Owner Review: Marmot PreCip Jacket

December 31, 2005

Tester Information:   

Name:  David Heyting

Age: 28

Gender:  Male

Height: 6’ 0”, 1.83 m

Weight: 205 lb, 93 kg

Email: deheyting@yahoo.com

City, State, Country: Snoqualmie, Washington, USA

Backpacking Background:

I have been hiking and backpacking for over 15 years.  A great deal of the backpacking that I do is related to mountaineering and rock climbing in the Pacific Northwest.  When not climbing, I tend to be a lightweight hiker that tries to go light to be able to push more miles.  My main areas of exploration are the Washington Central and North Cascades, but have done lots of hiking in the British Columbia Coastal Range as well as the Oregon Cascades.

Test Conditions:  The primary test conditions were done in the Central Washington Cascades.  Moderate temperatures: spring and fall down to the 40 F (4 C) up to 85 F (30 C).  Typically a wet climate.  Most of the trekking occurred on steep trails on varying terrain, from soft pack trails, scree fields, to snowfields and some minimal glacier travel.  General elevation ranges from 2,500 to 8,000 ft (760 to 2,450 meters).

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Marmot

Model: PreCip Rain Jacket - Mens

Size: XL

Color: Green

URL: www.marmot.com

Listed Weight:  12 oz /340 g

Measured Weight:  13 oz/368 g

Listed Dimensions:  19.6” x  11.2” x  6” (49 x 28 x 15 cm)

MSRP: $99.99 USD

Product Description: 

The PreCip features a lightweight design.  It has a built in hood with drawstrings. On the back is a Velcro strap that can be used to adjust the fit of the hood.  There are two main pockets on each side that both feature a zipper closure.  The angle is such on the pockets that they are easy to get in and out of while wearing a pack.  The inside of the pockets have a mesh lining, designed to carry some small items and shed weight.  Both pockets have a weather flap that covers each zipper to prevent water from leaking in.  The jacket seams are fully taped on the inside to make the jacket waterproof.  There are pit zips on each arm to help with venting the jacket.  When the jacket when fully zipped, the zipper is concealed by fleece-lined flap that provides additional comfort to the wearer’s chin.  The jacket covers to just below the waist and features a drawstring to keep the jacket close to the body.

Key Features: Here are some of the key things that are advertised in Marmot’s literature and on their website.

- Extremely lightweight

- Waterproof Shell – Fully taped seams

-  Pit zips for proper temperature control  

-  Full visibility roll up hood with Peripheral Cord adjustment and integral collar

- Front pockets that are accessible while wearing a backpack

- The shell is made of Marmot’s PreCip N-170R fabric

Summary:

The Marmot PreCip jacket is a lightweight shell that is intended to be worn as a three-season waterproof jacket.  The jacket is a straightforward shell and does not offer any additional warmth or layering.  The jacket packs up nicely and fits easily into a daypack.  The listed weight is only 12 ounces (340 grams) (although my jacket weighed in a tad bit heavier), which means that for me should never be a debate as whether or not to carry the jacket on a hike. 

I have owned the PreCip for three years now and take it just about everywhere.  It is the ultimate summer security blanket.  Although I don’t think it is quite durable or warm enough for high alpine or glacier travel. I have found that the PreCip is perfect for a day hike, multi-pitch rock climb or short overnight trip.  I have worn the PreCip through very heavy rain in the Pacific Northwest and have remained dry.  Although due to the lightweight fabric of the shell it tends to leave me with a sort of clammy feeling under intense rain. Some of this could be do to sweat not being able to completely evaporate through the jacket, however the clammy feeling seems much more prevalent in the PreCip than with a thicker Gore-Tex Shell. I would not want to only have the PreCip on a week-long trip facing an unrelenting downpour. However the jacket is not intended for this kind of use, and so this shouldn’t be considered a defect in the design.  It is intended for light rain and as something that is always carried while doing a variety of outdoor activities.  On Marmots website the jacket is listed as a “no nonsense, top value storm protection that's light, compact and easy to take with you anywhere, whether hiking, biking or wandering around town.”  Especially in the Northwest as I have to always be prepared for rain, even when the forecast doesn’t call for it.  If worn for the designed use of the jacket, I think one would be hard pressed to find a better choice.

In terms of wear and tear, the PreCip has held up extremely well for three years.  I have not noticed any tearing or other issues that I should be concerned with.  I take my PreCip on almost every hike I do so it has gotten a lot of consistent use.  During this time it has kept up its ability to shed water.  I have even fully submerged my PreCip several times on kayak trips and after drying out the jacket still works great. 

A feature that I love about the PreCip is that it has a fleece lining that covers the main zipper.  This is awesome as it allows my chin and mouth to avoid having to rub against the back of the zipper.  This is a definite bonus in my book.

I will say that zippers for the pit zips are a little bit small, especially for someone with big clumsy fingers like mine.  This can make the hard to open and close the zip pits during a hike – however they are small as to shed as much weight as possible.  So I guess you win some and lose some. 

Marmot seems to prop up the hood quite a bit.  The hood system, I thought works great, provides good movement and does not get in the way when not in use, however I did not view it as one of the best features of the jacket.

Overall the PreCip has been a great addition to my gear.  It has become a staple of my hiking gear and is my security blanket while hiking in the often-rainy Pacific Northwest.

Things I Like:

Fleece lining to cover the zipper when the jacket is zipped up

Weight of the jacket – so I can take it everywhere you go

Ability to shed water – fully taped seems

Things I don’t like:

Small pit-zip zippers

Recap:

When used for light rain while day hiking or short overnight trips, the PreCip is the ideal companion to have along.  Weighing in at under a pound and with a price under $100 USD the pack is nice on the back as well as the wallet.