Marmot PreCip Eco - Women's Review

The Marmot PreCip Eco offers excellent value with satisfactory performance capabilities at a reasonable price. It is comfortable to wear for a range of activities, can be stashed in its pocket when not needed, and is lightweight enough to throw in any pack. The DWR (durable water repellent) coating is PFC-free, and Marmot's NanoPro fabric is made of 100% recycled nylon ripstop. Besides being eco-friendly, the material is flexible, decently breathable, and has good water resistance capabilities, making it ideal for moderate activity in average rainfall. This is a good choice for those seeking a high-performance rain jacket that won't break the bank.

Performance Comparison

Water Resistance

The nylon ripstop NanoPro fabric with DWR coating is proficient at repelling moderate water for a decent amount of time. This rain jacket did well in light and average rain, keeping us dry while hiking. In heavy rainfall, the water penetrated the jacket a little sooner.

The zippers are not waterproof, but the storm flaps offer a decent amount of protection from the elements to keep water from penetrating the zippers. While the PreCip Eco is not the most waterproof rain jacket out there for an extended time in heavy downpours, it performed very well in average rainfall for a decent amount of time. This jacket will keep you dry for all but the most sustained extreme conditions. With its lower price tag, we definitely think it's worth the money for the amount of water resistance it provides.

Breathability

The NanoPro fabric used on the PreCip Eco is fairly breathable, even with the zippers up in our set route test, where we hiked one mile up the same trail in each jacket to see how well each could handle perspiration and core heat. It started to get a little too hot on the last uphill stretch. It is right in the middle of the breathability spectrum of the rain jackets we tested.

We got a bit hot and started to sweat with all the zippers closed, but as soon as we opened the vents, this rain jacket dumped the heat quickly, allowing us to return to a comfortable temperature. With vents open, this jacket easily regulates temperature and vents excess internal moisture from sweat.

Comfort and Mobility

The PreCip Eco performed well in the field of comfort and mobility and is a pleasure to wear. The fabric is fairly flexible, and the cut is roomy enough to offer a full range of motion. It's also easy to layer underneath while still maintaining a flattering and comfortable fit. The jacket also has a separate collar, and the internal lining is soft and luxurious- feeling against the skin. The hood folds up into this internal collar, so you can stash it when not needed.

The internal fabric stuck to the skin when we built up a sweat with vents closed, which felt unpleasant, but when the skin was not sweaty, it felt fine. Additionally, the zipper pulls were small and kind of hard to work with, especially if wearing gloves or if our fingers were cold.

Weight

The PreCip Eco performed exceptionally well in the weight and packability portion of the rain jacket tests. It weighs in at a scant 9.2 ounces, one of the lightest in our review. This is partially due to the flexible, lightweight fabric but also due to the minimalistic design that forgoes extras such as 2-way zippers.

The PreCip Eco can be stowed away in one of its hand pockets. The hand pockets are lined with slightly stretchy mesh, and with repetitive packing and unpacking, we found this was one the easiest jackets to pack into its pocket. This is an excellent choice for those who are conscious of every ounce. It's lightweight and packs down into a tiny rectangle that will fit into almost any pack, duffel, or suitcase, no matter how packed to the gills you are.

Durability

The most recent iteration of the PreCip Eco got a durability upgrade with a microporous coating on the nylon face fabric. This proved to be more durable and abrasion-resistant than previous versions, and we were stoked to see this improvement on this tried and true rain jacket staple.

While the PreCip Eco keeps the cost down by avoiding some high-end accessories, all of the essential notions are quality and offer good functionality. The zippers may not be sealed or waterproof, but they run smoothly and consistently, and all drawcords, toggles, and velcro held up well for the duration of testing. While not the burliest rain jacket out there, we were pleasantly surprised with this jacket's durability.

Should You Buy the Marmot PreCip Eco?

The Marmot PreCip Eco offers one of the best values on the market for outdoor enthusiasts, with an excellent intersection of performance and functionality and a price tag that leaves money in the bank for your next adventure. It's light and packable, making it a great choice for traveling when space and weight are of the utmost importance. It is quite pleasant to wear in a wide range of conditions and offers a full range of movement. If you need a top-performing rain jacket at a reasonable price, we wholeheartedly recommend the PreCip.

What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?