Patagonia Vs. Marmot: Hiking & Camping Gear

Marmot Men's Precip Eco Pants

Marmot’s Precip Eco pants are an excellent option for hikers who want waterproof and breathable pants. They are made with Marmot’s proprietary NanoPro fabric that is based on recycled nylon, but which has much higher water resistance and breathability than pure nylon. In fact, these pants are entirely waterproof, so they are pretty great for use in wet weather.

Particularly because they are seam-sealed, which means that moisture can’t get inside the pants at all. And they still manage to be very breathable, so even if you do sweat in the pants they should dry out very quickly.

The Marmot pants have zippers on the lower legs and snap buttons at the cuffs, which allow you to wear them over bulky boots. Whether you’re thinking of wearing these for skiing or just over really bulky hiking boots, they will be a great match. On top of that, these pants feature three zippered pockets total (two in the front, one in the back), so you’re definitely able to carry all of the necessities in the pockets.

The pants feature an elastic band, so you’re pretty much guaranteed a good fit. There are no belt loops though, meaning you really need to make sure you are getting a size that’s right for you since you can’t really adjust the waist width.

Another thing worth noting about the sizing is that you can’t choose between different lengths of the pants. That’s a pretty big downside if you wanted to get pants that fit your body perfectly, especially since you can’t even have them tailored due to the zipper and cuffs at the legs. So they’re either going to fit or not – the exact inseam length depends on the size you’re getting and you can check it on the links below.

Patagonia Men's Quandry Pants

The Quandy Hiking pants are Patagonia’s version of the ultimate hiking pant. They are made from nylon and spandex fabric with four way stretch, which significantly increases the amount of freedom of movement you have in the pants. Especially because they are slim fitting, and that type of fit tends to be a lot more restrictive than others.

On top of that, it’s worth noting that Patagonia only offers two different lengths for these pants – a short and a regular. If you normally buy their tall options, you’re likely going to struggle to get a pair of Quandry pants that fits just right.

These Patagonia pants feature UPF protection as well as DWR coating on the outside. They will stay dry in light rain but they’re not really made for heavy downpours – if your primary goal is to get pants for wet weather, I think it’s best to stick with the Marmot option. But overall, I think that Patagonia just offers better performance for the money.

Especially with the gusseted crotch, belt loops and articulated knees that the Marmot pants just don’t have.

In addition to all that, the Quandry Pike pants also feature five pockets in total. Two are the classic front hand-warmer pockets, two simple ones in the back and one zippered pocket on the thigh. So, plenty of space no matter what you are carrying.

Marmot Men's Guides Down Hoody

Marmot is well known for their amazing jackets. They use premium materials, and all of their jackets perform as promised. The Guides Down Hoody in particular is an excellent insulated jacket, perfect for cold weather.

The Marmot jacket is insulated with 700 fill power down, which is very warm. Also, because it is such high fill power down, Marmot doesn’t need to put a lot of it in the jacket to make it warm, allowing it to remain as lightweight as possible. The down in the jacket is treated with Down Defender, which helps keep the natural insulation somewhat water-resistant.

Without any additional treatment, clusters of down will clump up when wet. When down clumps up it becomes unable to retain warmth and it is practically useless until it is completely dry again. Down Defender helps repel some of the water, ensuring that the jacket is able to keep you warm in light rain. However, even with the DWR coating on the shell it still can’t handle heavy rain.

Also, it’s worth noting that the Marmot jacket is very comfortable, but it’s also really bulky. If you are looking for warmth without the extra bulk, I highly recommend you go with Patagonia here. But if you don’t mind the thicker and fluffier jackets, then the Guides Down Hoody might be just right for you.

Both the hem and the drawcord are adjustable, which is great for both keeping the wind out and getting that custom fit. Also, this Marmot jacket features four pockets total – three are external and one is the internal. All of the pockets are zippered and they’re pretty deep, so you will be able to carry quite a lot of stuff on your person.

Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket

The Nano Puff jacket is a Patagonia icon. It’s one of the best-insulated jackets they sell, and if you want to be warm even in wet weather it’s easily one of the best things you can buy. The jacket is insulated with Primaloft Gold Eco, which is made from recycled materials.

It’s the best synthetic insulation on the market because it is able to retain 98% of warmth when wet – no other synthetic insulation is able to do that.

The jacket shell is made from lightweight recycled polyester and features a DWR coating. In light and mild rain, it should repel all the moisture, keeping you both dry and warm. However, DWR is not really made for heavy rain and the jacket will get wet – the good news is that the insulation will still work fine even if the Nano Puff is soaking wet.

Another great thing about this jacket is how lightweight and packable it is. It stores into one of its own pockets so it’s a great jacket to have if you want something that you can carry everywhere. The Nano Puff can literally fit into a pocket of a different jacket, so you can always have that warm middle layer handy. On top of that, it only weighs about 12 ounces, so you will barely even feel it on you.

This Patagonia jacket has three pockets, total. Two are external hand warming pockets, as well as an internal zippered drop-in pocket. The internal pocket actually doubles as a stuff sack and it has a carabiner clip-in loop.

Last but not least, the Nano Puff retails for just under $200. It’s more affordable than a similar option from Marmot, and it’s definitely great value for money.

Marmot Minimalist Jacket

The Minimalist jacket is an excellent option if you’re looking for a jacket for wet weather. With a Gore-Tex membrane, this jacket will keep you dry even in really heavy downpours, making it one of the best outer layers you can get your hands on. And if you pair this with an insulated mid-layer, you’re pretty much set for all weather conditions.

This jacket also features an adjustable – but not removable – hood. It has a storm flap that keeps the wind out, as well as water-resistant zippers of the exterior pockets. That is really great because it means that even the items inside the pockets are protected from the rain, so you don’t have to worry about keeping your pricey tech in them.

One thing worth noting is that there’s no insulation in this jacket, so it’s not exactly warm on its own. It’s a good jacket for mild weather and when it’s paired with a warm mid-layer like an insulated jacket of a hoody, it performs exceptionally well.

Also, the Minimalist jacket actually features pit zips, which allow you to regulate the temperature inside the jacket. There’s also a drawstring at the hem that helps keep all the wind out, which also makes it easier for you to adjust the fit of the jacket in order to really make it the best one for your body.

In addition to that, the cuffs of this Marmot jacket are also adjustable, which really lets you seal in that body heat.

See our full review of the Marmot Minimalist.

Patagonia Men’s Torrentshell Jacket

Patagonia’s Torrentshell jacket is one of the brand’s most popular, longest selling and best waterproof outer shells. It’s in the same price range as the Minimalist jacket from Marmot with one main advantage – the Torrenshell jacket packs into its own pocket, making it the ultimate packable out layer to have.

This Patagonia jacket features two warm external pockets total, so there’s lots of space for items you want to have on your person when you’re out and about. There are also underarm venting zips that are great for regulating the temperature inside the jacket. The best thing about this jacket is its coated in DWR, meaning the water beads nicely when it rains

The minor drawback is that it’s made from Patagonia’s H2No, and that’s not even a bad thing. H2No is certainly good enough for most people, it is just not a premium breathable material like Gore-tex. But, it costs way less!

Consider the conditions you normally go out walking in – if you rarely go out in a heavy downpour, then you don’t need need Gore-Tex.

The 3-layer technology of H2No performs well in rainy weather and it will be good enough for most people. On top of that, H2No is much softer out of the box and far less restrictive than the stiffer Gore-Tex.

It is also worth noting that the Torrentshell jacket allows you to adjust both the hem and the cuffs, making it very easy to get that custom fit and keep the wind out. Especially given the ability to tighten up that hood as well.

Marmot Trestles Mummy Sleeping Bag

Both Marmot and Patagonia are popular for their excellent sleeping bags, so it’s only fair to include a couple of their best options. From Marmot, that’s the Trestles range, at least when it comes to synthetic insulation. It is affordable, comfortable, and suitable for temperatures as low as  15°F / -9°C, making it an excellent option for winter camping trips.

The Trestles bag is made from polyester and insulated with SpiraFil LT synthetic insulation. It’s a warm sleeping bag, but it’s not the most breathable option out there. The combination of polyester and synthetic insulation doesn’t really allow for outstanding ventilation, and this is easily the one aspect in which down bags are the better option by a mile.

However, synthetic insulation offers much better performance in wet conditions, so this is the bag to get if you’re going to be camping on damp ground. A good sleeping bag is still a must, but at least you can be certain that the bag won’t lose its warmth trapping capabilities if it gets slightly damp.

This Marmot sleeping bag comes with a compression stuff sack, which is for good packability and portability. But it is worth noting that it’s a pretty heavy bag – at nearly 4 lbs, you are definitely making compromises on convenience and comfort, in favor of the more affordable price point.

If you’d rather get something that is easier to carry for days at a time and don’t mind paying more for a premium item, I highly recommend you check out the down-insulated option from Patagonia instead.

But if you’re all about that value and don’t care about the extra weight, then Marmot is certainly the right option for you. Patagonia can’t even begin to compete with their pricing, so Marmot is definitely the go-to for budget shoppers.

Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Sleeping Bag

Patagonia has several types of sleeping bags and they are great for cold weather. This particular sleeping bag is rated for temperatures as low as 20°F / -7°C, so you can finally camp out in the dead of winter and not freeze to death!

800 fill power down is amazing when it comes to trapping heat and it’s actually used in polar expedition gear – that should give you a good idea of how exactly warm these sleeping bags are. If you’re looking for something that will make camping in cold weather easier, Patagonia down sleeping bags will definitely do the trick.

The shell of this sleeping bag is made Fair Trade certified nylon, because as you know caring for the environment and the people they work with is a priority of Patagonia. And did I mention the down is global traceable, not something many manufacturers can say.

Also, the sleeping bag is specifically designed to keep your head and feet warm. The footbox is sculpted and the hood is 3-D engineered to help tramp the warmth. Something that many sleeping bags struggle with for sure

Perhaps the only drawback of this sleeping bag from Patagonia is its price point. It’s twice as much as the option from Marmot, so it’s definitely not going to be the top choice for people who are shopping on a budget. But if you are looking for the warmest and lightest sleeping bags these two brands have to offer, then it really is a no-brainer.

Marmot Kompressor Star Hiking Backpack

We can’t really compare Marmot and Patagonia without mentioning some of their best-selling backpacks. From Marmot that’s the Kompressor hiking backpack – an excellent option for easy days on the trails.

The backpack is made from a mixture of nylon and polyester, but it is also reinforced with ripstop nylon. It is under 2 lbs so it’s super lightweight, making it a great option for people who already carry a lot of items and don’t need a heavy backpack on top of all that.

One thing to keep in mind is that there’s really not any water-resistant coating on the bag, so it’s not the best option for wet weather. But that’s an easy problem you can solve with a rain cover.

Also, it’s worth noting that nylon is water repellant even without any additional coating, so you should have no problems whatsoever in light rain.

The pack features a padded and ventilated back system, which feels very comfortable against your body. It comes with a sternum strap and a hip belt that help with the load transfer and ensure that you’re not carrying the weight of the backpack just on your shoulders. In addition to that, it also boasts side compression straps that allow you to cinch in the backpack, so it’s easier to carry when not at full capacity.

The bag has one main compartment for all your gear, so it doesn’t offer too much in terms of organization. But it is compatible with hydration bladders and it has an extra zippered pocket on the front panel, as well as two stretchy pockets on the sides.

With the Kompressor backpack, all the focus is really on the breathability of the bag. There’s lots of breathable mesh on the backpanel and the shoulder straps, making this Marmot pack an excellent option for summer hikes.

Patagonia Altvia Daypack 28L

The Altvia hiking backpack from Patagonia is a really good option for day hikes. It is lightweight, very comfortable to wear and it features an excellent back system that will keep you comfortable for as long as you’re out on the trail.

This backpack is made from tough 100% Recycled Nylon, which has excellent water resistance. But, it also comes with a built-in rain cover, so if it really starts pouring down, just slip that over the pack and you are good to go.

The back panel is suspended giving great airflow and preventing that wet back we all hate. Plus the shoulder straps are also quite breathable, as is the generous hip belt. They have not forgotten the sternum strap either, which is key to hiking for longer periods in comfort. I use mine all the time, otherwise, I get sore shoulders!

This pack has one spacious main compartment with a hydration pocket in the back, as you would expect in a hiking pack. There is a handy top pocket too, as well as a large mesh stash pocket on the front I use for my sweater once I get warmed up.

Patagonia is starting to seriously understand hiking packs like Osprey now and they have a spot for your trekking poles and also hip belt pockets for your keys, snacks or phone if it fits.

All in all, this is one serious, lightweight 28L hiking day pack a lot of you are going to enjoy.