Marmot -The Underated Brand

Holiday shopping got my thinking...why do I keep coming back to Marmot? When I first started researching and buying climbing clothing and outdoor gear, years ago, I'd come across Marmot stuff and buy it because it was a good deal, less expensive than other stuff. I bought my first Marmot jacket 15 years ago, wore it climbing chimneys in Yosemite, wore it through rainstorms in Norway, etc. and the gear just holds up. Over time, I've accumulated more Marmot stuff because the price to quality ratio is superb (mostly clothes, gore-tex ski bibs, and a couple sleeping bags). I've come to realize - Marmot gear is legit. It lasts. I'd say the quality is much better than TNF and on par with Mountain Hardware and Patagonia and almost always less expensive. I still think Arcteryx is the best, but, Jebus, its expensive and I feel you pay a HUGE premium for very marginal gains in quality over Marmot.

Outdoor Research is another underrated brand, but I've only tested out a few of their items.

Any other lesser-known brands you all like that you don't see all around you on the train to work?

The few Marmot things I’ve owned felt like they were exactly what I paid for. No more, no less. Just okay.

I wear normal clothes on my way to work

I actually feel like Marmot is over-rated, if anything. Not much innovation, okay fit, fine feature sets. They do make good sleeping bags, but again, not terribly innovative. 

I buy almost everything I need from either Marmot or OR. I have a Marmot Minimalist jacket going on 4 years old, it has seen a ton of use and all it needs is a quick refresh of the DWR every year or so. 

Marmot is one of my favorites for soft goods. However, I don't think they are "underrated". Everyone who is anyone knows the brand..OR is another fav of mine and again we know both brands.

Hansen and Mammut gear are my two fav "underrated brands". I like Marmot but I don't think they are amazing, just affordable decent gear.

Honestly, I feel like it's ok gear. They have good products, at an average price point. But having dealt with there warranty department, I won't buy there stuff again.

 I have been leaning heavily towards European brands the last couple years. I feel it's designed better, the companies are good at trying to be greener and keep production local to the EU. plus it all feels better built, in the time I have switched over 4 or 5 of my marmot and Arc'teryx items have been seen in for warranty, along with a lot of my friends Northface and Patagonia clothing. Screw north American brands. 

Jon Hillis wrote: Hansen and Mammut gear are my two fav "underrated brands". I like Marmot but I don't think they are amazing, just affordable decent gear.

Mammut has impressed me with their gear. From rope and harness to rain jacket, it all feels quality.

aaron hope wrote: Holiday shopping got my thinking...why do I keep coming back to Marmot? When I first started researching and buying climbing clothing and outdoor gear, years ago, I'd come across Marmot stuff and buy it because it was a good deal, less expensive than other stuff. I bought my first Marmot jacket 15 years ago, wore it climbing chimneys in Yosemite, wore it through rainstorms in Norway, etc. and the gear just holds up. Over time, I've accumulated more Marmot stuff because the price to quality ratio is superb (mostly clothes, gore-tex ski bibs, and a couple sleeping bags). I've come to realize - Marmot gear is legit. It lasts. I'd say the quality is much better than TNF and on par with Mountain Hardware and Patagonia and almost always less expensive. I still think Arcteryx is the best, but, Jebus, its expensive and I feel you pay a HUGE premium for very marginal gains in quality over Marmot.

Marmot Precips seem to be the go-to jacket for more casual outdoors folks, but I rarely see any of their other gear. I like the Marmot stuff I have, though.

Outdoor Research is another underrated brand, but I've only tested out a few of their items.

I'd be interested to hear people's hierarchy of gear companies. My mind jumps to:

Arc'Teryx > Outdoor Research = Mammut = Black Diamond > Patagonia > Mountain Hardware = Marmot > North Face > REI

Any other lesser-known brands you all like that you don't see all around you on the train to work?

I get "is that a skeleton on your jacket/shirt?" comments fairly often; nobody around here wears Arc'teryx to work or out and about.

I feel they've gone downhill from 20-25 years ago when everything was made in CO. I still have a lot of Marmot product but haven't bought any in years.
They used to have a lifetime warranty that they honored. I believe they no longer guarantee their products for life, which is BS. That was always key for me for any product I need to depend on/pay $$$ for.
I still have some 30 year old sleeping bags going strong.  Regarding Patagonia, anybody else have a lot of zipper failures?

Peter Gilbert wrote: Honestly, I feel like it's ok gear. They have good products, at an average price point. But having dealt with there warranty department, I won't buy there stuff again.

 I was a Marmot loyalist for decades but had a series of bad interactions with their warranty department and also won't buy any of their stuff again.

Mark E Dixon wrote:

 I was a Marmot loyalist for decades but had a series of bad interactions with their warranty department and also won't buy any of their stuff again.

Yes. This  Marmot's glory days are decades past. That said their Ski Bibs, served  dual purpose. They worked well Ice climbing & out-lasted many other 'ski' cloths.

Agreed on Marmot and OR. I'd also through Rab and Mountain Hardwear in the same mix.

We have awesome soft goods from those brands for very cheap closeout/coupon/ebay/etc deals. I scoff at the 50% off Patagucci pricing - still too rich for my taste.

Andy Eiter wrote: Marmot Precips seem to be the go-to jacket for more casual outdoors folks, but I rarely see any of their other gear. I like the Marmot stuff I have, though.

I'd be interested to hear people's hierarchy of gear companies. My mind jumps to:

Arc'Teryx > Outdoor Research = Mammut = Black Diamond > Patagonia > Mountain Hardware = Marmot > North Face > REI

I get "is that a skeleton on your jacket/shirt?" comments fairly often; nobody around here wears Arc'teryx to work or out and about.

Typical entitled white man lingo. "Hierarchy"

Go shop at Goodwill/salvation army like a real climber. Sheesh. 

Nice customer service story about Marmot:  Bought a new pair of bibs for ice, I was a noob and put a crampon through the lower leg. Quite a nice gash. I took them to Thrifty Outfitter to get them sewn back up. I came back to pick them up a week later, and the person behind the counter gave me a brand new, unopened pair of bibs.  Marmot replaced them for free...I doubt they will still do that.

Marmot used to be better IMHO.

I think the folks at NW Alpine are making some of the best alpine gear on the market for the money: https://www.nwalpine.com/. Did I mention it's all made in the USA (and in Oregon no less)?

Mark E Dixon wrote:

 I was a Marmot loyalist for decades but had a series of bad interactions with their warranty department and also won't buy any of their stuff again.

So I bit you a few times, so what?

Andy Eiter wrote: 

I get "is that a skeleton on your jacket/shirt?" comments fairly often; nobody around here wears Arc'teryx to work or out and about.

Down here ArcWhorexy has replaced patagucci. Everyone and there mother rocks it, You ain't nobody if you dont sport dead bird down to get your $10 latte when it's a cool 65d egrees out. 

Sold on OR gear = cheap, durable, and works as prescribed.

You missed Mammut, have a softshell jacket and pack. Both are great.

Rab (mentioned above), no complaints. Happy so far, although tougher to find instore in US. 

As far as gear hierarchy, I feel they fall in the middle. I have a precip for a hardshell cause I'm poor. No other reason..

Arc'teryx is undoubtedly the best, but comes with the matching price tag. I have a couple pieces from 2008 that have seen HEAVY use that still feel and function like new.

I'll bite on the hierarchy thing.

Arc'Teryx == Mammut > Mountain Equipment == Rab == Montane == Patagonia == TNF Summit > OR == Mountain Hardwear == Black Diamond > Marmot == Eddie Bauer FA == TNF > Columbia and all other "outdoor" brands

I've looked at Marmot stuff in the past but have never been compelled to actually bite on any of it. I also think this really depends on what exact category of product you are looking at. Almost every brand listed has at least a couple of standout "Best in class" pieces. Because of that, I don't really value brand loyalty. I also think that people really overbuy, myself included. The higher brands do usually have a performance benefit, but 99% of users won't really notice.