Description of Marmot Gravity Softshell Jacket - Women's:
Whether you're fighting gravity on a climb or taking advantage of it while skiing a couloir, the Marmot Women's Gravity Jacket will aid you in your quest. At 29oz, this softshell jacket won't be pulling down on you at all. Wind-resistant, water-resistant, four-way stretch Quicksilver material allows you to climb with ease even though the laws of physics are all against you. Wear this unlined jacket over your shirt on a spring trip to the mountains or use it as a layering piece in the dead of winter. This is the softshell of choice for all gravity-related sports.
The jacket turned out to be a bit thicker and warmer than I had expected from the online description, yet it is light and suits my needs well. The product description omitted a few details: the jacket has 4 pockets (2 front, 1 sleeve, 1 internal chest). Though there isn’t a separate lining, the interior feels fleecy. The sleeve cuffs are adjustable with Velcro. Bottom edge is adjustable with an elastic cord.
Fit: I ordered an XS in port/espresso. My chest size is 32B which snugly fills out this slim-fitting jacket. I wish the jacket were longer, but I am 5’6’’ and the XS was probably designed for shorter women. I get a little cool exposure when I flex my hips (sit, bend over) but that’s also partly from wearing low rise pants. The raglan sleeves are comfortable and allow for a wide range of movement. The sleeves are a good length for me, ending just below my wrists.
Function: The jacket arrived just in time for a weekend in the mountains. I layered it under a down jacket and went snowshoeing on a snowy breezy day. It felt perfect! Around town I wear this jacket alone. For a one who gets cold easily, this compensates without adding bulk. It provides excellent protection against light wind and snowfall. I look forward to using it to climb.
LOVE this softshell. It is fleece lined and thick, which keeps me nice and toasty. It also repels water really well for a softshell. I have to say I wear it a lot more than my Arc'teryx Gamma softshell, which is much thinner and wayyyy more expensive. I would recommend this Marmot over the Arc'teryx any day. Sizing wise this jacket runs a little small so keep that in mind.
I thought the jacket looked great. Sporty design, nice venting, and it came in at the waist to give it an athletic, yet feminine cut. However, the sleeves were way too long for me, a particular problem with the white/sierra color, since the material at the bottom of the sleeve is a snowy white that is already prone to getting dirty. Check the measurements and if it seems like the arm lengths are going to be way too long for you, they probably are.
