For a short time i have both jackets in medium and would like to do a comparison between them.

I'm 5'10' 140 pounds. 18.5" Torso.

So far just trying them on I find the ID fits me better. The hood is more adjustable and is taller. The hood on the Marmot is nice but i think my head is a little too tall for it and it feels very snug against my head.

The Mica a lot lighter though, about 4 oz lighter on my scale. The ID seems to be a looser fit which i also like for layering. The material on the Mica is thinner and has a better feel to it, more silky...nice..

What tests do you guys think i should do? I was thinking about going for a 15 min run in each jacket to try and judge which was more breathable. Also maybe putting water on top of part of the jacket for an hour to see if ether leaks.

http://marmot.com/spring_2009/mens/outerwear/shells/mica_jacket/

http://www.integraldesigns.com/product_detail.cfm?id=840&CFID=986501&CFTOKEN=7675970&mainproducttypeid=1

Stand in the shower for 10 minutes wearing them? :)

The e-Vent jacket should be much more breathable if you intend to wear it for long periods.

I'm looking at the Mica myself. I'm also considering the TNF Triumph Anorak. I've seen the Triumph at 1/2 price here in the UK. Hard to argue with the weight of the Triumph.

Mike, i was wondering why would you think the event would be more breathable if the Mica has a new fabric which hasn't ever been tested/compared to event before? 8)

Fair enough, the Micas fabric hasn't been tested. :)

E-vent is the most breathable shell fabric that has been tested. Better? ;)

Do you normally run in the rain with a pack on you?

If not, then how about a normal hike in the rain? Methinks an hour for each jacket should enable you to discern the difference.

What are the actual weights of both?

Edited by ben2world on 03/28/2009 09:26:55 MDT.

Regarding the comparison of Marmot's MemBrain strata to eVent:

Brand new for spring 2009 is Marmot’s own MemBrain® strata 2.5 layer fabric. It’s claimed not only to be very waterproof with a hydrostatic head of 20,000mm – which is very waterproof – but also extremely breathable. The lab figure Marmot gives is 20,000 gr in breathability. To put that in perspective, it’s roughly the same as we’d expect from eVent, which is the most breathable fabric we’ve used in the real world. Lab tests aren’t everything, but it’s definitely a good starting point...

...The first thing we have to say is that we’re blown away with the level of breathability you’re getting for under £100. We used the Aegis hard – that’s running and biking hard – in proper wet conditions and it performed as well or better than far more expensive jackets. It really is very, very breathable as well as waterproof."

Source: http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/5889

Also discussed a bunch HERE

Edited by mn-backpacker on 03/28/2009 10:08:27 MDT.

The full article that Dan linked to is here. Remember it is just an opinion, and no actual lab testing was done. I believe e-Vent is around 21,000 mtvr.
I hope it proves correct, as e-Vent may be very breathable, but no manufacturers seem capable of making UL garments from it.

Ben,
No i don't normally run in the rain with a pack on, but i thought since its not going to raining anytime soon near me i'd just take a short run to test how well the jackets breath. Mica in medium is about 6.5oz. ID jacket is 10.5.

Dan,
Thanks for the link.
I don't think i'm going to keep the Mica just because of the fit issue, also i think i'd rather have the essence if i was to get one of the new marmot jackets.

I noticed that you have a large mica, i was wondering about your height /weight. Mabye i'll try out a large essence.

-Peter

Mica is just 6.5oz? Pretty amazing. Truth be told, I ceased paying attention to Marmot given its penchant for dishonest specs and egregious marketing hype (ditto for Sierra Designs). But please keep us posted. If the Mica is truly breathable to anywhere near the level of eVENT -- then I'll be willing to give Marmot another look.

Edited by ben2world on 03/28/2009 14:19:04 MDT.

my XL is 7.5 oz... haven't used it though so no comment on how breathable it may be.

Johnathan, whats your weight / height?

6'1" 220 lbs

Johnathan how's the hood feel? Does it feel alittle short like mine?

Methinks both of you should get out there. hike, and test out your jackets! :)

Edited by ben2world on 03/28/2009 19:38:07 MDT.

I'm currently 6' and a little over 200. I think if my neck was 1/2" - 1" longer, the hood would be too short, and my neck would look weird. Luckily, the hood is just right for me.

The coat is spacious enough that it's very comfortable with a base layer under it. I threw on my Mont Bell Down UL Inner Parka with my base layer and the Mica on top, and I don't think there was much room for more. There isn't a lot of room to layer beyond that. That's all I normally take with anyway, so I'm good.

being 5'10" 140lbs the medium is too short for me and it sounds like the large would be too big for me if your 6' 200lbs. Sounds like marmot is not for me. 8(

Peter - your height is probably right in the ballpark. Like I said, there isn't much volume under the coat for me, it's a pretty tight fit. It would definitely be baggy on you, but maybe not as bad as you'd think. Maybe somebody near you (your location isn't in your profile) has one you can try on.

I just got a Mica. I usually wear a large, but needed an X-large. There's still not much room in the shoulders for a puffy jacket. IMO these are not designed for layering.

I took a 4-mile walk today in the jacket. It's 37-degrees and rainy and a little breezy in my area today. It did not rain while I was walking, but everything around me was soaked, which is to say the humidity was 100%. I walk about four miles an hour, which is a good pace for an old guy. I wore a mid-weight Capalene zip-T and a 100-weight zip-T Marmot fleece under the Mica. I could feel the moisure build up as I was walking. When I took the jacket off after my hour walk there was moisture on the inside of the jacket and the fleece and underware were good and wet. I'd say it doesn't breath as well as not have it on, but these are tough conditions.

On another point, the zipper is on the wrong side. What's with that? Is this made in England? Is it a woman's jacket? Do they still put woman's zippers on the other side? The coat is not marked either men's or woman's. I wish the zipper was on the other side.... but I'll adapt... as well as an old guy can.

Had a close look at the Mica jacket in store and must say that it has a nice silky aspect and texture is really nice.

If I had not already a TNF triumph and a Haglofs Oz, I would give it a try.

The fabric as already said has a nice silky aspect from the outside (looks almost like a windbreaker), the inner is textured like the TNF triumph anorak, but with a much softer feel. Finition is also really good in comparison with TNF triumph anorak.

Wonder how it performs under rain and/or under energetic activities...

For me the ID Event Thru Hiker and the Marmot Mica Jacket do not compete in the same league.

I would definitely suggest you to have a try. Looks like it will be a hit.