Marmot Minimalist Jacket

This jacket is comfortable to wear in layers.

Editor rating: 8.5 / 10

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By Lena Mueller

Marmot Minimalist Jacket Review Facts

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Finding a good outdoor jacket is not the easiest task in the world. If you are someone who loves hiking, backpacking, or any other activity that pertains to the outdoors, you know how important it is to find gear that will suit all of your needs. You will need to find something that is comfortable and that will allow you to easily perform your activities without getting in the way. If you’re looking for an outdoor jacket, you probably want something that is waterproof and that will be able to hold up in any type of weather since you really don’t know what kind of weather you’ll face despite what the forecast says.

Some other important features that you might look for in an outdoor jacket include something that is good for layering so that you can use it during different times of the year (for example, you may not want something that is so heavy you can only wear it in freezing weather, and you might not want something that is too light to wear once temperatures start to drop), or you might want something that provides a lot of breathability for when you sweat. You might be someone who wants a jacket that will be versatile and that you can wear in any situation- including when you simply go out and aren’t participating in any outdoor activities.

A jacket that is good for all of these purposes and more is the Marmot Minimalist Jacket. If you are someone who is into outdoor activities and has purchased a lot of outdoor gear, you probably have heard of the brand Marmot. It is well-known for creating good-quality tents and outdoor clothes, and its equipment has been compared to that of the top brands on the market. So, you probably don’t need to know much more in order to be convinced that the Minimalist Jacket has been lauded by many people as being one of the best out there.

The main feature of this jacket is that it is great to wear when it rains outside. The jacket has waterproofing abilities that people have put to the test in all kinds of conditions; one person even stood under a waterfall and did not have to worry about the clothes they wore under the jacket getting too wet. That simply goes to show how high-quality this jacket is.

Now, let’s go into more detail about some of the other features the jacket offers so that you can decide whether or not this is worth purchasing.

Editor's Pros & Cons

Pros

Completely resistant to water
Perfect for if you want something for layering
Can be worn in cooler and warmer weather
Comfortable
High-quality materials with a great build

Cons

Not very breathable
Heavy
No stuff pocket

Brand

The Minimalist jacket is made by the brand Marmot, which is known for creating high-quality outdoor gear. The brand was created in the 1970s and its name refers to a type of squirrel that lives in the mountains. The creators of the brand began by making down jackets and had their big break when a filmmaker contacted them with the desire to feature their jackets in the movies. The goal of the brand is to create some of the best outdoor gear possible, such as tents, jackets, and more. It is so highly rated that it is frequently compared with some of the other top outdoor brands on the market. It is safe to say that any article of clothing or any tent that you choose to purchase from the Marmot brand is going to be good quality and not something that you will be disappointed in whatsoever.

Breathability

Despite the fact that there are a lot of areas where this jacket excels, one of them is not when it comes to breathability. Marmot in general is not very well-known for creating jackets that are very breathable. Many people believe that it is important for an article of clothing to provide enough breathability because when they sweat, they do not want to have their clothes drenched, causing discomfort. However, some people said that, even when they wore the Minimalist jacket for minimal aerobic exercises, their clothing was already drenched with sweat, and there is no need to even discuss the way that they felt when they participated in high aerobic exercises. There are zippers on the underarms, but they only help very minimally. And the pit area does not even have any mesh material, so the breathability here is virtually non-existent.

Comfort

However, despite the fact that the jacket is not very breathable, it is comfortable and people were pleased with how well it fit them. It is often difficult to find a jacket that is both waterproof and comfortable, but the Marmot jacket seems to find the perfect balance between the two. The jacket is lightweight enough that you will be able to wear layers underneath it without feeling uncomfortable. And the jacket is warm, so you could wear it even in colder weather conditions, but if it’s warmer outside, you could easily wear thinner layers and have it be comfortable for the warmer weather too.

Durability

Another area in which this jacket excelled was when it came to durability. You want something that is durable enough to be worn for a long time so that you don’t have to worry about spending money every month or so to purchase new outdoor gear. This jacket is made with a fabric called Gore-Tex Paclite, as well as polyester and a DWR coating to allow it to be waterproof and sturdy. Many people who purchased and reviewed this jacket labeled it among the most durable of all outdoor rain jackets available.

Size

The jacket is available in X-Small to XX-Large for men and women, so it might not be available in all the sizes that other jackets are available in. The jacket has a slim fit and is said to look flattering on many different people. The jacket is almost 15 ounces, so it is a bit on the heavier side and people said that it isn’t as ideal for if you want something that you can easily transport with you in your backpack. But, with that being said, it is important to take into consideration all that this jacket has to offer, which means that it is not so surprising that it isn’t as small and lightweight. The jacket also does not come with a pocket that it can easily be folded into for transportation.

Use

The jacket is meant to be used for activities such as hiking and backpacking, but you should also take into consideration the fact that it does not offer a lot of breathability, so you may want to avoid doing much active exercise while wearing the jacket so that it does not become drenched with sweat. Otherwise, the jacket is great for wearing outdoors, and you will stay dry no matter what you choose to do while wearing it. Many people said that the jacket is attractive enough for them to be able to wear it during everyday activities as well.

Style

One of the biggest areas that people look at when determining whether or not to buy clothing, even when it comes to outdoor gear, is the style. Overall, people want something that will make them both look and feel as good as possible. Even though, in this instance, you are not necessarily participating in the most flattering of activities, people do want outdoor gear that they look good in and that does not look as much like some of the bulky attire that outdoor activities are associated with. Many brands have started to take this into consideration and have been creating products that people can wear and look good in.

This jacket is no different. Many people were in fact pleased with the way the jacket looked and fit. Since the jacket has a slim fit, it is something that will show off your figure nicely and that will look good on you. A lot of people said that the jacket is attractive enough to be worn on a daily basis, and since it is not the most breathable of jackets, this is probably a good way for you to get a lot of use out of it; you are not likely to sweat too much when you go out and run errands. And, since the jacket is called the minimalist, it does not have a complex design at all. It comes in a simple color and the Marmot logo on the side, and that’s about it.

The jacket is also available in a variety of colors, so you will certainly have something to choose from in accordance with your personal tastes. For men, the jacket is available in orange, light blue, black, gray, red, green, and darker blue, and for women, the jacket is available in orange, green, purple, black, dark raspberry, light blue, light green, and red.

Water Resistance

The selling point of this jacket was its ability to withstand any sort of water conditions. If you plan on going out on a rainy day, this is the perfect jacket for you to reach for. You won’t have to worry about getting drenched whatsoever. The fabric of this jacket is meant to be able to withstand the rain, snow, and wind. The DWR coating of the jacket helps to keep rain out. People who have purchased the jacket said that they wore it in the most severe of weather conditions- one person even stood under a waterfall to test out the jacket- and were extremely surprised and pleased with how they stayed completely dry. And, the jacket’s zippers and hood are great to keep any areas that could remain open dry too.

Price

The official retail price of this jacket is $189, and you won’t be able to find it for much cheaper on other websites. However, this is not too bad for an outdoor jacket and many of its competitors fall into the same price region. You aren’t going to break the bank with this jacket, which is something that lots of people look for because outdoor gear in general tends to be rather expensive. However, spending that much money on a jacket that offers as many features as this one does and that is as durable as the Minimalist will almost guarantee that you’ll get your money’s worth. You aren’t going to have to think about purchasing another outdoor jacket for a very long time after getting this one.

Key Features

This jacket has an adjustable hood that allows maximum comfort for the wearer
Many people said that this is a comfortable jacket that fits well
The jacket is available in many different colors, so you can choose something that suits your tastes the best
The waterproof abilities of the Minimalist jacket are unmatches
The jacket is very simple and you can wear it on a multitude of occasions

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a jacket that is perfect to wear in almost any weather condition, the Marmot Minimalist Jacket is a good choice for you. It is bound to keep you dry no matter what kind of rain you face; it even fares well in the most severe of weather conditions. Besides that, the jacket is available in a multitude of different colors, so you will be able to find something that you like. And since the jacket lives up to its name, it is versatile enough for you to wear wherever you’d like. Some people did not like the jacket due to the fact that it does not offer a lot of breathability and because they felt that they were able to get better deals out of other jackets, but at the end of the day, that is up to personal preference. If you’re looking for something that offers a lot of waterproof abilities and a comfortable fit, then you should definitely consider purchasing the Minimalist jacket.