Three new lightweight shells from Marmot including a new sub-200g contender.
Marmot has
some interesting new shells for this spring, 2009 including a
185-gramme ultra-lightweight waterproof
jacket using Marmot's own MemBrain fabric and a 228-gramme
jacket using Gore-Tex Paclite.
Ultralight Shells...
Nano Jacket - £160
The
new Nano is an ultra-lightweight mountaineering jacket made with
Gore-Tex Paclite fabric. Despite the claimed weight of just 228
grammes, the jacket is still fully featured and has Angel-Wing-Movement
to stop it rising up when climbing, Laser Drilled Pack Pockets, which
eliminates the need for heavy mesh liners and saves more weight and a
wired and stiffened hood peak. Logos are reflective and the jacket has
a water resistant front zipper.
Very few waterproofs, let alone Gore-Tex ones, weigh in at and about
the 200 gramme mark. so that really is impressively light and should
make a great pack and forget until needed option.
Mica Jacket -
£90
If you think 228 grammes is light, the new Mica jacket
weighs even less at a claimed 185 grammes and is made from Marmot's own
brand MemBrain® strata 2.5 layer material. It's a minimalist
creation with taped seams, Angel Wing Movement again, adjustable hood,
Velcro cuffs, WR main zip and the ability to be packed away into its
own pocket for convenience.
Looks good and is aimed at the classic fast and light users. Should be
some competition for the likes of the Haglofs Oz and TNF Triumph - both
smocks - and Montane's 135g Lite-Speed H20, though the hydrostatic head
of the latter is well behind the Mica's 20,000mm. The
women's version is
called the
Crystalline.
Aegis Jacket -
£95
The final new waterproof jacket is the Aegis, which again
uses MemBrain® strata 2.5 layer fabric, but is a more
robust design aimed at all-round walking and scrambling. You get
taped seams, Angel-Wing-Movement, DriClime® collar
and chin guard, pit-zips and so on. The hood is adjustable and rolls
away into the collar.
Claimed weight for the Aegis is stilll a whisker under 400 grammes at
397 grammes, but the extra 200 grammes or so over the Mica gets you a
tougher jacket for all-round use and a lot more features. most notably
the pit-zips.
Also available as a
women's
version called the
Strato.
Soft Shells
Also new are some interesting soft shell garments, more
about them shortly.
More information at
www.marmot.com
