Marmot Mica Jacket

Field Notes: With 2.2oz per yard waterproof, breathable fabric at its core, Marmot’s Mica chips away at jacket weight to land (or float, more precisely) at 7oz. Fast packers, mountain runners and day hikers, come to attention please, as this this piece answers your call(s). Across all applications, the lower-volume (but adjustable) hood, adjustable Velcro cuff and elastic drawcord hem personalized the fit without boosting the jacket’s weight. Testers, fresh off of positive experiences with Marmot’s PreCip Jacket, found Mica to be a welcome addition to the brand’s line-up of performance outerwear as a self-packing weather fighter, one sporting tasteful reflective accents. Clearly not designed for extreme environments, Active Junky puts this one into the “always carry it” category that includes mountain biking, canoeing and rock climbing.  

Pros: Ideal for light drizzle, moderate winds and sun protection, durability surprisingly good

Cons: Limited protection in extreme scenarios, shorter length cuts overall warmth 

Tester Comments: “Sounds corny but the ‘Angel Wing Movement’ design works, as I’ve used Mica for trail running, spring touring and some cross-country mountain biking. Plenty of shoulder and arm mobility without the jacket getting sloppy or in the way. On the expensive side, but what is it worth to be prepared at under 8oz. in your pack?”

Key Attribute: Weight

Best For: All-day wear during multi-sport activities, alpine emergency preparedness, international adventure travel