The Marmot Mica doesn’t have the most features, nor is it the best designed for backpacking, yet it is still an excellent jacket, and the one I found myself picking up first, and that’s probably because it fits better than the others. The large size was ample enough for a fleece underneath and the hood was also large enough to fit over another hood – something required during the recent cold spell. It’s also pretty light at 370g and packs away well in the side pocket.
The pockets opened well above where a hipbelt sits, but the belt covered the bottom of the pockets, and unfortunately there is no chest pocket to compensate. There are two very large internal mesh pockets.
The main zip, which is nice and chunky (and these catch less), is protected by a double storm flap. The neck is wide and I never felt suffocated, even when zipped up to the top. The hood, which can roll away, only has a Velcro adjustment for volume and two toggles to pull around the face. The material is quite noisy (although durable), but it’s one of the more breathable waterproof jackets. Definitely not the best hood here, but its tailoring has made it a favourite. Great price too.
