REASONS TO BUY
Good ventilation
Bargain price
Lightweight
Fully waterproof
REASONS TO AVOID
Interior fabric is clingy
Feels delicate
Limited drawcords
Marmot Knife Edge Review
An ultralight waterproof model with underarm vents and and an exceptional price tag
Credit: Marmot
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Our Verdict
Designing a hardshell is a difficult task, trying to find the right balance between minimizing weight yet including useful features. The Marmot Knife Edge strikes an outstanding balance by remaining lightweight while providing at useful accessory feature: pit zips. This combination means you're more likely to wear this jacket, and when you do, you're less likely to overheat. Our testers are also pleased with the generous cut, which ensures the sleeves and hem stay in place during a wide variety of movements, and yet it somehow avoids feeling unathletic or baggy. What we don't like is the 2.5-layer Gore-Tex Paclite construction. Sure, this fabric is plenty breathable, but the glossy backing clings to your skin, and we have real concerns about its durability. If you factor in these durability concerns, the Knife Edge's low price does not present as much value as it initially appears. Still, this could be a worthy jacket if you want a lightweight hardshell and need pit zips for ventilation.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
The Marmot Knife Edge is one of the most affordable hardshells. It's more than adequate for most winter activities, but it may not be burly enough to survive multiple seasons.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Weather Protection
The Knife Edge features a 2.5-layer construction with Gore-Tex Paclite as the waterproof/breathable membrane. This material is plenty waterproof, but we observed the face fabric “wetting out” early on in our field testing. When that happens, water still can't get in from the outside, but it also can't escape from the inside, so moisture from your own perspiration can build up quickly.
The cut of the jacket is decent for keeping precip out. The hood has a 2.5-inch brim to direct water away from the collar. This hood also features one drawcord to adjust the fit, and there's a second drawcord to tighten the bottom hem. Both of these are adequate but not exceptional. Other hardshells, for example, include up to five drawcords for the same purpose that supply extra adjustability. Overall, this jacket provides average weather protection.
The Knife Edge's Gore-Tex Paclite fabric is completely waterproof.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Weight
We measured a size large at 12.4 ounces on our scale. This is a little more than an ounce heavier than the lightest hardshells in the review. However, the Knife Edge is notable because it's the lightest model that includes underarm vents. This is a great feature that enhances the jacket's usefulness for sustained activity. In other ways, such as the number of drawcords or pockets, this jacket is pretty pared down to minimize weight.
This size large fit this 6'2" tester quite well. Our only complaint is so slight riding up on the sleeves with arms overhead.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Mobility and Fit
The cut of the Knife Edge feels halfway between athletic and baggy. This lends it looks that seem more suitable for skiing or casual outings. However, our ice climbing testers were also pleased with the cut because the low hem stayed tucked into their harnesses while they were swinging their ice tools overhead.
The Gore-Tex Paclite fabric provides some mild stretchiness to enhance mobility and reduced crinkly sounds compared to burlier Gore-Tex Pro. Some of our testers, however, complained about the glossy fabric backing because it seemed prone to cling to their skin.
The Gore-Tex Paclite fabric is breathable, but all waterproof/breathable fabrics will soak through if you charge uphill for long enough.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Venting and Breathability
Gore claims their Paclite membrane is more breathable than many of their other fabrics, and this seemed like the case during our stationary bike test. Compared to the knit backing of other waterproof/breathable fabrics, however, the glossy backing of the Paclite amplifies the sensation of moisture inside the jacket.
Even though this jacket may let more moisture escape, many of our testers believe this jacket's fabric makes it feel stuffier than other models. This stuffiness is somewhat negated by the inclusion of the pit zips to shed excess heat, and we're impressed they can include this additional venting on such a light weight shell.
The backing of three Gore-Tex fabrics from left to right: Pro, Active, and Paclite. Paclite is the glossiest and clings to the skin the most if it gets moist.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Features and Design
This ultralight jacket is a little limited in terms of features. It sports three pockets: two handwarmers and one external chest pocket. We like the positioning of these pockets but wish their zippers had longer pull tabs so they would be easier to use with gloves on. There is a single drawcord on the hood and hem to tighten things down in a gale. These can be operated with gloves, but when either is fully cinched down, you're left with an excess elastic cord that is prone to snagging.
The zipper pull tabs on the Marmot Knife Edge and disappointingly short and tricky to grab with gloves on.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Value
The Knife Edge is one of the most affordable jackets out there that we would classify as a hardshell. Bear in mind, however, that we don't think its 2.5-layer Gore-Tex Paclite fabric provides the same durability as Gore-Tex Pro or Gore-Tex Active. This jacket, therefore, can serve as a cheap way to fill a need for a hardshell, but over the full lifetime of the garment, it may not present a great value.
Conclusion
There is a lot to like about the Marmot Knife Edge. It's affordable and lightweight, yet it manages to include pit zips for venting excess heat. That's exceedingly rare among hardshells in its weight class. Still, we aren't huge fans of its Gore-Tex Paclite construction or the durability we fear this may not provide. Overall, the Knife Edge is still a good jacket, but we think it's outclassed by similarly priced hardshells made with Gore-Tex Active materials, such as the Best Buy Award-winning REI Drypoint GTX.
—
Jack Cramer
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