REASONS TO BUY
Beefy and Modular
REASONS TO AVOID
Bulky and uncomfortable collar
Product Discontinued
Marmot discontinued this jacket, and we have since archived this review.
Marmot discontinued this jacket, and we have since archived this review.
Marmot Sidehill Component Review
Marmot Sidehill Component Jacket
Credit: Marmot
Our Verdict
The Marmot Sidehill jacket, on average, comes out below the middle of our pack of tested jackets. However, we only choose excellent products to review, and the Sidehill Component model brings some unique attributes. By far, its most salient characteristic is its weighty and solid construction. It is the heaviest jacket in our test, and the best built of the 3-in-1 style jackets. We stand by the value of our Best Buy winning The North Face Vortex Triclimate and like the function and look of the Columbia Whirlibird Interchange. But if you want higher quality and life-long function in a modular parka, the Marmot could be for you.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Marmot Sidehill Component jacket brings beefy construction and fleecy durability to a modular “3-in-1” jacket. As compared to the other modular jackets in our test, the Sidehill is much, much beefier.
Performance Comparison
The Marmot Sidehill in action in the backcountry. This jacket offers excellent range of motion, but the heavy components and fleece liner combine to make it feel bulky.
Credit: Pieter Kaufman
Warmth
The Marmot Sidehill is the only jacket in our test without some sort of “puff” insulation. As such, despite its solid feel, it is not among the warmest. The fleece insulation and thick shell combine to provide adequate, though not spectacular, insulation ability. Among the modular jackets, this is the least insulating. As compared to the whole roster, the Marmot is warmer than the Top Pick winning Arc'teryx Modon and the low-end Spyder Sentinel
Test editor Jediah Porter in the Marmot Sidehill Component and Patagonia Powder Bowl pants.
Credit: Chad Buelow
Ventilation
Strictly speaking, the Marmot does not ventilate very well. With short pit-zips in the shell only, air doesn't run freely to the inside of the jacket. However, if ventilation is required to modulate the comfort, humidity, and temperature of the user, all of the 3-in-1 style jackets perform at the top of the heap. With the option to use the parts together, or each separately, the Marmot Sidehill serves to protect and insulate across a very wide range of temperatures. We dropped the ratings slightly as compared to the other modular pieces because the fleece liner barely blocks the wind. Essentially, while wearing just the fleece liner, all insulating value is lost when the skier moves down the hill. The Best Buy The North Face Vortex Triclimate is far more versatile. The inner can be worn on warmer days for less insulation, but it still blocks the wind.
Weather Resistance
This is a solid performer in this category. Marmot makes clothing for burly conditions, and brings that pedigree to this piece as well. Their proprietary shell fabric keeps the cost down without compromising on weather resistance. The DWR is solid and the thick fabric lets no wind through. The heavy front zipper flap blocks precip and air.
Testing the Marmot Sidehill Component jacket and the Patagonia Powder Bowl pants on a cold windy day on Mammoth Mountain. The Sidehill's beefy shell fabric is some of the most protective in our test.
Credit: Chad Buelow
Ski Features
A simple and solid powder skirt is Marmot's primary nod to ski specific function. They built this jacket to be unobtrusive around town, yet still work on the hill. As a result, the feature set is somewhat limited.
Fit/Comfort
The heavy construction, modular design, and fleece liner combine to make this jacket feel bulky and somewhat uncomfortable. With three zippers and countless layers of fabric all meeting at the front of the jacket collar, this sensitive portion of a skier's face feels hemmed in by the bulk of the Marmot Sidehill Component jacket. Additionally, the fleece liner binds on the clothing underneath.
The front, chin area of the collar of the Marmot Sidehill jacket. The thick fleece and shell, with attendant zippers and flaps makes for a bulky combination. Testers all noticed this and found the comfort to suffer significantly as a result.
Credit: Jediah Porter
Style
Our testers liked the neutral styling of this jacket. One dished out a subtle compliment when he said “this is a jacket that my non-skiing brother would buy”.
Best Application
If you like all the perks of a modular jacket and want one that will last virtually forever, this is the one for you.
The liner of the Marmot Sidehill is a simple fleece jacket. As such, it is a nice, low-profile layer of its own for town use. On the hill, the fleece blocks basically no wind, making it a less ideal spring skiing layer than the liner of The North Face Vortex Triclimate
Credit: Jediah Porter
Value
The construction is beefy, the insulation will last forever (fleece doesn't suffer the degradation with time that synthetic puff insulation does) and the price is moderate. If you can stand the bulk and rigidity of the piece, the Marmot Sidehill Component is a great jacket for you.
Conclusion
Marmot makes high quality, mid-priced clothing. Their Sidehill Component Jacket is no exception.
—
Jediah Porter
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