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Marmot Power Stretch - 1312gms

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Marmot Power Stretch Mid Layer Review

Trail Testers Recommended 100%

Marmot Web Page

SRP £65 Men’s and Womens XS - XL

There are certain items of kit that become firm favourites and the Powerstretch Fleece Jacket from Marmot is one if them. From the moment that it arrived and I first tried it on, I realised that this mid layer had been very carefully designed for the outdoors. When I go ski touring to Norway at the end of February, this fleece will be coming with me for sure, it is a cracking piece of kit and something every one should carry in their rucksack.

As soon as you put this mid layer on, you feel its warmth immediately. So it is brilliant on a cold windy day when you have been pushing hard and need to stop and don’t want to get a chill. Just pull the Powerstretch out of your pack, put it on over your base layer, zip it up and oh joy, you immediately feel the benefit of its Polartech® material.

Polartech®, is to be found in many garments and gloves these days and it is known for its soft smooth outer and pile inner and high insulation value.

We took these photos one very cold day up in the hills when the snow was thick on the ground, the temperatures were well below zero and the wind chill made our faces feel very raw, hence the balaclava!

On a dry day you can wear the Marmot Powerstretch fleece jacket on its own over a base layer. It offers full freedom of movement and I really like the long sleeves with thumb holes that are long enough to completely cover your hands. Marmot say that these are nosewipe cuffs and yes they work for that too.

On a wet day when it is snowing or raining, the Powerstretch Jacket layers up really well. In the photo above I am wearing the Spire Jacket from Marmot with the Powerstretch and a Helly Hansen Merino base layer. This combination kept me warm and dry inside and out. If the jacket does get wet, the material is fast drying.

The Powerstretch fleece breathes really well, so the warm water vapour from your base layer can escape through the fleece to the air outside.

The Jacket has a full zip and a very comfortable high neck. The zip pull can be tucked away in a small sleeve on the collar, when wearing the jacket on its own in windy conditions, so no chance of it smacking you in the face.

There are two deep zipped pockets and in common with other fleece jackets the Powerstrech pockets on the inside of the garment also offer two large unzipped pockets for soft items, ideal for carrying a map, making this very versatile.

The garment uses flat lock stitching and the only down side I have experienced with the Powerstretch is that the sleeves are quite a close fit. On one occasion I tried pulling off the jacket by taking hold of the cuff and the stitching gave way. So the best way to take it off without this happening is to peel it off, inside out. - Dawn Smith

Marmot Power Stretch Mid Layer with Spire Hard Shell

Drop tail means no draughts

Large unzipped inner pockets are useful