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Reviews > Clothing > Jackets and Vests > Marmot Super Hero Jacket > Owner Review by Anson Moxness

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.Skinning in the Green Mountains

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:

Summit of Katahdin before descending via skisThis 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.At camp, showing a roomy helmet

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

Reviews > Clothing > Jackets and Vests > Marmot Super Hero Jacket > Owner Review by Anson Moxness



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