Gear Review
Marmot Cauldron Insulated Jacket - Men's
Great deal on a quality jacket
By aga3168075 March 8, 2012
I already had a Marmot Ama Dablam down jacket, which is great, but I wanted something simpler without a hood. Thought seriously about the Zeus, but ultimately it was just too similar to what I already had. Then I came upon the Cauldron. Much cheaper than even the relatively inexpensive Zeus, this jacket was just what I wanted for my purposes. It's simple but looks very good. Doesn't have that shiny look of the very popular down "sweaters", and frankly, I think it fits better due to being more form-fitting. The down jackets aren't just puffy, they kind of bag out too.
The only drawbacks on this jacket? The zippers are pretty low-budget - wide plastic teeth, definitely not water-resistant nor all that sleek looking. Also, it isn't as soft as the down alternatives (for instance my Ama Dablam) - the insulation is a bit stiffer, so it doesn't quite "disappear" like the comfy down jackets do. You feel it on you. But like I said, the tradeoff is that it's more streamlined in appearance, and in my opinion, just as warm (I think being closer to the body helps here too).
As an aside, I also have a Nano Puff by you-know-who, which fits like a plastic bag and isn't nearly as warm. But it's way more compressible - I can't see stuffing the Cauldron into a softball-sized stuff sack like the lighter synthetics or the equally-warm down jackets. Ultimately, every jacket has its niche, but not every jacket is a good value. The Cauldron is competitive even at its retail price.
View Details: Marmot Cauldron Insulated Jacket - Men's
Nailed It? 0 Yes
Tech Specs:
- Material:
- [shell] ripstop nylon; [lining] polyester
- Insulation:
- Thermal R Eco
- Hood:
- no
- Center Back Length:
- 27 in
- Length:
- hip
- Pockets:
- (external) 2 front hand, 1 front chest, (internal) 1 zippered
- Weight:
- 1 lb 4 oz
- Recommended Use:
- layering (Zippin compatible)
- Manufacturer Warranty:
- lifetime
Change me.