Santa Rosa, CA – Marmot’s ultra-light Mica Jacket has been awarded the 2009 “Best of Adventure Gear” by the editors of National Geographic Adventure Magazine. This highly functional and elegantly designed jacket is part of Marmot’s growing category of lightweight waterproof, breathable shells for men and women. It also is the cornerstone of the company’s new MemBrain® Strata™ - a new 2.5 layer laminated technology.
At under 200g for a men’s medium (192g), the Mica is a breakthrough garment in waterproof, breathable technology for weight and value-conscious outdoor enthusiasts. The stylish, transparent nylon face fabric and unique MemBrain® Strata™ 2.5 lamination, give the Mica an incredible, supple hand. “When we began selecting fabrics, we saw the opportunity to build something remarkably lightweight and exquisite looking” explains Brian LaPlante, Marmot’s Outerwear Category Manager. “The combination of the see-through nylon face fabric and .5 micro-patterning (visible inside the jacket) creates a remarkable aesthetic,” LaPlante points out, holding the jacket up to the light at Marmot’s design offices in Santa Rosa, California.
Style-points aside, the Mica’s functionality is at the outdoor industry’s apex. The award-winning jacket is also fully seam-taped with a water-resistant front zipper, an adjustable hood and two hand pockets, making it a perfect shell for ultra-light outings. Greg Houser, Marmot’s Vice President of Design who leads the company’s in-house design team explains, “We’re building more and more lightweight options without sacrificing Marmot’s dedication to long-term durability. The Mica addresses our customers’ demands for a fully-featured, ultra-light garment that performs and functions well for a number of outdoor applications.”
Marmot’s 170g Crystalline Jacket – the women’s version of the Mica – recently won the OutDoor Industry Award at the international European OutDoor Show in Friedrichshafen, Germany. “Ten years ago we made an enormous impact on the outdoor industry with the PreCip® Jacket. Today we have created a 2.5 layer waterproof/breathable laminate, MemBrain® Strata™ – an outstanding value proposition for the consumer,” explains Randy Verniers, Marmot’s Director of International Sales and who for 15 years served as Director of Fabrics and Technologies for the brand. “With MemBrain® Strata™ we’ve once again revolutionised performance shell gear by providing lightweight, waterproof garments with higher breathability and comfort at price points previously unattainable” adds Verniers.
The Mica and Crystalline Jackets will be available in New Zealand retail stores this March, as part of the new Spring 09 collection.
