Marmot Speedri review

The lab stats for both waterproofness and breathability are impressive, but of course it’s how it performs in real life that really matters, so we took the Speedri to Chamonix to see if we could work up a sweat on the slopes. Weighing in at just under 400g, the Speedri is light enough to carry in your pack on warmer days, but is heavy-duty enough for nastier days too. The jacket uses two different weights of face fabric, thicker on the shoulders and arms, and thinner in the body. The other ace up its sleeve is the fact that it offers stretch, which we favour for the more energetic mountain activities where dexterity is required. Taped seams and water-resistant zips are used throughout, and the hood has a stiffened (though not wired) peak and a volume adjustor at the rear.

I used the Speedri in combination with a Rab Strata midlayer which is itself breathable due to its use of Polartec Alpha insulation. Aside from the odd sunny day where I left the Speedri in my pack, I used the jacket in everything from high winds, to heavy snow and persistent rain. Breathability proved excellent, and no doubt helping with this were the areas at the armpits and neck where holes are drilled through (covered with a flap, don’t worry) offering additional venting. It’s an extremely comfortable jacket, due its relatively soft face fabric and stretch properties, but it doesn’t lack for protection either.