Posts Tagged Marmot
Marmot Leadville Jacket with Windstopper
In my 8 things you should know about Gore-tex post, I highlighted that the outdoor wear division of Gore has two basic categories: breathable waterproof and breathable windproof. This sleek Marmot Leadville jacket falls into the latter category, their Windstopper liner causing the wind to bounce off me like I’m a superhero flying through the air.
There are a lot of things I love about this Marmot jacket, but the main one is that it just plain looks good on me when I’m wearing it. (Yes, gear reviewers can be shallow too.) It’s designed for outdoor activities like rock climbing, cycling, and spring skiing, so it’s trim and form-fitting. With a good baselayer and this, you should be ready for moving around in chilly, windy weather.
The Windstopper membrane works surprisingly well, as I first found out when I visited the wind testing room at W.L. Gore and got blasted with gusts of frigid air. The testing has worked well in the real world too as I’ve taken it out biking and walking on cold, blustery days. Often the top half of my body will be perfectly comfortable while my bottom half is screaming at me to put on some more hi-tech pants.
The “block the wind and keep you warm” aspect is the main feature of the Marmot Leadville jacket, but there are a few other features in the mix. The outer fabric is water resistant, there’s a chest pocket with headphone port for your music player, and the fleece-lined zipper pockets keep your fingers toasty when they’re in there. Naturally the whole thing is very breathable, so if you start sweating during your outdoor activities you will still stay dry—especially with the help of the vented side panels.
This jacket is soft, quiet, and stretchy, and I swear it makes me look like I’ve been working out more than I really have. It comes in five colors, including the black one I have (the orange one pictured here shows off the styling better). At $150 it’s not cheap, but both Gore-tex and Marmot back up the Leadville with a full lifetime warranty and there are lots of subtle but expensive-feeling touches, like Velcro adjustable cuffs and a heavy-duty zipper. Plus the whole thing weighs barely over a pound.
I spend a lot of time in different jackets over the course of a year but this is the one I keep reaching for whenever I’m doing anything active in cool weather.
See the full specs on the Marmot Leadville jacket with Windstopper at Marmot.com
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on December 31st, 2009
