Purchased the full zip jacket/shell in 2005 I think to lighten my pack on climbs where I needed a good wind blocking layer without the bulk of my high altitude top layer.

I have to state that the inner coating material (whatever Marmot calls it) is not very durable and began to flake off around the neck/hood area within about two years of moderate use.

As an unprotected coating and not a membrane layer, I think it's more fragile and prone to rubbing and wrinkling failure.

It's still OK for wind but poor for rain.

Customer Service

Still deciding whether it's worth pursuing some kind of return either at REI or with Marmot directly.

Similar Products Used:

REI Rainlight, REI Tawoche, Sierra Designs and Helly Hansen.

Buyer Beware! I purchased the PreCip jacket in mid-2004. The jacket has seen very limited use and has been well cared for. When I returned from a recent hike of a couple of hours in the rain, I noticed my shirt was damp around my shoulders, chest and back. Thinking it might just be condensation, I conducted a test and to my dismay, the jacket did, in fact, leak! I consider myself fortunate that this discovery did not happen during an extended outdoor event.

Customer Service

But that’s not the worst of the story! After a couple of failed attempts to establish contact with Marmot’s so called Customer Service, I finally received instructions to return the jacket for inspection. After ten days of not receiving a status report, I called and was told they had not even opened the returned item yet. In fact, I was quoted a seven-week turn around. Seven weeks! I have little hope that what happens from here will produce a positive outcome. As others have expressed, the name Marmot was suppose to represent quality. With this experience, I no longer believe that!

I bought this jacket on clearance at REI with high expectations since marmot is usually a great company. It was a huge disappointment. Ive had it for about 4 years now and its really only good for around town and work in a light rain. It soaks through really quickly in a solid downpour. I brought it to Costa Rica for 14 days of backpacking and regretted not buying a better jacket. Even with the pit zips the jacket feels clammy in humid weather with a tshirt on. I do have to mention that a buddy of mine ignored my advice and bought the same jacket a couple months ago (again on clearance) and has had much better luck with it than I did. I dont know if they have improved the jacket's construction or if there just isnt much quality control with this product, but the new ones do seem to work a lot better. Anyways, for the price, its an alright jacket for just walking around town, and it is a good windbreaker, so its actually quite nice as a light snow jacket for winter sports. I do not suggest it for serious backpackers or travelers.

i don't understand why people are complaining so much! i used this jacket for 5 days of intense skiing. it kept me dry and blocked the wind the entire time. all you need is a base layer and then this jacket over it. i also have worn it in the rain. the product has worked well for me.

Bought this jacket on sale for wearing out motorscooting and for hiking, however, just realized that the zip only goes one way. What a cop-out. All outdoor jackets should zip both ways for all and any manueverings and for user comfort. I am surprised that such a prestigious company would cheap out on the zipper. I will be returning it.

My girlfriend and I both bought Precip jackets because we needed lightweight rain repellant shells for the summer. The first time we wore them my jacket was very good in a moderate rainstorm and hers soaked through in 3-5 minutes. Inside of 10 minutes she was completely drenched. We returned both and the pants she bought as well. No quality control at all and I believe that if mine was waterproof now it wouldn't remain so for much longer and wasn't worth the risk.
There is plenty of descent quality rainwear at compareable prices, give Precip a miss.

I received a Precip jacket and pants for Xmas 07 for a July 08 trek to Philmont. Although it technically does not leak the "claminess" factor makes it feel as if you aren't wearing anything. With some sort of liner it would probably be okay but by itself it is very uncomfortable. If I were to do it again I would sacrifice a little weight for a heavier lined jacket. At altitude you're going to be cold when it rains anyway.

I'll agree with the majority of the reviews here - the original PreCip model had some problems - but I can't agree with is the extent.

I had a PreCip jacket for roughly five years, and it wasn't until year four that the internal coating started to wear. It was around the shoulders, which made the jacket almost useless for rain protection. However, that was four years later, and after significant use.

Customer Service

I'm throwing the bull flag on the customer service criticism too. Marmot's rocks. When my PreCip went south, I packed it up along with a nice little letter explaining the situation. Three weeks later Marmot sent me a brand new, updated model. No run-around. No partial reimbursement. And no questions...just a new jacket!

I just don't know what all the complaining is about, but I've been fortunate to get the same type of customer service out of most gear providers I deal with. Maybe the complainers don't do well with people :-) .

Similar Products Used:

Patagonia, North Face

I agree with the majority of the comments here that this jacket fails to be water-resistant. the only positive thing i can say is that it's light in your backpack. but when it comes to rain you may even keep it in there. It leaks at the wrist and arms. I found that out in a heavy rain in the mountains and proved it on a walk to my local supermarket in light rain without sweating: I got real wet. Not worth the money!

Customer Service

Poor and arrogant!

Similar Products Used:

TNF XCR Guide Jacket: Better but much heavier!
Mammut Light BC Jacket: Same weight and works perfectly!

Same as most of the above. I bought the precip in 2004 when I was teaching in an adventure therapy program. For the first few months it held up well and shedded rain like I had expected. After that it began to stick to my body like it was simply wet nylon. The shockcord for the hood broke shortly after that. Repeated attempts to bring back some semblance of water repellency with campdry and other products work for one rain shower and it's back to being soaked. I would warn anyone not to buy the precip.

Customer Service

None, I imagine it is no surprise to the company

Similar Products Used:

Mountain Hardware Epic, TNF Varius guide jacket, Patagonia Regulator shell