Marmot ATV Jacket
Posted By Mark on Jan 2 '08
Stats
| Waterproof: | Water resistant | Windproof: | Wind resistant |
| Hood: | No | Adjustable Hood: | None |
| Cinch Cords: | Hem | Insulation: | Fleece |
| Cuffs: | None | Pit Zips: | No |
| Napoleon Pocket: | Yes | Handwarmer Pockets: | 2 |
| Sleeve Pockets: | None | Zipper Type: | Storm Flaps |
| Inner Pockets: | 1 | Seams: | None |
| Weight: | 21.8 oz. | Stowable: | No |
| Chin Abrasion Guard: | Yes | MSRP: | $175 |
Fabric utilized: Tactel Thermolite Double Weave
Overview
Sometimes, simpler is better. It looks like Marmot got the message, with the ATV Jacket. It’s a simple softshell, water- and wind-resistant, with two handwarmer pockets and a smallish Napoleon pocket. But it’s well-made, and it is one of the best-fitting jackets I own. But more on that later.
Pockets
The ATV has two handwarmer pockets, an interior security pocket, and a Napoleon pocket with water-resistant zipper. The handwarmers are sheltered by flaps that form part of the main, front body fabric. They’re cut into the seam itself, simplifying and streamlining the cut of the jacket. The Napoleon pocket is a bit small; it’s not necessarily cut small, but there’s not much allowance of movement in the pocket, despite the softshell’s built-in stretch component. Still, it’ll definitely fit a cell phone or energy bar without sweating. The security pocket is in about the same area as the Napoleon, but it’s substantially larger, extending from about the zipper on the left to the side of the jacket, near the sleeve.
Zippers
The main, front zipper is equipped with a great zipper pull, long enough for even mittens to move. A draft flap extends all the way from the bottom to the top, and becomes the chin abrasion guard. The Napoleon and security pocket zipper pulls are smaller, without a fabric zipper pull, but get the job done. This is a problem for the handwarmer pockets, though, because the zipper pulls are not very long, and can be difficult to manipulate sometimes, due to the somewhat deeper cut of the pockets.
Body Adjustment
The hem is adjusted by means of dual cinchcords, that have been smuggled into the handwarmer pockets, interestingly enough. The logic behind this is that in ugly weather, your hands don’t need to be out of the pockets to adjust the hem, but it seems that you’d never really use a softshell in nasty weather, and your hands aren’t going to be destroyed by adjusting the exterior of the hem for a couple of seconds. At any rate, the clasps can be kind of annoying, because you feel them every time you put your hands in your pockets.
Extras
The front panels of the ATV are lined with a tricot that’s slightly heavier than the sleeves and the rest of the body, which most likely increases warmth and wind resistance. The ATV is not windproof, but it provides enough to be comfortable, and of course, what you sacrifice in wind resistance, you gain in breathability.
The softshell is zip-in compatible, which means that it can be zipped into other jackets when the weather turns sour, which is nice. Its relatively smooth outer face allows for fairly easy layering under hardshells.
Warmth
On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is a long-sleeved T-shirt, and 10 an expedition-quality mountaineering suit, I’d rate the ATV a 5. The fleece-like fabric on the interior is pretty thin, but good wind-resistance helps out a lot.
Waterproof?
No. However, being a softshell, the ATV, coupled with a good DWR, will keep you dry for a while, with its tightly woven polyester and seamless shoulders.
Qualms
There are very few, if any, problems with this jacket. The fact that the cinchcord clasps go into the pockets, as opposed to remaining on the exterior, is kind of annoying; they’re felt every time your hands go in the pockets. The Napoleon pocket could be a little larger. It doesn’t hold a lot.
Conclusion
The Marmot ATV softshell is a simple, well-made (seamless shoulders!) jacket, and does what a softshell should do: resist water and wind, breathe well, and retain a fair amount of warmth. And it fits me better than any other jacket I own. Some softshells fit well in the torso, but are tight around the arm pits, or are too snug in the torso, and fit well in the arms. The ATV is perfect for me, as a fairly stocky, 5'10" male. Recommended.
The Verdict: 8/10
Interested in this jacket? You might also be interested in these other simple soft shells:
Mountain Hardwear Offwidth Soft shell
http://www.backcountry.com/store/MHW0265/Mountain-Hardwear-Offwidth-Softshell-Jacket-Mens.html
Simple. No insulation, and a couple of pockets. Good for athletic pursuits for which soft shells are recommended. Retail: $100.
Arc'teryx Solano Soft shell
http://www.backcountry.com/store/ARC0555/Arcteryx-Solano-Softshell-Jacket-Mens.html
Windstopper, lightweight, two hand pockets, and that's about it. Retail: $200.
