Marmot Chinook Windshirt

Owner Review

Report Date: October 31, 2004

Reviewer Information

• Name: Edward Ripley-Duggan
  
• Age: 51
  
• Gender: Male
  
• Height: 6' 1" (1.85 m)
  
• Weight: 215 pounds (98 kg)
  
• erd@wilsey.net
  
• Catskills, New York State
  
  

Reviewer Background: See end of report

Product information

• Manufacturer: Marmot
  
• URL: http://www.marmot.com/
  
• Product: Marmot Chinook Windshirt
  
• Year of purchase: 2004
  
• Manufacturer's weight: no longer available
  
• Measured weight: 3.6 oz (99 g) for XL size
  
• Color: Amber
  
• Fabric: Polyester ripstop with wear-resistant DWR coating
  
• Pockets: One (breast)
  
• Zip: full front
  
  

Introduction

The windshirt is an enormously versatile garment, and is very much part of the ultralight "kit". Typically, it is only water-resistant (not by any means waterproof), is highly breathable, and is of nominal weight. The Marmot Chinook meets all three of these criteria admirably. Windshirts are useful for much more than wind protection, and mine has become an absolutely essential item for spring through fall hiking here in the Northeast. I have not used it in winter and have other cold-weather tops that I prefer. I have worn it through brief heavy rainstorms and light mists and rains, and in very strong winds.

Construction

The Chinook, despite the "shirt" designation, has much more in common with a jacket. It has an adjustable hood, with an exceptionally light elasticized drawstring with rubber toggles. The wrists are also elasticized, and the front of the garment has a full zip. There is a small zipped breast pocket, sufficient for map and compass and a few other odds and ends. The usual Marmot insignia is emblazoned above this. There is no waist-string, nor is one required in my experience. The rear of the collar has a small hang-loop. In conjunction with a tab with a snap within the garment, this may be used to keep the hood rolled back out of the way but still ready for deployment. The fit of the XL (my usual jacket size) is very comfortable, not binding, with room for a modest amount of layering, but neither is it loose—"well-cut" would be the tailoring term I'd employ.

The laundry instructions are straightforward. It may be machine washed and tumble-dried, but not bleached or dry-cleaned. In point of fact, I have never laundered mine. It seems to stay clean and stink-free

Use

I wear the Chinook when conditions turn inclement: either cold, windy or wet, or some combination thereof. I normally hike using a wool or synthetic base layer (usually merino wool or Patagonia's Capilene). A base layer that continues to insulate when wet is advisable when wearing a garment that is not fully waterproof (in fact, highly advisable, period). Since even fully waterproof garments tend to breathe insufficiently to keep me dry during heavy exertion (despite claims of breathability), becoming internally damp with perspiration even when vented, the fact that my base layer is a little wet or even soggy during rain doesn't bother me much, provided that I am warm.

I have worn the windshirt in winds of up to an estimated 60 mph (100 kph) in the White Mountains, wearing a lightweight base layer (this was the periphery of a hurricane moving up-coast). Though I was wet from cloud and rain, I was comfortably warm from exertion--the ambient temperature was around 50 F (10 C). However, to stay warm when stationary, it was necessary to get behind a boulder in the lee of the wind, and even then evaporative cooling limited the amount of time I could stay comfortable. I always carry at least one additional layer that can be put under or over the windshirt if necessary, in case of a longer stop. This is also water-resistant and capable of insulating when wet.

This particular excursion (part of a traverse of the Presidential Range) showed one potential caution with a lightweight windshirt. Great care must be taken putting it on in a high wind, as if released the light weight guarantees that it will blow away, an expensive kite, never to be seen again. In fact, the flapping made putting the jacket on quite tricky, and the hood (which I was not wearing) needed to be secured as it whipped in the wind to an extent that was uncomfortable.

Intermittent light rain and a fairly high level of exertion really bring out the very best in the Chinook. On a recent backpack, on the demanding eastern portion of the Devil's Path in the Catskills, rain, mist and perspiration had made my wool tee-shirt base layer quite wet, but once the rain had eased, the shirt dried by body-heat quite quickly (I helped things along by partly opening the front zip). This is a real testament to the breathability of the fabric used.

The comparatively slippery textile will cause pack straps to slide, so care needs to be taken to allow the pack the least amount of play. I noted no evident wear from this, but it should be noted that the Chinook, in keeping with its minimalist form, has no shoulder reinforcement. I have not felt that the lack of pit zips is an issue with this jacket, given the front zip and overall permeability.

The hood, when used, fits well over a cap or hat, allowing an extra layer of insulation for the head. I've used it both with the cotton baseball cap I wear in mild weather and with a wind-proof North Face fleece helmet. When up, it has the advantage of protecting the back of the neck from rain trickling in, though the fit at the neck is good enough that this is not really a major issue in light rain even without utilizing the hood.

Though I have never worn the Chinook by itself while backpacking or hiking without using a base layer, the handle of the fabric is soft and silky enough that it will serve as a shirt, and a comfortable one at that. In this context, it's handy as a sleeping layer. My only concern is that direct contact with skin for a protracted period may cause natural body oils to accumulate, affecting the DWR properties.

All in all, this is a wonderfully adaptable garment, and has become the first thing I throw in my pack for anything from a quick day-hike to a long excursion. At present (October, 2004), although it is still available fairly widely at retail, Marmot has dropped it from their line, but I am hopeful that it will return. It's not a substitute for foul weather or cold weather gear, but for most applications provides the ideal combination of breathability, protection and comfort.

On a final note this is, in my estimate, very much an on-trail garment, though I have not sought to put this to the test. I have ruined all too many garments by injudicious use on bushwhacks among the dense spruce and fir that is common to many of the summits I hike. Indeed, some of these scratchy peaks seem better suited to some form of light body armor—Kevlar, anyone? I would not propose the Chinook for such heavy off-trail use, though for all ordinary purposes the fabric seems perfectly durable, especially given how light it is. As with most ultralight gear, it needs to be treated with some (but by no means excessive) care.

Reviewer Background

I enjoy walking in all its manifold forms, from a simple stroll in the woods to multi-day backpack excursions. Though by no means an extreme ultralight enthusiast, from spring to fall my preference is to carry a pack-weight of 12 lb (5.5 kg), more or less. In recent years, I've rapidly moved to a philosophy of "lighter is better," within the constraints of budget and common sense.