Gear Review – Marmot Hype Down Jacket

Marmot Hype Down Jacket

I started backpacking in 2010. One of my first gear purchases was a Montbell EX-Light down jacket. At 7 ounces, it is an extremely light down jacket. It has been fine for the typical relatively warm weather hiking I do. But there have been occasional cold moments where I wished I had a warmer puffy layer. But I could always deal with the cold using an additional base layer (or two). One very cold night at Boulder Pass in Glacier convinced me to upgrade my down jacket. That experience made me realize I needed an option for a heavier down jacket with a hood. Knowing I would rarely use it, I didn’t want to spend a fortune. REI happened to be having its annual sale, and I took advantage to buy the Marmot Hype down jacket.

Weight and Sizing

The Marmot Hype is listed as 13.7 ounces (388 grams). That listed weight is typically for a medium size jacket. My slightly used, extra-large Hype jacket weighs 431 grams. (448 grams packed weight minus 17 grams for the stuff sack). Forty-three additional grams greater for two sizes larger seems reasonable. The listed weights are reliable. Regarding sizing, many reviews indicate that the jacket runs considerably on the larger size. I can confirm that this is true. I’m 6′ 4″ tall and weigh 250 pounds. Usually, I purchase jackets in XXL size – I prefer a looser fit for jackets to allow base layer flexibility underneath. For the Hype, size XL was perfect for me, every bit as large as a typical XXL.

Marmot Hype Down Jacket Features

The Hype’s outer layer is composed of Pertex Quantum® fabric (100% recycled nylon) designed to protect from wind and improve the efficiency of the down insulation. The Fill is 5.8 ounces of 800-fill-power down, which provides exceptional warmth, loft, and compact-ability. An insulated hood adds warmth and jacket coverage. There are two zippered hand pockets and a large internal mesh gear pocket. The Hype jacket can be self-stowed into its interior stuff pocket, though I prefer to use an external dry-sack compression bag to ensure the jacket stays dry. The hem is elastic bound with a drawcord exiting into a hand pocket. Elastic bound cuffs help seal in warmth. It’s made in Vietnam.

Pockets, Hood, and Non-Waterproofed Zippers

There are two relatively large pockets, each with a zipper. The pocket opening is approximately 7 inches long, which allows for quite a bit of ‘stuff’ to be stored in each pocket. Neither the pocket zippers nor the main zipper is water-proofed, which is fine since you don’t want to use this jacket in the rain. Traditional 800-fill down is used for the jacket fill, not the latest Down-Tek water repellant down. A generous amount of down is also used to insulate the hood making it very warm. There is no cinch or adjustment system for the hood. Some reviewers complained that the hood flopped around and blocked the view, but I have not found that to be the case. The hood is comfortable and stays in place nicely for me.

Marmot Hype Down Jacket – Cost, Field Experience and Durability

The Marmot Hype does not appear to be made any longer, though it’s still available through many online retailers. The current Marmot jacket similar to the Hype is the Highlander, which sells for $250. I bought my Hype jacket from REI in March 2021 for $179. I’m not a fan of winter or cold weather backpacking, so my field experience with the Hype has been limited. But the performance has been excellent for the times I’ve used it. It has kept me warm to about 20 deg F, and the wind-repellant ability has been great. The jacket still looks brand new, though I would expect that based on the limited use it’s received thus far. Some reviewers complained about the lack of durability of the jacket material and construction, but I have yet to see any signs of that. The Hype seems ‘beefy’ and well-built to me.

Conclusion – Marmot Hype Down Jacket

A down jacket is a gear item that gets limited use from me. I like it that way! If it’s cold enough to wear a heavy down jacket, I’m not typically going to be out in the woods. But sometimes, being out in sub-30-degree temperatures is unforeseen and unavoidable. For those situations, a warm down jacket makes the difference between being relatively comfortable or miserable (or even dead!). This is especially true at night when temperatures get the coldest. I tend to lump a down jacket into the same gear category as a first aid kit and my rain gear – something I won’t leave behind, but I hope to never use. To that end, I didn’t want to spend a fortune on a jacket. For an affordable down jacket that is also warm, comfortable, lightweight, and packs down small, it’s hard to beat the Marmot Hype.