When you finally take that ski trip to Utah, we just ask a few things from you: (1) be sure to bring along the limited edition Marmot Wasatch Jacket and (2) when you get back home, tell all your friends that the snow sucked and the crowds were unbearable. We want to keep our powder fresh and our lift lines short. Feel free to tell everyone how ridiculously dry this Marmot shell kept you—what with it’s waterproof breathable Gore-Tex Pro Shell material and all. Marmot designed this jacket to fit over a fleece or softshell and gave it a women’s-specific cut to avoid the boxy look. The laminated wire brim on the hood helps deflect moisture, pitzips regulate your temp, and high-set pockets ease access when you’re wearing a pack.
I hadn't intended to buy the Marmot Wasatch. I had been planning to hold out for an Arc'teryx Alpha LT. But the Wasatch came up on SAC, the deal was hard to beat, and the features seemed similar. I bought the jacket. When it arrived I was initially quite pleased. It is definitely well-made and very light. It looks nice on, too. As other reviewers have remarked, it has a pleasing feminine cut, narrow in the waist and flared at the hips. Unfortunately, while this stylish shape places the jacket high on the fashion scale, it does not fare as well when it comes to function. I found it difficult to layer under this jacket without feeling cinched in the middle. I therefore concluded that the Wasatch was not the jacket I was seeking to fulfill my mountaineering needs. Sizing up wouldn't have solved the problem as the shoulders would have then been too wide. (I'm 5'7", 135 lbs, more pear than apple, and tried the medium.) I returned the jacket. In summary: quality product and feminine styling, just not what I was looking for.
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Finally the shell I've been searching for! 10-21-09
My perfect shell. It is bombproof gortex, has high hand pockets for wearing a pack or harness and a hood that fits with a helmet but doesn't look ridiculous without one either. The best part is the fit. I love that you can actually see some body shape with this jacket! My only beef with arcteryx in the past has been there boxy styling with flappy arms. I finally found a jacket that has all the perks of arcteryx without the ugly fit! As a side note I am 5'10" 145lbs and got a medium which fits perfectly with room for a few layers underneath.
I got this jacket for my wife and she loves it. She says she receives comment on it every time she wares it. Fashionable and very practical, compares very similar to the quality of my Arc'teryx SV.
