Marmot PreCip Jacket Review

Founded in 1974 and with its origins deeply rooted in glacier climbing, Marmot has a solid reputation for all things outdoors. Although it’s well-known for producing a range of products, it was an order for jackets for a Clint Eastwood film that began Marmot’s journey as a company back in the seventies.

It should come as no surprise, therefore, that Marmot are behind some of the best outdoor jackets currently on the market. We recently compared three of Marmot’s best-selling rain jackets, and the Marmot Precip jacket took the gold medal, the Essence took silver, and the Minimalist took the bronze (see here for the full review).

But what is it that makes the Marmot Precip jacket so special? Well, in this review, we’re going to explore the Marmot PreCip a little further. We’ll weigh up some key performance considerations and give the jacket a final rating and verdict (spoiler alert – it’s a good one!) so that you can decide whether this is the jacket for you.

Weather Resistance

First and foremost, all good rain jackets need to be able to keep you dry when you’re out in the wilderness. After all, you don’t want that water to start seeping through five minutes into a downpour. So how does the Marmot Precip achieve this?

This Precip uses a combination of a waterproof nylon layer and Marmot’s unique NanoPro material to form a shell that will keep you dry even in the wettest of conditions. The NanoPro coating itself is Marmot’s most comfortable waterproof, yet breathable, coating to date. As it’s a durable water-repellent (DWR) coating, it literally repels water, causing droplets to bead up and run off the jacket.

It will eventually need replenishing, but this is the case with all DWR coatings, and at least this one can last several years before it needs touching up (depending on usage). Oh, and all the seams are taped too to stop any water from entering via these potential passages.

Furthermore, not only will this jacket keep you dry, but the Velcro wrist cuffs and cinchable hem cord mean that you can trap precious warm air inside the jacket, making it surprisingly warm considering how thin it is.

With an impressive waterproof rating of 10,000mm, this jacket can candle snow as well as rain, and it won’t wear out after a couple of wears. It can keep you surprisingly warm too, so we reckon it’s done very well in terms of weather resistance.

Breathability

Okay, so the Precip can keep your bone dry, but does this come at the cost of decreased ventilation? In short, no.

Not only is the NanoPro coating super water-resistant, but it also has tiny pores that let moist air escape without letting water through. This circulation removes water vapor plus it helps fresh air to circulate, keeping you considerably cool as well as dry.

Marmot is particularly proud of this coating, and it’s not surprising given that the pores are 30% smaller than the one used previously yet the fabric is 43% more breathable overall – winning.

On top of this, the Marmot PreCip also features pit zips. We love this feature, as it gives you the choice of opening them up when things are heating up or closing them when you need that bit of extra warmth.

Finally, the adjustable cuffs and hem can also be used to allow extra air circulation in times of need and the hand pockets are lined with mesh for even more ventilation.

This multi-pronged approach of using advanced fabric technology, pit zips, adjustable hems and wrists, and mesh pockets really does make this one well-ventilated jacket.

Packability

When you’re planning outdoor adventures, particularly in summer, it’s nice to hope that it won’t rain… but in reality, you’re going to want a rain jacket just in case. The Marmot Precip is a great jacket to pop in your bag for two reasons – it’s lightweight (weighing just 11 oz) and folds up so small that you can store it in its own pocket.

Although it isn’t the lightest on the market, it’s by no means heavy thanks to the lightweight of both fabrics used for the shell. And we think the fact it folds away so small more than makes up for a couple of extra ounces.

Overall, there really is no reason why you wouldn’t take this jacket with you on any outdoor excursion!

Hood

On top of the adjustable hems and cuffs and pit zips, plus the fact it packs inside its own pocket, does the Marmot PreCip have any other special touches?

Yes – one of the things that we love the most about the Marmot PreCip is the adjustable hood feature.

On dry days you can simply roll up the hood and fold it into the collar at the back of the jacket, which also provides a bit of extra padding. However, when the rain starts to fall, you can unfold the hood in a second. Plus, the velcro strap and dual side toggles mean you can get the optimal fit and the hood itself has a wireless brim to protect your face.

Value for Money

So, how does the Marmot PreCip perform compared to other jackets in its price range? Exceptionally well!

This jacket is unique in providing such a high level of waterproofing and breathability at such a reasonable price. It’s also nice and light, which is another characteristic that often leads to price jumps.

On top of that, the adjustable hood and pit zips are two features you’ll rarely see in a high-quality jacket with a reasonable price tag.

Plus, Marmot offers a complete warranty for manufacturer defects and will replace any damages that occur from ordinary wear and tear or misuse for a very reasonable price.

Overall, we really do think that you’ll be hard-pushed to find a better rainjacket at this price.

Rating

With an overall rating of 98, the Marmot Precip is one of the best jackets we’ve reviewed so far.

It only lost a point for weather resistance as the DWR will eventually need replenishing… but that’s a general issue with DWR rather than a fault of the jacket, so perhaps we’ve been mean and it should have scored full marks.

Verdict

Overall, we can’t emphasize enough how much we like this jacket… Its shell coating, with its innovative fabric technology, provides a great degree of protection from the elements. It’s also very well ventilated thanks to a variety of clever mechanisms.

Although not ultra-lightweight, it is by no means heavy, and we’re happy to have the extra features even if they come at the cost of a few extra oz. The features themselves include a removable hood plus adjustable hems and drawstrings, making this a versatile jacket that can cater to your needs on the day.

Plus, the whole thing folds away into a pocket-sized bundle, so you can always have it with you just in case. We also love the look of this jacket – you can definitely get away with wearing it on the high street as well as on a mountainside – and it comes in a nice range of colors too.

Marmot really has hit the jackpot with this one – it’s the perfect balance of weather resistance, ventilation, features, price, and weight. If you’re after a reasonably priced rain jacket that will do the trick and then some, the Marmot PreCip really is the way to go!