Down and Insulated Jackets

Marmot Featherless Hoody | Review

Marmot say that their new Featherless Hoody redefines the term 'light as a feather'

Marmot was founded by two adventure-fuelled friends in university who used to make prototype down products in their dorm room. It was very much born out of a passion for and fascination with new techniques and fabrics that could be put to specific use in the outdoors.

There’s no better example of this than the fact that in 1976, after finding out about a new concept in performance fabric at the time called ‘Gore-Tex’, Marmot co-founders Eric Reynolds and Dave Huntley sewed sleeping bags out of the stuff and then spent seven nights testing them against similar bags in a commercial frozen meat locker.

Anything for the cause, right?

“This is a viable alternative to down with all the benefits of a synthetic coat….”

That deep-rooted intrigue and fascination with the behind-the-scenes of outdoor equipment and the potential for the advancement of the industry is what you know you’re getting when you go with Marmot.

Their new Featherless Hoody is a prime example of this.

Marmot say it redefines the phrase “light as a feather”, and in many senses (apart from perhaps, the literal one), they’re absolutely right. There aren’t many down-style jackets on the market right now that are lighter than this.

There a few down jackets available today that are as light as the Marmot Featherless Hoody. Photo: Chris Johnson.

Elasticated bindings in the hood are going to add both comfort and fit. Photo: Chris Johnson.

The synthetic-filled insulation used can achieve a similar warmth performance to 700 down fill power. Photo: Chris Johnson.

The Marmot Women’s Featherless Hoody is designed to have a snug, close fit, which will move with your body. Photo: Chris Johnson.

We say “down-style” because the Featherless Hoody is actually filled with a synthetic insulation called 3M Thinsulate. It brings to the table a warmth similar to a jacket with 700 down fill power (a middle-of-the-line down jacket in terms of warmth) as well as the still-warm-when-wet performance you’d normally expect a synthetic fill to provide.

The hood features elastic bindings and the cuffs are elasticated and comfortable too. Zip-wise you’ve got hand pockets and an inside stuff sack, both of which are zippered, and the close-fit style of the jacket is designed to move with your body.

A great, warm and lightweight jacket that you can stuff into the tiniest of nooks in your backpack – and available in both men’s and women’s.