There are several ways that a hard shell can be designed to help reduce moisture build-up. Some of these include:

• Make the jacket's fabric more breathable.
  
   
• Make the jacket thinner and lighter, so there is less of an insulating effect.
  
   
• Include in the jacket lots of ways to vent moisture.

While there is no such thing as the perfect shell jacket, one of the closest to perfection on the market, especially for warmer temps, is the new Meteor Jacket from Marmot. Here's why:

• The Meteor's fabric is made from Precip Plus, which is Marmot's proprietary breathable, waterproof fabric. According to Marmot, this fabric is about 50% more breathable than their standard, Precip fabric.
  
  So how does Precip Plus compare to Gore-Tex breathable, waterproof fabric? I am not qualified to perform scientific tests to prove which fabric is better, and even if I was, I am not sure that scientific tests would be all that effective, as something like moisture build-up, and how it feels to a person, ranges from person to person.
  
  From the subjective testing I have done, given the same weather conditions, including the same temp, I find myself more comfortable wearing the Meteor Jacket using Precip Plus than I do wearing a Gore-Tex XCR fabric jacket. Is this because Precip Plus is more breathable? I don't know. More likely, it is a combination of Precip Plus's fabric being thinner than Gore-Tex XCR fabric, Precip Plus's breathability, and the ability to ventilate the Meteor jacket of moisture.
  
   
• As mentioned above, the Meteor's fabric is very thin, which not only contributes to its better "feel" in warmer weather, but also makes it much lighter in weight to carry, and very compact to stow in your pack. Depending on the size, the Meteor weighs about 12 to 14 ounces. I would not recommend doing any bushwhacking while wearing the jacket, as its thin material might catch on the brush and tear.
  
   
• As you would expect, the jacket is waterproof and windproof. Its seams are factory sealed.
  
   
• Ventilation is enhanced with large pit zips, wrist areas that you can be adjusted to control the amount of air let it, a draw cord adjustable hem, and the zipper next to the neck can easily be varied to control air movement.
  
   
• The jacket includes a technical hood with a stiff brim (to help keep rain off your face), an adjustment to control how much of the hood fits over the front of your face, and the inner collar and chin guard are lined with microfleece for extra comfort.
  
   
• The hood can also be folded up and stored in a zip pocket in the collar. This is a very handy feature, although when the hood is folded up, the collar looks a little "over-stuffed."
  
   
• The jacket has three pockets (well sort of). There is a small, napoleon-style, zippered pocket on the left, front-side of the jacket. And strangely enough, the pit zips have built into them mesh pockets. This is hard to comprehend until you see one of these jackets. I wouldn't really recommend using these pockets for anything other than something very small and lightweight.
  
   
• Another interesting feature of the jacket is its ability to flex. Most hard shells can't flex much because the material used is not stretchy. Marmot has overcome this, to a degree, by adding a rubber material to key areas of the jacket to make it somewhat stretchable. It will be interesting to see how these rubber areas last over time. They kind of look like a piece of a rubber inner tube.
  
   
• The fit of the jacket is "less full" than other jackets. This means that it is not loose or bulky, but there is plenty of room for freedom of movement and a layer or two underneath.
  
   
• The jacket includes light reflecting strips to make you very visible at night. This is a nice touch you seldom see in a hard shell.
  
   
• And like other Marmot products, the quality of workmanship is superior.

The Meteor is well suited to fishing, biking, hiking, backpacking, trekking, climbing, and wearing around town.

Using the Marmot Meteor Jacket in the Real World

For a long time, I have been looking for a lightweight shell for warmer weather. Previously, I had been wearing my heavier, mountaineering-style shell, and it was often too warm, even though it had plenty of ventilation and used a breathable fabric. My wife also tells me that this was the excuse I gave to buy more gear. Was I right, or what?

The Meteor has served me well during this past rainy spring, with the temps ranging from about 50 to 80 degrees. Sure, it is possible to become uncomfortable hot in this jacket, like all shells, if your physical activity is high and you don't do a good job of ventilating it. But in most cases, it has been more than comfortable.

Generally speaking, at warmer temps, the only thing I wear under the jacket is a lightweight base layer. This helps to absorb any excess moisture, keeping if off the skin.

Also, during warmer weather, I keep the hat stashed inside its pocket, using a Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero to protect my head. This also helps me to keep cooler than wearing the hood.

In cooler temps, a base layer, along with a fleece or soft shell jacket works good for insulation with the Meteor. Also, I get the hood out and start to wear it, for added protection. But when it really gets cold, below 20 degrees or so, I generally wear my mountaineering shell instead, for its added protection.

Recommendation

If you are interested in a lightweight, cool- to warm-weather, breathable, waterproof, windproof shell, the Marmot Meteor can't be beat. For colder weather, especially if you are mountaineering, I would recommend a mountaineering shell. It is both warmer and tougher.

Product Notes

The Marmot Meteor Jacket is available in both men's and women's sizes, and in many colors. The MSRP is $170.00. Marmot also sells the Oracle Jacket, which is very similar to the Meteor, but it doesn't have the pit zips, and it is slightly less expensive. I feel the extra cost of the pit zips is well worth it.