Wp/b jackets – Need Market Update

The ID eVent jackets are a nice choice. You may also consider the new 7oz jackets from Marmot the Micra and the Essence. They use a completely new membrane that seems very breathable. Salomon also has a 7oz GT Packlite Jacket.

I'd say TNF Diad but they don't make the regular one anymore. It's the lighest full-featured WP/B jacket I know of. Full zip, pit zips, hand pockets and a chest pocket….all for < 9 oz.

I like the eVent jackets by Rab…lightweight, well-made, though I don't think they get down to 10 oz. 12 oz is "spec" weight (size unknown).

I noticed REI came out with an "ultralight" jacket

http://www.rei.com/product/761937

Has anyone tried these?

The Marmot Mica looks very attractive. I'd like to hear more about how its breathablity compares to ID's eVENT jackets.

If you believe the specs:

Marmot Mem-brain Strata has a breathability rating of 20,000 gr/24hours. eVent from what I have read has a breathability rating of 21,000 gr/24 hours. For comparison, Mont-Bell's Breeze-Dry Tec, that is also well regarded for breathablity has a rating of 15,000 gr/24 hours and Gore Tex XCR has a rating of 13,500 gr/24 hours.

Hopefully someone here can make those number mean more.

Also, David, I am looking for a new jacket sometime this year as well (I am currently using a Golite Phantom @ 13oz) and like the specs of the Marmot Essence. I like it better than the Micra because at the same weight, the Essence has underarm vents (not pitsips) and has a Napoleon pocket instead of the pockets the Micra has that would end up under my hipbelt.

mica and essence are both nice jackets but i got rid of both because ether the height of the hood is too short or my neck is too long… I felt the hood pulling the jacket up making it uncomfortable. The new 09 Houdini hood is much more comfortable for me. If it wasn't for this issue i would of defiantly kept the essence.

I'm 5'10 , 130lbs and even tried the essence in XL just to see if the hood was taller but it felt the same as on the Medium.

I'm 5'7" and 135-40 pounds. Mountain Hardwear's size medium fits me well (it runs on the short side). Do you think the Marmot line will fit me, or will it be too tall?

Take a look at the Montbell Peak shell. I used to own a ID eVent jacket and it was nice but I grew tired of the lack of features. I bought a peak shell and I am very happy with it. My medium weighs 10.8 oz and at your size you probably could use a small which would get you close to your sub 10 oz goal. The peak shell has huge pit zips, a very nice hood, and an internal storm flap (something the ID jacket lacks). The peak shell is supposed to be less breathable than the ID jacket but so far I have not noticed any difference.

The Peak Shell has been discontinued, but is still available in limited sizes and colors at Mont-Bells website.

What about the Golite Virga? Hooded, waterproof breathable, taped seams, for 7.8oz. And you can get them for $50-80 bucks.

…

I too can vouch for the Peak Shell – I've had mine for over a year and used it a number of times in high wind rains and it has always performed well. I tend to sweat a lot and the huge pit zips are a blessing.

Hey Brad, Montbell has the Peak shell and pants in the summer '09 catalog

…

I have been pondering lightweight WP/B jackets so I thought I would check out what everyone has listed in your gear lists. I stuck to true WP/B jackets that weigh under 9 oz. Here is what was listed on gear lists with member ranking above 1.0. The number is count of people using. Please post if you dont see your jacket.

Dri Ducks – 7
Rainshield 02 – 7
Golite Virga – 4
Pantagonia Spectra – 2
TNF Diad – 2
Marmot Essence/Precip Plus – 2
Marmot Mica – 1
Sierra Designs Isotope – 1
OR Zealot – 1

Looks el cheapo's win.

Jamie

Nice summary Jamie. The cheapos also happen to be the most breathable of the selection, and have the nicest feel against skin. They are also easily patched with duct tape…

TNF Triumph anorak? I have an Entrant DT pant and it's a solid material.

Haglöfs Oz maybe?

I just got my Marmot Mica in the mail to try out (shoebuy.com allows free shipping AND return shipping). Initial impressions: Seems to fit well. Lacking a chin guard which is a little annoying (I like the fold-over chin guard on my REI Ultralight Jacket to keep my chin from rubbing the zipper). Really light! Weighed around 6.75 oz on my scale if I remember correctly. The question is: How breathable is it? Testing it in Houston in June is like cheating. Nothing will breathe here unless you are standing inside with the A/C on full blast.

I guess it boils down to whether or not the breathability will make up for lack of pit zips.

If I were to order another jacket to try on (preferably with pit zips), which would you choose?

Essence… Just vents though, no zips.

Does anyone have an idea as to why Marmot came out with both the essence and mica jackets. They appear to be 2 jackets that serve the same purpose. It would seem like Marmot would do better to develop what they think is the "best" overall light weight WP/B jacket and market that. Instead they market 2 jackets that seem almost the same (outside of pit vents) leaving the consumer to figure out which one is best.

Is one really better than another or are they truly 2 different jackets where they each work better under certain conditions. If it is the latter I'd really like to know what conditions the Mica outperforms in and the same for the Essence.

Any thoughts?

Jamie

/bump

I was kinda wondering the same thing as the previous poster.

Researching the Marmot Essence and the Mica. Seems like the Essence would be better for backpacking due to no pockets to interfere with the hipbelt.

But the Essence "vents" concern me. If you ever have to wear the Essence over a down jacket (like, say the Montbell Ex Light), you're in trouble if water gets through those vents because you can't close them…

Just thought I would point out that there is a similar discussion here:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=21153

acronym7/17/2009 3:38 PM

i handle them frequently although I've never used one, and my assessment is that they're generally junky. Lightweight fabric but heavy zips. It's a laminate so breathability is pretty minimal and I've heard poor reviews on waterproofing. It looks and feels nice, but the virga or essence are probably a much better bet for alot less.

I just purchased a new 2009 Marmot Essence off Ebay for $50. My men's size medium weighs a mere 6.5 ounces on my scale. I am replacing my worn-out DriDucks jacket, which was the same weight, less inexpensive, but cheaply constructed and seemingly made to be disposable. It did, however, make it all the way through the John Muir Trail and Tahoe Rim Trails.

The 2009 Marmot Mica has two zippered hand pockets, the Essence has one zippered napolean pocket, the Mica has adjustable velcro cuffs, the Essence has non-adjustable cuffs, The Mica is constructed of 2.2 oz/yard Membrain Strata nylon while the Essence is constructed of a lighter 1.9 oz/yard MemBrain Strata nylon, the Mica does not have pit vents, the Essence does.

To confuse the situation even more it appears the 2010 Mica (women's Crystalline) looks just like the 2009 Essence. See the article "Day 1 at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009" http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/orsm09_tuesday_dispatch.html
Could it be that the Essence is going away completely for 2010 and is being replaced by the Mica? In addition Marmot will offer a 2010 jacket called the Super Mica which looks like a 2009 Mica but with several venting options at a weight penalty.