Gear Guide: Winter Really is Coming—You Need the Marmot West Rib Parka
Marmot’s brand-new, ISPO Gold Award-winning West Rib Parka is designed as a high-altitude, extreme-warmth outer layer.
For Canadians, pedigree like that makes it the ideal winter insulator for all mountain adventures and, generally, winter life pretty much everywhere north of 49.
Let’s take a look at why you need this parka in your life:
Pertex shell
If you’ve ever ripped a puffy on a sharp branch or errant nail, you know the sorrow of seeing feathers fly. This parka’s Pertex shell is renowned for strength without sacrificing weight so you won’t end up with a duct tape patchwork.
Stuff it into your backpack for staying warm on the Wapta Traverse Hut-to-Hut Ski Tour, the Rockies’ seminal backcountry ski route.
Synthetic outer layer
We all know down fill is the warmest, lightest and most compressible. But synthetic has its charms—particularly when it comes to deflecting wet weather. Marmot layered 40 grams of synthetic on the outside of the lofty down to shield from harsh storms.
If you’re planning a winter adventure in Garibaldi Provincial Park, near Squamish, British Columbia, you’ll appreciate the West Rib’s defence from coastal storms.
WarmCube construction and 800-fill down
Not satisfied with the standard heat-retention properties of 800-fill down, Marmot used a proprietary technique to contain the down in a new baffling system that hugs the curves of your body and traps in heat better than ever.
So if you’re planning a winter camping trip in chilly Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, this coming season, you’ll appreciate the ability to bundle up.
Features we love
Dual easy-access, insulated chest pockets make storing your phone and a snack simple. The cavernous hood offers extreme blizzard protection. The oversized fit means layering is easy, but the form-hugging baffles allow the West Rib to function as a standalone as well. Climbers on belay will appreciate the two-way zip. And an included stuff sack means storage and transport of this big-bodied unit is a snap.
Specs & Details:
Weight: 1,074 grams
Price: $800
Info: marmot.com
