Marmot Supernova Jacket

This is a thick, warm, fleece for the price but there are certain disadvantages regarding fit and function.

Pros: Very warm; sheds water and snow; contoured fit; layers under a similar sized shell perfectly; perfect for hiking.

Cons: NOT zip-in compatible with my Marmot Gore-tex shell; it runs slightly smaller in size (torso); the angel wing movement is not all that heavenly.

I am one of those unfortunate folks who eternally teeters between medium and large size. I ordered the medium and it is a little snug and so I can only wear a medium weight base layer underneath it. Anything more and my movements are somewhat cramped. So order a size larger if you want to wear it as an everyday jacket or want to use 2 to 3 sub layers (base or insulation). It keeps you pretty warm ( I have used it with a shell on a 14F day) but don't expect it to work like the NF Denali.

I got this for $60 at Campmor as a warm mid-layer but was disappointed. I removed the zipper pulls from the cuffs to eliminate the irratation of them rubbing my wrists. The entire jacket is a tight fleece, equal to Polartech 300 weight. The collar is high.

The downside is simply that is not as warm as I thought it would be. Also, and just as important, the fit is strange. The jacket is long and narrow. It rolls up when I sit down. If I were hiking, this would be a fantastic jacket and I would rate it a 5, but I mountaineer and climb so I rate it a 3.

If you want a comfortable fleece for hiking or floating around town, then this is a good deal; right now you can find it on sale at many on-line retailers. Although it has Angel-wing construction, it just doesn't cut it for climbing.

I got a great deal on this jacket online and I'm glad I did. I am about 5'8" and 160 lbs. and the medium size fits me perfectly. It has a nice fit for a fleece jacket and it is not too baggy or loose.

I've been wearing it on cold days and it keeps me very warm, especially with layers underneath. The quality of Marmot can really be seen in the stitching and zippers. For anyone looking for a warm fleece, I would definitely recommend the Supernova Jacket.