REASONS TO BUY
Simple but functional
Hood packs away
Good value
REASONS TO AVOID
Small zipper pulls
Internal fabric can stick to bare skin
Marmot PreCip Eco - Women's Review
A solid rain jacket that offers decent performance at a price point that won't break the bank
Who doesn't love to find a Goldilocks product like the PreCip Eco, with exceptional quality for a surprisingly low price??
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
RELATED: Best Rain Jackets for Women of 2024
Our Verdict
The Marmot PreCip Eco is a simplistic rain jacket that offers above-average performance at an affordable price point. It provides sufficient water resistance and breathability for moderate activity in rainy conditions. This jacket is ideal for the outdoor enthusiast with a smaller budget who still wants a top women's rain jacket to get out and explore regardless of the weather conditions.
Editor's Note: We purchased and retested the Marmot PreCip Eco, updating our review on October 4, 2022.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Marmot PreCip Eco - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best on a Tight Budget | Best Budget Water Resistance | |||
| Price | $89.73 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $179.00 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $120.00 at Backcountry Compare at 5 sellers | $100 List $69.89 at REI | $55.73 at REI Compare at 4 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A reliable rain jacket that offers great value for good performance at a reasonable price | A quality rain jacket offering exceptional water resistance and performance that will hold up to the wildest weather | A breathable option with good mobility for vigorous activities in light to moderate precipitation | An easy-to-use rain jacket that combines functionality and value at a reasonable price point | A good causal layer to keep you dry when you have to run errands in the rain, but lacks breathability for more active outdoor adventures |
| Rating Categories | Marmot PreCip Eco -... | Patagonia Torrentsh... | Rab Downpour - Women's | REI Rainier - Women's | Columbia Arcadia II... |
| Water Resistance (30%) | |||||
| Breathability (25%) | |||||
| Comfort and Mobility (20%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Marmot PreCip Eco -... | Patagonia Torrentsh... | Rab Downpour - Women's | REI Rainier - Women's | Columbia Arcadia II... |
| Measured Weight | 9.2 oz | 12.2 oz | 10.6 oz | 11.4 oz | 11.2 oz |
| Waterproof Fabric Material | 2.5-layer PFC-free NanoPro (proprietary material) | 3-layer 50D H2No Performance Standard ECONYL (propriatary material) with a PFC-free DWR finish | 2.5-layer 50D Pertex Shield Revolve with a PFC-free DWR finish | 2.5-layer HydroWall (proprietary material) with non-PFC DWR finish | 2-layer Omni-Tech (proprietary material) |
| Pockets | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered hand, 2 interior drop-in | 2 zippered hand |
| Pit Zips | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Stows into Pocket | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Helmet Compatible Hood | No | No | No | No | No |
| Additional Features | Adjustable stowable hood, DriClime-lined chin guard, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem | Dual adjustable and stowable hood, microfleece-lined neck, external and internal zipper storm flaps, chin zipper guard, adjustable Velcro cuffs, drawcord hem, carabiner clip-in loop | Dual adjustable hood, brushed tricot chin guard, zipper storm guards, adjustable Velcro cuffs, drawcord hem | Adjustable hood, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem, brushed collar lining | Adjustable hood, chin guard, adjustable Velcro cuffs, adjustable drawcord hem |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Marmot PreCip Eco offers excellent value with satisfactory performance capabilities at a reasonable price. It is comfortable to wear for a range of activities, can be stashed in its pocket when not needed, and is lightweight enough to throw in any pack. The DWR (durable water repellent) coating is PFC-free, and Marmot's NanoPro fabric is made of 100% recycled nylon ripstop. Besides being eco-friendly, the material is flexible, decently breathable, and has good water resistance capabilities, making it ideal for moderate activity in average rainfall. This is a good choice for those seeking a high-performance rain jacket that won't break the bank.
Performance Comparison
The Marmot PreCip Eco offers excellent value with good water resistance at a reasonable price.
Credit: Lauren O'Connor
Water Resistance
The nylon ripstop NanoPro fabric with DWR coating is proficient at repelling moderate water for a decent amount of time. This rain jacket did well in light and average rain, keeping us dry while hiking. In heavy rainfall, the water penetrated the jacket a little sooner.
The zippers are not waterproof, but the storm flaps offer a decent amount of protection from the elements to keep water from penetrating the zippers. While the PreCip Eco is not the most waterproof rain jacket out there for an extended time in heavy downpours, it performed very well in average rainfall for a decent amount of time. This jacket will keep you dry for all but the most sustained extreme conditions. With its lower price tag, we definitely think it's worth the money for the amount of water resistance it provides.
While not the most water-resistant jacket out there, the Marmot PreCip Eco performed well in light to moderate percipitation.
Credit: Jessica Albery
Breathability
The NanoPro fabric used on the PreCip Eco is fairly breathable, even with the zippers up in our set route test, where we hiked one mile up the same trail in each jacket to see how well each could handle perspiration and core heat. It started to get a little too hot on the last uphill stretch. It is right in the middle of the breathability spectrum of the rain jackets we tested.
We got a bit hot and started to sweat with all the zippers closed, but as soon as we opened the vents, this rain jacket dumped the heat quickly, allowing us to return to a comfortable temperature. With vents open, this jacket easily regulates temperature and vents excess internal moisture from sweat.
The Marmot PreCip Eco is a great rain jacket for a fraction of the price of some of the high-end options.
Credit: Jessica Albery
Comfort and Mobility
The PreCip Eco performed well in the field of comfort and mobility and is a pleasure to wear. The fabric is fairly flexible, and the cut is roomy enough to offer a full range of motion. It's also easy to layer underneath while still maintaining a flattering and comfortable fit. The jacket also has a separate collar, and the internal lining is soft and luxurious- feeling against the skin. The hood folds up into this internal collar, so you can stash it when not needed.
The internal fabric stuck to the skin when we built up a sweat with vents closed, which felt unpleasant, but when the skin was not sweaty, it felt fine. Additionally, the zipper pulls were small and kind of hard to work with, especially if wearing gloves or if our fingers were cold.
The Marmot PreCip Eco is quite comfortable, with just enough essentials like hand pockets that double as a stash pocket.
Credit: Jessica Albery
Weight
The PreCip Eco performed exceptionally well in the weight and packability portion of the rain jacket tests. It weighs in at a scant 9.2 ounces, one of the lightest in our review. This is partially due to the flexible, lightweight fabric but also due to the minimalistic design that forgoes extras such as 2-way zippers.
The PreCip Eco can be stowed away in one of its hand pockets. The hand pockets are lined with slightly stretchy mesh, and with repetitive packing and unpacking, we found this was one the easiest jackets to pack into its pocket. This is an excellent choice for those who are conscious of every ounce. It's lightweight and packs down into a tiny rectangle that will fit into almost any pack, duffel, or suitcase, no matter how packed to the gills you are.
The Marmot PreCip Eco packs down easily into a compact rectangle and is one of the lighter jackets tested.
Credit: Jessica Albery
Durability
The most recent iteration of the PreCip Eco got a durability upgrade with a microporous coating on the nylon face fabric. This proved to be more durable and abrasion-resistant than previous versions, and we were stoked to see this improvement on this tried and true rain jacket staple.
While the PreCip Eco keeps the cost down by avoiding some high-end accessories, all of the essential notions are quality and offer good functionality. The zippers may not be sealed or waterproof, but they run smoothly and consistently, and all drawcords, toggles, and velcro held up well for the duration of testing. While not the burliest rain jacket out there, we were pleasantly surprised with this jacket's durability.
The latest version of the Marmot PreCip Eco saw an increase in durability.
Credit: Jessica Albery
Should You Buy the Marmot PreCip Eco?
The Marmot PreCip Eco offers one of the best values on the market for outdoor enthusiasts, with an excellent intersection of performance and functionality and a price tag that leaves money in the bank for your next adventure. It's light and packable, making it a great choice for traveling when space and weight are of the utmost importance. It is quite pleasant to wear in a wide range of conditions and offers a full range of movement. If you need a top-performing rain jacket at a reasonable price, we wholeheartedly recommend the PreCip.
What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?
For those looking for peak performance in a rain jacket, check out the Outdoor Research Aspire II for top-notch water resistance. For an exceptionally breathable jacket that is also one of the most comfortable to move in, the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic is another great option.
—
Jessica Albery
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