Marmot Magus Jacket Review

Founded way back in 1974 and with a genuine passion for outdoor clothing, it’s not surprising that Marmot has become a much-loved brand by nature lovers from around the world.

Known for their high-quality craftsmanship and thoughtful extra features, Marmot products might not be the cheapest option on the market, but you’ll certainly get what you pay for.

Here, we’re going to take a look at one of Marmot’s lighter rain jackets, the Marmot Magus Jacket. At first glance, it seems stylish, well designed, and it boasts fantastic weather protection. So, let’s delve a little deeper to find whether this jacket really can stand up to life in the outdoors, and see how it performs in some other key categories.

Weather Resistance

Shell jackets like the Marmot Magus are designed to be worn as a final barrier that protects you from the outside world. This means you need a fabric that can stand up to wind as well as rain, and the best jackets combine a good fabric with some nifty extra touches to make sure you stay nice and snug.

The Marmot Magus claims to be windproof and waterproof, but how well will it really protect you when you’re in the back and beyond?

In short, pretty well. The Magus is constructed from NanoPro waterproof fabric, which is a nylon-based fabric that naturally repels water. On top of that, the fibers have been carefully woven together to make sure no water can pass through, and it’s been built using a 2.5-layer system to ensure complete protection against both water and air (aka wind and rain).

Marmot has also built-in tonnes of extra protective mechanisms to eliminate potential weak spots. For instance, the seams of the jacket are all fully sealed, the zippers are water-resistant (even on the pockets), and there’s also an internal storm flap resting underneath the main front zipper – so you can rest assured that you’re safe from pesky leaks.

On top of that, the hood, hem, and cuffs are all adjustable, so you can tighten them when the wind picks up and stop and drafts from making their way into the interior.

Overall, the high-end fabric combined with the other features means this jacket really will keep you safe when the weather takes a turn for the worst.

Breathability

As much as you want a jacket that will stop rain and wind making their way in, you also want a jacket that will let condensation out. If not, that condensation will build, especially after exertion, making you feel uncomfortable and sweaty. When you stop exerting yourself, the moisture will cool, and you’ll be left feeling wet and cold underneath your jacket. So, what does the Marmot Magus have to offer in terms of breathability?

Quite a lot actually. Although the NanoPore fabric offers excellent weather protection, it’s also surprisingly breathable – in fact, it scored 17,000 in a B-1 test, which is more than enough for all but the most extreme sports.

On top of that, the jacket features zippered pit zips for when you need a blast of fresh air immediately, and the mesh lining of the hand pockets helps to circulate air when they’re left unzipped. Furthermore, you can loosen the hood, hem, or cuffs if you want to feel a bit more breeze, so really you have tonnes of options to find your optimal comfort level.

Portability & Organization

Shell jackets are designed to be worn on top of other layers, and part of the joy is that you can carry them around as a backup and slip them on when the rain starts to fall or the wind picks up. This means they need to be portable enough that you can carry them around for times of need.

A good shell will also have some organizational features, mainly pockets so that you can access your items without having to take off your jacket to root around in the pockets of your inner layers. So, how does the Marmot  Magus perform in these departments?

Weighing just 10.6 oz (men’s size M), this jacket is incredibly lightweight, especially considering the awesome weather protection it provides. This is partially achieved by the lack of an inner lining, which often significantly increases the weight of a jacket.

There is some stretch in the main fabric too, and this flexibility means you can roll it up nice and small so it doesn’t take up too much of your precious pack space.

In terms of organization, there are dual hand pockets at the front and a single chest pocket higher up. The hand pockets are particularly spacious and, as we mentioned previously, are lined with mesh.

We love that you can leave your valuables in any of the pockets thanks to the waterproof zippers and that they’re positioned with the zipper pull at the top when sealed to prevent obstruction from hipbelts.

All of these pockets are on the outside, and it would be nice to see an inner pocket such as the deep pocket often used for maps. However, we guess you can’t have everything, and this remains an extremely portable bag with decent pockets.

Comfort

Although shells are often worn over layers in cold climates when things are warmer, you might wear one over a tank top or T-shirt, so comfort is still a factor. A major drawback of the Marmot Magus in terms of comfort is the lack of an inner lining. The fabric that touches the skin isn’t as tough as GORE-TEX-like materials, but it could definitely be a little softer.

Aside from that, we like the overall fit of the Magus. Its ‘Angel-Wing’ shape means you can move your arms freely and the hip-length back doesn’t restrict leg movement either.

On top of that, there’s a good amount of stretch in the fabric, so it really is a good one for sports that involve a fair bit of movements, such as climbing or cycling. It’s available in sizes ranging from S to XXL, and the adjustable cuffs, hems, and hood help you to get your overall fit spot on.

Value for Money

So, how well does the Marmot Magus compare to other jackets in the same price range? Pretty darn well!

There are definitely cheaper options out there, which you might want to consider if you’re budgeting hard. However, if you can afford to up your spending, this jacket really does have a lot to offer. It’s rare to get such fantastic weather protection combined with great breathability and at such a lightweight. It’s also been very well designed from top to bottom – the sealed seams, waterproof zippers, adjustability… the list goes on.

Plus, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty included, so you can rest assured you’re covered in the very unlikely event it falls apart on you.

Rating

With an overall rating of 92, the Marmot Magus Jacket has done extremely well against our rating system.

The main area it lost points was in terms of comfort due to the lack of an inner lining… but this would definitely crank up the weight so maybe it’s for the best. An inner pocket or two would be nice too, and a slightly lower price wouldn’t hurt.

Overall, however, we can’t get enough of this portable, weather-resistant, breathable jacket.

Verdict

So, all things considered, what do we really think of the Marmot Magus Jacket? We love it! It has everything you want in a shell jacket for outdoor sports – excellent weather protection, fantastic breathability, and great freedom of movement.

Marmot Magus Men's Lightweight Waterproof Rain Jacket

• Excellent weather protection: Waterproof/breathable 2.5-layer NanoPro fabric with stretch for moderate rain, snow, and wind; taped seams ensure true weatherproofing
• Lightweight hooded men's rain jacket is perfect for activities like backpacking and hiking where rain protection and a full range of motion are your top concerns

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On top of that, its stylish appearance means you can get away with wearing this jacket when you’re on inner-city missions as well as countryside adventures, and it’s so lightweight that we wouldn’t be surprised if you find yourself taking this jacket everywhere with you.

There are warmer jackets out there and ones with cozy linings, but the weight (and price) will increase. At this price, you’ll be hard-pushed to find many high-quality jackets with this much to offer.