Description of Mountain Hardwear Quark Jacket - Men's:
The super lightweight, super breathable, highly waterproof Mountain Hardwear Men's Quark Jacket revolutionizes technical shells. Using only super soft tricot and a Conduit laminate, this ten-ounce jacket cuts out the middle man without sacrificing protection. You'll barely notice the Quark Jacket on your back or in your pack, but you can't ignore the 20K-rated waterproof coating and welded seams keeping you dry during an alpine storm. This featherweight shell has all the features you look for in a high-end ski or mountaineering jacket, including superlight welded Underarm zips, a roll-away hood, and articulated sleeves. What the Quark doesn't have is bulky, weighty shell fabric—and that's one feature you won't miss.
Bottom Line: The barely there, super waterproof Mountain Hardwear Quark Jacket—we await your glowing reviews.
Big fan of this jacket; the fit is trim but the cut is longer than in years past MH jackets. I've never been able to wear MH because of the short cuts of the jackets but this is perfect. The jacket is really incredibly light! I don't have any negatives other than I think MH released this jacket in the wrong season! The hood is also helmet compatible but could have added an extra draw to make it fit better w/out a helmet. but its all about the weight savings, so i understand. Overall I think its well worth the price; i live in Colorado so having a super intense gore-tex shell is overkill as we rarely get rain; this is perfect for the squalls and is light enough to always be put in the pack!
Took it to a fully testing mountaineering trip - It performed brilliantly.
On the valley, this super lightweight jacket kept me dry through hours of pouring rain. Waterproof pitzips take care of the breathability. Crossing a creek got me into chest deep water - this shell dries as quick as you'd imagine. Above the snow line, the jacket's hood worked so well with the helmet and shields you from the wind nicely. A cautionary note: Although well constructed, it is an uber-light shell - trees and shrubs will shred this shell. It's more on the fragile side, the price you pay for going light. I simply love this shell.
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amazing blend of weight, protection, and usability 08-10-09
Just got back from a trip in the Bob Marshall wilderness. Got rained out the last couple days, and the jacket performed great. The fabric did not soak through after hours of hiking in moderate to heavey rain. The breathability was very impressive. When hiking with a full pack, opening the vents just partially provided enough ventalition to keep me from sweating. This is easily the most breathable jacket I have ever used. The stretch makes for a very versatile fit, and I feel the fabric is quite durable for its weight.
I am 5'8", 135 lbs, slim build. A medium fits me perfect (I usually wear a small). Not too baggy over a t-shirt, and works well over a sweatshirt or fleece.
