmot Super Hero Jacket
Owner Review by Anson Moxness
January 25, 2010
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Height: 5'9" (1.75 m)
Weight: 150 lbs (68 kg)
E-mail: anson dot Moxness at gmail dot com
Location: Hanover, New Hampshire/Anchorage, Alaska US
Backpacking Background:
I was introduced to backpacking at some point in wombhood and never
looked back. I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, scaling the peaks of the
Chugach Mountains, and am currently running around the backwoods of
northern New England. I prefer to carry a lightweight load, but
I’m not going to be counting ounces anytime soon. I am
willing to sacrifice a few grams for durability’s sake.
Product Information:
Model: Men's Super Hero Jacket (Women's Available)
Manufacturer: Marmot Mountain LLC
URL: www.marmot.com
Year Manufactured: 2008
Color Reviewed: Fire/Orange (color no longer
available)
Colors Currently Available: Black, Vapor Blue/Deep Blue, Forest/Dark
Cedar, Cardinal/Fire
Listed Weight: N/A
Measured Weight: 27 oz (765 g) [Size Large]
Sizes Available: S-XXL
Warranty: Lifetime Guarantee
MSRP: $285 USD
Description:
The Marmot Super Hero (hereafter referred to as the jacket) is a medium
weight soft shell intended for a “wide range of alpine
activities” (quoted from Marmot's website).
The main body of the jacket is a laminate of Gore Windstopper laminate
and Marmot M2 Softshell material with a DWR (durable water repellency)
treatment. The jacket has a helmet compatible, removable, and storable
hood made from hard shell coated material. There are two hand pockets,
one chest pocket, and an inside pocket. The shoulders and outside of
the arms are reinforced for these high wear areas. The hood and waist
belt both have drawcords and the cuffs are adjustable with
hook-and-loop attachment. The collar is lined with soft fleece for neck
and face
comfort.
Marmot addresses underarm venting with a light, stretchy
breathable
fabric in armpit gussets.
Field Information:
I have used this jacket all around New England as well as in the
Chugach Mountains outside of Anchorage, Alaska. It is my go to jacket
for casual wearing as well as most alpine activities. I have used it in
temperatures ranging from -10 F to +50 F (-23 C to 10 C) at elevations
up to around 5500 feet (1670 m), with winds up to around 50 mph (80
kph) with 80 mph (130 kph) gusts. I have worn this jacket for around
100 days of skiing, biking, hiking, and general use.
Observations:
 This
is the first real soft shell jacket in my closet and I
feel like I have no reason to get another.
The jacket is an athletic cut with a slightly lower in back than in
front. I normally wear a medium, however I got a large in this jacket
as it is sized tightly and I wanted a bit more flexibility for
increased
range of motion and layering possibilities. Besides sizing
up, the jacket fits marvelously.
I originally got this jacket for backcountry and resort skiing, but
soon started taking it on every winter adventure I could. The
most serious test of this jacket was a ski descent of Mt. Katahdin.
With 10 F (-12 C) temperatures and up to 50 mph (80 kph) continuous
winds, I only wore a polypro layer and a light fleece under the jacket
and was toasty warm the entire time. I never even considered getting my
hard shell jacket out of my pack. Overall, the Windstopper works just
as advertised and the jacket was great for brisk skinning and
mountaineering in those conditions.
This was the first jacket I have had with a removable as well as
stowable hood. The hood is made of a hard shell coated material. The
hood easily fits over ski and climbing helmets and doesn’t
get in the way when it is out but not on the head. Stowing the hood
consists of putting it in a long zippered pocket behind the neck. The
stowed hood felt a bit odd at first as there was a larger mass behind
my neck than normal, but I soon acclimatized to the feeling and it was
never really a problem. The hood also zips on and off relatively easily
when the jacket is removed but is difficult to zip back on if the
jacket is worn.
Two features that I have lamented the absence of are pit-zips and a
powder skirt. I found that in rigorous exercise in warmer winter days
the breathable underarm gussets didn’t vent as well as
standard pit zips. My solution to this ended up being unzipping the
front of the jacket, which worked just fine. Skiing on powder days I
wished there was a removable powder skirt. If it had both of those
features I might not ever take this jacket off between September and
April.
I am constantly amazed at the durability of this jacket. I was skiing a
glade of trees in the Green Mountains of Vermont and snagged my arm on
a branch with enough force to pull my entire body over 90 degrees to
the side and when I looked at my jacket it looked like nothing had ever
happened. I have used and abused this jacket over the probably 100 days
of use and it barely looks different from the day I got it.
In conclusion:
This jacket is my go-to jacket for most all conditions in the
winter. I would wear a waterproof-breathable shell in all but misting
conditions, but in every other case I wear the Super Hero jacket. I
would definitely recommend this jacket to anyone looking for a
do-it-all soft shell jacket.
Pros:
The jacket does it all
Breathable
Athletic fit is cut well
Durable
Cons:
No powder skirt
Venting options limited.
Read more gear reviews by Anson Moxness
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