Marmot Alpha linned jacket

EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
Top of my head both in large.
Kor 140g
Nitro 160g

How you layering the pulse and nitro, I have an OR echo hoody I could try with the nitro.
I've had the pulse over the Nitro when it's been windy and only a gentle bite to the wind... Approaching summits and in low valleys... They worked really well. I also wore the Nitro over and it seems to work in an odd way, but my pulse is looser than the Nitro these days.
I find the pulse to be the best light hooded top I've had.
It handles sweat well, Dries quick and strangely keeps me warmer on its own with the hood up than I expected. I like how a breeze enters the hood and sort of cools when it's warm and keeps the edge off when it's mildly cool.
Just a pity they both (I've two pulses) look like I've passed through blackthorn hedges : (
 

EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
I also have the Marmot Alpha 60. Outer is Pertex Quantum AIR© 20 CFM Face Fabric with 4-Way Stretch. Marmot doesn't list denier, but Kor is listed as Pertex® Quantum Air™ 20D Stretch Ripstop nylon. They both have that same light crepe like feel you mentioned. That orange lining in the Marmot sleeve is actually DriClime bi-component mesh. Runs about a quarter up the sleeve before meeting the alpha direct 60 insulation.

Kor Preshell (green) and Marmot Alpha 60 (blue)
View attachment 22842
I think the marmot may be 15d
Mine had stitching on the face that showed the liner through (crocodile green with orange alpha).
You can wear the marmot next to skin, but if it gets very hot (I've hiked in a norrona Falketind.. Or was it bitihorn... Alpha in 30°c) your stuck with wearing a jacket.
I've a few shelled alpha garments (4) and 2 raw. I've owned over a dozen variations now and know what works for me, what it's limits can be and how best to pair it.
My marmot isotherm half zip is one of my favourites.
 

EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
Same colour kor as I have :)

The marmot on paper makes a lot of sense. Don't know how much heavier the kor plus nitro is? Warmer and more flexibility I thought worth it.
283g Nitro plus Kor in large.. which reminds me... 280 has a better ring to it... As they're both keepers... The labels can come out :pompus::D
 

Cali

Backpacker
Same colour kor as I have :)

The marmot on paper makes a lot of sense. Don't know how much heavier the kor plus nitro is? Warmer and more flexibility I thought worth it.

I actually had the Marmot first and really liked the Quantum Air/Alpha for the breathability. When I saw Kor was also made with Quantum Air thought it would be a great piece for warmer weather or layered over a fleece in cool weather.

The Marmot is 276.1g, Kor with the Nito around 280.6. However the Nitro is 90g alpha vs only 60g in the Marmot. Kor/Nitro warmer for weight combo and more flexible. Chiseller and others on here clued me into the Nitro as well as the Pulse.

While Marmot Alpha is pretty similar to Kor/Nitro, there are a few differences. As mentioned the Marmot is partly Driclime material and the zip hand pockets are alpha lined one side, mesh lined against the body so can dump some heat/moisture. I like and use both quite a bit.
 

Cali

Backpacker
I think the marmot may be 15d
Mine had stitching on the face that showed the liner through (crocodile green with orange alpha).
You can wear the marmot next to skin, but if it gets very hot (I've hiked in a norrona Falketind.. Or was it bitihorn... Alpha in 30°c) your stuck with wearing a jacket.
I've a few shelled alpha garments (4) and 2 raw. I've owned over a dozen variations now and know what works for me, what it's limits can be and how best to pair it.
My marmot isotherm half zip is one of my favourites.

I also have it in Crocodile. Might be 15D, Marmot just says it's Pertex Quantum AIR©100% Nylon Stretch Ripstop 1.5 oz/yd. Have never tried wearing mine next to skin, always with a base. My Strafe Alpha Direct is actually my favorite shelled alpha piece.

IMG_1478 2.JPG
 

Rog Tallbloke

Thru Hiker
Just realised... I've had one of these... Kept it a fortnight... Didn't rate it. VERY breathable but not very wind resistant.
The outer felt a bit odd... Not sure if it's 15D quantum? But it felt a bit like crepe.

Yeah, it's quantum with a crinkly surface. I have an Adidas jacket with alpha insulation with the same outer cloth. It breathes well and it reasonably wind resistant. Not sure what the 'crepe' finish is all about, but it does 'rustle' less than plain handed fabric.
 

slovhike

Thru Hiker
@Enzo I think the same...alpha single garment with windshirt over it...I like flexibility....so I wear Rab Alpha + very breathable windshirt over it.....but I tend to sweat pig when active so its great to dump
the heat removing a layer or two...
 

Enzo

Thru Hiker
Seems I made the right choice re weight and flexibility.
Just wish the kor was 70g lighter. 140g is wpb territory, on paper it seems profligate to carry, but it seems like a great layering combination.
The nitro is definitely a keeper, difficult to see how it could be improved for the weight.
Same weight as my Berghaus hyper smocks, which are windproof and still bead a bit of rain, but don't move moisture anything like as well.
They still have their place.
 

EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
Just wish the kor was 70g lighter. 140g is wpb territory, on paper it seems profligate to carry, but it seems like a great layering combination.

Same weight as my Berghaus hyper smocks.
I've not had a hyper, but every sub 140wpb jacket I've had has failed miserably on me and taken more drying out than any windshell.
For the zipped pockets and hood, I'm happy to suck it up with the kor.
I did the dales way without carrying a rain jacket, but did have a heavier brolly... Which earnt its place with being able to cook under. The DW wasn't mountainous and did present opportunities from time to time to have some form of natural shelter to take a break in.
My only jacket that can really do dual as a windshirt and wpb is my heavier aether at 208g.
Ive used my sub 200g phantom hoodie as a wind breaker but it lacks some breathability, but is the closest iv managed so far.
Shamefully the best wind jacket I've had for toughing out long bouts of rain and being breathable, quick drying is my old paramo ostro, which was heavy yet fully featured.
I'd like to be able to fully test the kor with the Nitro to see if it can work in a prolonged downpour and beehive similar to the paramo / buffalo system...
The wife has a Berghaus hyper? Vapour light ? Jacket and she loves it.
 

Enzo

Thru Hiker
On the BPL thread he recommended using a spec (35cfm/300mm) meeting windproof with polartec gridfleece.
The idea is if your generating enough heat you will end up drier than in the best wpb fabric. The heat driving the rain that gets through the windshirt back out and the grid wicking your sweat off.
The wpb will of course leave you wetter in sweat.
Alpha works in a very different way so dont know how it'll work.
My montane allez hoody is excellent under a lightweight wpb, you feel dry even under a wetted out wpb.

I use my Berghaus vapour light hyper waterproof only when I don't expect to use it.

But I've been caught out in really heavy rain,
Only problem I had was water channeled around the hood and down the neck opening, a baseball cap would sort that.
I doubt it would put up with pack straps for too long, but for a thru hike of the SDW in July it's what I take.
 

gixer

Thru Hiker
On the BPL thread he recommended using a spec (35cfm/300mm) meeting windproof with polartec gridfleece.
The idea is if your generating enough heat you will end up drier than in the best wpb fabric. The heat driving the rain that gets through the windshirt back out and the grid wicking your sweat off.
The wpb will of course leave you wetter in sweat.
Alpha works in a very different way so dont know how it'll work.
My montane allez hoody is excellent under a lightweight wpb, you feel dry even under a wetted out wpb.

I use my Berghaus vapour light hyper waterproof only when I don't expect to use it.

But I've been caught out in really heavy rain,
Only problem I had was water channeled around the hood and down the neck opening, a baseball cap would sort that.
I doubt it would put up with pack straps for too long, but for a thru hike of the SDW in July it's what I take.

Tried that on a couple day hikes and found it absolutely miserable

It's basically applying layers to act like a wetsuit

Problems i had was

1/ My energy expenditure wasn't constant
If i'm head down going uphill i was a LOT warmer than on the flat sections

2/ In constant heavy rain the cold fresh water comes in quicker than your body can heat it

3/ Miserable and cold when i stopped, was unsure about what to do with the fleece layer i was carrying
I was cold without it, but if i put it on it'd get wet like the rest of the kit i was wearing

I think for warmer 15c+ on/off rain showers type days it might work, can't see it being much use for hiking (as opposed to trail running or head down fast hiking) in the UK though
 
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Enzo

Thru Hiker
Agree it's likely to be a technique that's best deployed in specific circumstances.
I think he'd recommend a wpb for stops etc.

So doesn't save weight but might mean you end up drier, as long as the circumstances are right, not too heavy rain and your running at ~met 7, ie hiking near the limit of your respiration.

It's not as if it's a setup with one use, just means picking a windproof with the recommended specs or as close as you can get. Assuming you have the right polartec grid fleece.
 

gixer

Thru Hiker
Agree it's likely to be a technique that's best deployed in specific circumstances.
I think he'd recommend a wpb for stops etc.

So doesn't save weight but might mean you end up drier, as long as the circumstances are right, not too heavy rain and your running at ~met 7, ie hiking near the limit of your respiration.

It's not as if it's a setup with one use, just means picking a windproof with the recommended specs or as close as you can get. Assuming you have the right polartec grid fleece.

Problem is, if you need to take rain shell jacket just in case, then any weight savings are out the window

Love the fact that my Alpha stuff prevents a lot of my sweating, huge bonus in my view
If i add my Kor jacket on top though that's one of the main advantages with Alpha gone as i start to sweat more

I recon i sweat less wearing a standard fleece than i do with a Alpha/windshirt
So Alpha starts to make less sense then

That's the problem when we start getting into more specialised clothing, the window of use starts to get narrower and narrower
Whereas a fleece and rain shell will do for 100% of hikes (sweat a bit, remove fleece, shivver a bit put it on) Alpha, windshirt and rain shell tend to have a narrower ideal operating window

Add to that the fact i'm a lazy git, usually i only stop to add/remove layers when i'm at my absolute limit sweat/shivering wise and i'm starting to get swerved by the old fleeces in my cupboard

The last a LOT longer than the Alpha stuff as well
 

Enzo

Thru Hiker
The way I'd use it is if it's dry I'd walk in my allez as a base layer, shoulder season I often do.
If it starts raining I'd put the kor on. Much comfier than a wpb bring a factor of magnitude more breathable, much less sweaty.
If the rain overwhelmed the kor I'd put on a wpb.
I'm pretty sure that's how everybody uses windshirts.
The only difference is picking a gridfleece and windshirt to maximize the paramo type effect.
 
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