for all my winter backpacking and cold weather play, this jacket is awesome, the 4 outer pckets let me stash and retrieve gloves, snacks, cameras, hats, just about anything, it is a bit heavy and bulky in my pack but, absolutely bomb proof and weather tight, the mesh inside water bottle pocket is real useful, i prefer a fixed hood but, the zip off is more versatile, spendy as all hell but gives you alot of confidence, if i could only own one jacket , this would be it.

Customer Service

excellent, i had a warrant issue and they gave me a new jacket with no hassles at all.

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north face mtn. light,

I bought it this year for skiing both on and off piste. I was a little skeptical because of the light weight. I figured it would be great for backcountry but was afraid it might not be durable or heavy enough for cold weather and at this price, I wasn't about to buy another jacket for cold weather use.
I was completely off as it has performed remarkably. Example: 3/23/2000 - Mineral Basin, off the tram at Snowbird. 2:00PM mid 40s with bright skies. Pit zips open, hood off, and feeling comfortable - 3:30PM same day same place. 25 degrees and total whiteout. Jacket and hood sealed up - still comfortable. I was impressed.
The only negative would have to be the price. It is a rather expensive piece. And as long as gore tex has been around I would have expected the prices to have come down some.

Customer Service

At the end of the first day out I boneheadedly (probably not a word but you know what I mean) slammed the van door on the jacket, breaking the zipper. I sent it to Marmot and they had it back to me, fixed, THE SAME WEEK.

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Descente
Couloir
Columbia

I bought this parka primarily for mountaineering, however, I have used it for skiing as well. I think it works better for mountaineering since I hate carrying a pack, even a fanny version when I ski. The total lack of lower pockets makes it work perfectly with a pack, yet offers very little storage space to the skier.

The hood, protected shoulders and sleeves work extremely well in a mountaineering environment provided it is very cold. At anything above 10 degrees F and you will swelter. On the other hand, when it got really cold, -25 degrees F in the Alps this winter, we were toasty carrying our gear in deep snow and high winds.

Customer Service

Good service in Berkeley and Santa Clara stores.

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TNF

Great jacket. Bullet proof armor for the mountains. I won't wear anything else when I'm swinging ice tools. It is completly waterproof and loaded with features. The downside, a little heavier on your back and a little lighter in your wallet. The undestructability does offset the price somewhat though, just look at how many guides wear them and ask how many years they've used the same one. If you can afford only one jacket for all your endevors you may want a lighter less expensive one, but if you can afford two, I'd get this and a lightweight shell.

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Moonstone Sauvage

Good quality, close fit. The length is shorter than expected but thats a personal thing. The removeable hood is nice when you want an unencumbered neck area for carrying a pack or on windy days. The 2-ply/3-ply construction saves a little weight.

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TNF Middle Tripple, MH Exposure