Marmot ROM

I'm looking to pick up a soft shell jacket, and currently the ROM is the front runner. It will see use at local crags, Yosemite, high Sierras, and maybe some in bounds skiing. I'm anticipating a layering scheme along the lines of an R1, the shell, a hooded down sweater or pullover nano puff, and a basic hard shell.

Would the ROM be a good fit for this? Anything else I should be looking at?

Pat

PatCleary wrote:I'm looking to pick up a soft shell jacket, and currently the ROM is the front runner. It will see use at local crags, Yosemite, high Sierras, and maybe some in bounds skiing. I'm anticipating a layering scheme along the lines of an R1, the shell, a hooded down sweater or pullover nano puff, and a basic hard shell. Would the ROM be a good fit for this? Anything else I should be looking at? Pat

What you're proposing would be ideal for the ROM jacket. I like the ROM quite a bit but it just doesn't fit me very well and I have a bunch of jackets.

A little shameless self promotion.

mountainproject.com/v/softs…

I picked up a ROM for ice climbing this past season (Colorado) and absolutely love it. Great athletic fit, long in the torso and sleeves. The hood fits easily over my helmet. Great value for the price. However - it's very lightweight and isn't the warmest soft-shell. I use a belay jacket over it between climbs when it is cold.

Thanks, but between the REI 20% off and dividend, this will cost me $35.

Pat

Sounds like a good system for california. Im thinking the same but with OR ferrosi instead of ROM. But the ROM looks like a nice jacket too, more wind resistance and should breathe reasonably well.

Allen C wrote:Sounds like a good system for california. Im thinking the same but with OR ferrosi instead of ROM. But the ROM looks like a nice jacket too, more wind resistance and should breathe reasonably well.

More water resistant too. The ROM is a heavier jacket and has more features.

I'll check out the Ferrosi as well, looks like a nice piece. Do you know of anyone in the area that has them in store? I'd like to actually try one on.

Going slightly off topic. Allen, thank you for selling those cams, they've already provided some fun times.

Pat

I dont know anywhere that carries them,sorry. Glad to hear you are using them!

I have a TNF Cipher Hybrid Hoodie (very similar - windstopper + stretch softshell) and it's hands down my most used piece of gear. Pairs nicely with a synthetic belay jacket or a light hardshell with wool and/or fleece underlayers. I think you will really like the ROM.

Ferrosi is a great piece, but way thinner and lighter than the ROM. Its also far less wind resistant, and more prone to tearing. That said, OR's customer service and warranty is awesome, so the lesser durability may not be as much of an issue.

i have the ROM for ice and it is a great fight, doesn't have excess farbir to bunch up and hide the gear on your harness when twisting, works great with a puffy over the top at belays. My only thoughts other than total positive would be the hood does run a tad small (you can feel it tug at your helmet, i have a petzl ecrin roc for ice, when it is up) second, anything other than a tight, form fitting layer with thumbholes will feel bunchy underneath and when putting it on it can ride up the arms on your baselayer due to the tight fighting arms.

I picked one up Friday night. Haven't had a chance to test it in the mountains yet, but so far I'm really impressed. Fits well with a puffy either over or under it, waterproof enough that I stayed dry walking to the bar the other night in a downpour, seemingly windproof when driving with the top down, and really comfortable. Hoping to give it a test climbing next weekend, I'll post thoughts after some real use.

Pat

I've been using my ROM softshell for backcountry ski touring, inbounds skiing, as a general all-around shell that's protective and more breatheable than a hard shell.

There are not a lot of conditions for which it's not my go-to shell.

It's sufficiently protective that high wind and rain (with some layers underneath) are not uncomfortable. I use my ROM in pretty much any conditions where I need some degree of protection from the elements, but also want to be able to breathe out whatever sweat I might be dumping into my wicking layers. The only times I tend to bust out the hard-shell over top tend to be the times where I'm sitting still in heavy rain, layered up under the shell such that if I were to start working hard, I'd soak out from the inside.