Marmot ROM Jacket

Designed with packability in mind, the ROM is light and thin. For the most part this softshell jacket is unlined, but down the chest there is an additional layer that provides a little extra wind protection and warmth retention. Under the arms and down the side, this Marmot jacket uses a highly breathable fabric that helps flush out the moisture, but doesn’t give you the same wind and water protection. So watch out for sideways rain, but as long as the weather isn’t raging, those areas are fairly well covered. 

There is a hidden interior stash pocket in addition to the visible three. The fit is a little on the snug side in the arms and hood, making thick layering, thick gloves, and helmets a bit of a challenge. The Velcro at the wrist helps create a secure and comfortable seal against the elements. In all, a classic softshell jacket with good stretch and breathability. 

Field Notes: The Active Junky team put the Marmot softshell jacket up against a lot of rain and wind. It stopped the wind from being a strong opposing force. The ROM is water resistant, not waterproof, but it did bead up really well in lighter rain conditions. And once it eventually wetted out, it was fast to dry. We wanted to push this one a bit more on the activity side, so it saw a lot of running and exercise. Like earlier comments above, it fit great, moved well, and pushed out some serious moisture before it could accumulate. 

Tester Comments: “Easily one of the more versatile jackets in the bunch; I used this running and hiking quite a bit. The Marmot ROM is one of those throw on and forget about it pieces that are oh so handy when you need to be tracking your lines instead of fiddling with the fit. For shoulder season weather I also loved having this handy for around town endeavors.”

Key Attribute: Fit