DriClime Catalyst Jacket

If you enjoy hiking when you make landfall in a new destination, check out Marmot’s newly styled DriClime jacket and pants. The suit packs down super small and is perfect for hiking, running, or simply exploring a seaside village under spitting skies. The stripped-down suit wicks vapor quickly and provides excellent wind and light-rain protection. Both jacket and pants have a thin liner – enough for chilly days; it can also be worn under foulies as a layer.

I’ll just let my friend Amelia do the talking: “Let’s see, in April I wore it on a river trip down the Colorado River. It was a perfect layer with the brushed liner on the inside (warm and comfy on wet skin) and a perfect wind block. It pretty much was perfect for mid-spring when you needed some protection from the wind but didn’t want to wear something too heavy. It is a little tight in the shoulders, but I have used it as a climbing layer as well. It is a bit warm to run in. I really like that it is lightweight and easy to bring along anywhere and the full zip is key to be free from it easily. I just came home from England, and because of weight and space, the Catalyst was a great garment to bring because it offers so much for how small it can become. A bit of warmth, wind protection and can even handle some light rain and the midges.” - by Chris Kalous

This classic windshirt – a favorite of BACKPACKER testers for 15 years - goes green.

The original DriClime earned one of our first Editors’ Choice Awards in 1993. Then it scored an Editors’ Choice Gold in 2002. By nabbing this year’s Green Award, Marmot is the first company to capture BACKPACKER’s Triple Crown. This classic, time-tested jacket now comes in a version made with 88% recycled fabric, but the soft DriClime liner still wicks sweat, and the nylon shell still blocks wind and slides easily under layers. The jacket packs up small enough to fit into a daypack’s side pocket, so we regularly reach for it on day hikes and peak-tagging sprints. The stretchy, breathable fabric under the arms increases mobility for trail runs and mountain-bike rides. Amazingly, the Catalyst is actually nine bucks cheaper than the DriClime we reviewed a decade and a half ago.

The line between hard shells and soft shells continues to blur. Traditional “hard” shells have become lighter, softer, and more breathable, while “soft” options have become more waterproof. And hybrids, of course, are now ubiquitous. But of the 75 models we reviewed, our testers most often reached for the Gear of the Year – winning Marmot DriClime Catalyst, an updated version of a classic jacket that’s as functional as ever and, thanks to recycled materials, also a bit easier on the environment.

1. An eco-conscious makeover of one of Marmot’s most popular pieces for the past 15 years, the redesigned Catalyst, won over nearly every tester. An outer polyester fabric kept out blasts of wind, and the soft recycled-polyester liner stayed cozy even while wicking sweat. Our favorite update: Stretch-fabric panels on the sides that increase the jacket’s mobility and breathability.
2. The Catalyst is up for anything – testers bagged fourteeners, backpacked in Yellowstone, climbed in Moab, and biked through B.C. in it. It’s not waterproof, though its DWR treatment does repel drizzle, and it breathes surprisingly well for such a toasty jacket. We usually wore it by itself in cool weather, but thanks to a trim, athletic cut, it pairs well with a waterproof shell.
3. In addition to being highly versatile and sensibly priced, the Catalyst is also cut from sustainable materials. The face fabric is 100 percent recycled polyester, the warm liner is 80 percent recycled, and the stretchy side panels and shoulder inserts are 88 percent. True, it might not stop global climate change, but it’s still a laudable move toward sustainability.

- by Doug Schnitzspahn

Marmot rethought its ever-popular multi-use standby this season. The shell is now built with the highest percentage of recycled material possible – from a 100-percent recycled zipper to 88-percent recycled poly face fabric.

Is it a ‘do everything’ jacket, or a ‘do nothing’ jacket?

My clothes usually fall in to two camps: the ‘keep me warm’ camp (woolly jumpers, fleeces, down jackets, etc.) and the ‘keep me dry’ camp (waterproof outers). The DriClime Catalyst at first glance does neither of these things, or so I thought… I thought wrong!

What is it:
The shell is made of a tightly woven ripstop nylon that has been coated with a DWR (Durable Water Repellency). This means it’s super wind-proof and extremely breathable. The DWR coating means it is fairly waterproof too. I wore it in light rain and it kept me bone dry. A torrential downpour (British summer anyone?) would see you getting pretty wet though. So it’s a wind-proof/water resistant shell...with an added bonus, the inner layer:

Lining the DriClime Windshirt is Marmot’s DriClime fabric, which is basically a base layer fabric. It is two separate layers, made of 100% polyester. The inner (next to the skin) layer has a soft feel that is designed to absorb any sweat from your skin. The outer layer (next to the nylon shell) moves sweat from the inner layer and spreads it out so that it evaporates on the jacket surface, keeping your skin as dry as possible.

Marmot says: “The key to DriClime is 3-Dimensional Wicking. As moisture moves from the inner fabric touching your skin to the outer fabric, it spreads out across the outer fabric to speed the drying process. DriClime never stops working: it continually passes moisture through to the outer surface for fast evaporation. It is not a finish that washes or wears out; it works forever.”

All this means that the DriClime is a very versatile jacket. It can be worn next to the skin as an all-in-one base and shell. It can sit over a normal thermal top adding more insulation and a wind-proof layer. It can be a great mid-layer, ideal for hill walking and climbing. It’s a ‘do everything’ jacket!

I have been wearing mine recently road cycling – the jacket is comfortable enough to wear next to the skin, the wind-proof nature is ideal for cycling, the zip means I can ventilate if it gets on the warm side and the shower-proof nature means I don’t get caught out. It slips in my pack for those mountain cragging days too, and as it weighs next to nothing – (340g!) – I barely notice it’s there.

I look cool in anything (year, nice photo – Ed), but in the DriClime I feel cool on hot walk-ins and I don’t freeze in icy winds. Brilliant.

Differences between the DriClime Catalyst and the DriClime Original:

Essentially the two jackets are very similar, but the newer Catalyst has a few funky features:
• Stretchy elbows and panels make movement a little easier
• Upcycled fabric (Marmot’s version of recycling)
• Upcycled zips

The Catalyst has elasticated cuffs on the sleeves, a draw-cord on the neck (that tucks away) and a handy outer chest pocket.

- by Stephen Horne

The Marmot DriClime Catalyst Jacket is water – and wind – resistant, breathable and ecofriendly. The jacket is part of Marmot’s new UpCycle program with DriClime tricot lining that performs just as well as the original but is made from natural, organic or recycled materials. Stretch paneling increases breathability, while the DriClime lining lightly insulates and moves moisture away to the outer face where it spreads out for quicker evaporation.