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Reviews > Rain Gear > Jackets and Pants > Marmot PreCip Full Zip Pant > Owner Review by alex leggMarmot PreCip Full Zip Pant
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from http://marmot.comOwner Review by Alex Legg September 26, 2011  Reviewer Information: Name: Alex Legg Age: 29 Gender: Male Height: 6'4" (1.9 m) Weight: 195 lbs (88 kg) Waist: 38" (97 cm) Inseam: 35.5" (90 cm) Email address: alexlegg2 AT yahoo DOT com City, State, Country: Tucson, Arizona, USA Backpacking Background: I grew up backpacking in the Rockies. I hike ranges near Tucson, Arizona during winter, Colorado during summer. I carry a light pack, mostly water. I tend to camp with a tarp whenever possible to reduce the weight of my two person tent. Primarily I do day hikes, but I am known to spend 5 days out. Temperatures range from extreme winter to 100 F (38 C), and elevation from 2000' (600 m) to 14,000' (4,300 m). I bag a mountain every weekend, and walk my dogs through deep sand and overgrown mesquite trees in our local washes. Product Information and Specifications: Manufacturer: Marmot Mountain, LLC. Year of Manufacturer: 2010 URL: http://marmot.com Listed weight: 9 oz (255 g) (size not specified) Actual weight: 10 oz (283 g) Listed inseam: 35.5" (90 cm) Actual inseam: 35.7" (91 cm) Listed hip: 50" - 52" (127 cm - 132 cm) Actual hip: 50" - 52" (127 cm - 132 cm) Listed waist: 40" - 42" (102 cm - 107 cm) Actual waist: 40" - 42" (102 cm - 107 cm) Size: XL Long Available sizes: Small - XX Large, each with Regular, Long, and Short rises. Color: Black Available colors: Black, Gargoyle MSRP: $90.00 US Product Description: The Marmot PreCip Full Zip Pants are a compressible, lightweight, and breathable waterproof pant. They have a zipper on both legs that extends from the waist all the way to the ankle which I have found makes slipping them on and off over other layers a cinch. There are two zipper pulls, one on the top and one on the bottom. The area along the inside of the zipper is seam-taped for a completely waterproof fit. There is a flap at the ankle that snaps into place over the zipper allowing for a snug fit against my boots. The snap also keeps the zipper from opening while I'm hiking. The waist is tightened by two hook-and-loop flaps that give me about two inches of possible tightening options to snug up to my proportions while wearing multiple layers underneath. The pants have three pockets, all close with zippers; one pocket at the side of each hip, and one pocket on the right side of the backside. The interior lining of the pants is made of 100% polyester. The outer layer is composed of 100% nylon. The manufacturer's website claims that the pants are coated with a microporous polyurethane that contains silicon dioxide particles. The particles create small holes that allow sweat vapor to travel out, while keeping the rain water from coming in. The Marmot logo appears on the right leg just below my knee. These pants fit me well. The length is long enough to cover most of my boot without getting stepped on in the process, and the waist is not too big to stay up, while still allowing space for the layers of clothing underneath. Field Conditions: These pants have been caught in monsoon storms many times. Most of them intentionally as I ran out into the storm with my dogs. The pants manage to keep the heavy rain out, as well as the thick mud that occupies our wet washes in Tucson. I am impressed at the breathability while wearing them in temperatures in the upper 70 F (about 21 C) to the mid 90 F (about 32 C). I am able to comfortably keep them on when there are still wet and muddy conditions on the ground, but the rain has stopped. When I get warm I can unzip the top portion of the pants, allowing much desired air to ventilate, while keeping the lower portion closed for continued water protection. The weather is generally very warm in the monsoon season in Tucson, especially while in a riverbed at 2,000' (610 m). Being caught in a springtime flurry at 8,000' (2,438 m) can be devastating when I am 10 miles (16 km) back in Pike National Forest in Colorado. For me, nothing is worse than getting wet, then cold, and having no choice but to push on through taking one painstaking step after another. With the temperature around 40 F (4 C) and a wet flurry quickly covering the trail and myself in sopping wet snow, I made the smart move and reached in my bag for these pants. The Full Zip zipper made for quick changing. I had them over my clothes in no time. No need to remove my boots or waste any time. Pushing through new growth pine trees that were getting heavy with snow, I found that I was as comfortable as could be. The cold wasn't much of a bother to me because I love it, and the moisture was failing to ruin my day. No water was penetrating my pants. I made it to within 2 miles (3 km) of the trailhead before the snow calmed down. I went ahead and kept the pants on so that I wouldn't slow my pace. When I got to the car I was happy to find that my jeans were completely dry under the Marmot pants. I felt satisfaction as I rolled the pants up and stuffed them back into my pack. I carry the Marmot PreCip Full Zip Pants in my pack literally every time I go hiking. As hot as the desert is, it is not unlikely to find myself in a freak storm while in the higher elevation. I carry these pants when I climb up above the city, from 4,000' (1,219 m) to 9,450' (2,880 m), or when I have been warned by my local weather girl about potential storms in the low elevation. I personally love to hike in the rain and the snow. Maybe it's because I spend half the year in an inferno down in Tucson, or maybe I'm just nuts. Regardless, these pants get a lot of use. I often get hit by quick showers as a storm passes by. I will slip the pants right over my other layers until the storm passes, then pull them off and stuff them back in my pack. Other times I will wear them for the duration of a hike. Sometimes I will put them on and take them off numerous times throughout a long trek. I think that being dry is one of the most important details of staying comfortable, and alive, in the backcountry. Performance: I got these pants in December of 2010, and since them they have proven themselves time and time again. I have yet to find them inadequate. I read on http://marmot.com/ that it may be necessary to wash the pants often to keep the PreCip coating working properly. Cleaning the paints will help to get dirt and body oils that may clog the micropours causing the pants to loose their breathability feature. Running the pants through the dryer will reactivate their water repellency. I have not had any issues yet. I figure that the rain and snow wash it thoroughly enough. I sometimes hose them off when I get home to clear them of mud and dirt, but that's it. The Full Zip zippers have never failed me, and only occasionally get stuck on the fabric of my under layers. I love that they can be zipped from either the top or the bottom. I do wish that the snap on the ankle had a few different lengths so that I could adjust the tightness for different footwear. I also would rather there be a drawstring on the waist instead of the hook-and-loop flaps which can unexpectedly pop open leaving me feeling quite the draft. The hook-and-loop does not always stay tight throughout a rigorous journey in the hills. I have not managed to tear the pants anywhere yet, much to my surprise. The pants appear to be very thin and susceptible to tears, but the nylon outer layer is far stronger than it looks and feels. Even as the pants have brushed against rough rocks and bark, there have been no rips. I am still a bit more careful around cactus than I would be with a thick pair of jeans, and I don't think there is any protection against snake bites. Summary: The Marmot PreCip Full Zip Pants are a very functional rain pant that has done exactly what they are supposed to do. They keep my legs dry whether I am in the rain, the snow, or just trekking through wet growth along the trail. They are very lightweight, and can be rolled up and stuffed almost anywhere in my pack. They are my first pair of rain pants, and unless they rip, they may be my last. I love the Full Zip feature that makes changing quick and easy. I'm not totally sold on the waist band tightening with just two hook-and-loop flaps, but I don't totally hate it either. It does allow for me to open the waist very wide in order to pull the pants on over multiple layers without difficulty. All in all a good pair of rain pants. Pros: 1. Waterproof 2. Compressible 3. Full zipper down the leg is great Cons: 1. Waist band tightens with hook-and-loop 2. Ankle only tightens to one size 3. At $90.00, I probably would have continued to get wet had they not been a gift Read more reviews of Marmot gear Read more gear reviews by alex legg Reviews > Rain Gear > Jackets and Pants > Marmot PreCip Full Zip Pant > Owner Review by alex legg | ||||