If you’re not a serious outdoors person, you might never have heard of the Marmot brand until you saw its logo on a puffer jacket or a tent at the campsite next to you.
With the number of knock-offs and department store outdoor brands out there, you can never be too careful about which companies you buy from.
So, is Marmot a good brand? Yes, Marmot is a solid outdoor company that makes quality gear, backed up by a solid warranty.
There’s a reason Marmot has a reputation among gearheads as a top-notch source for outdoor gear. The company’s prices aren’t as cheap as those of other manufacturers, but you’re paying for quality.
If you are curious to know more about Marmot, keep on reading.
Is Marmot Good Quality?
In a nutshell, yes. Outdoor enthusiasts and gear snobs generally agree that Marmot is one of the better outdoor brands.
It’s a mountaineering company, meaning its gear is made to withstand extreme conditions and cold temperatures.
It prioritizes quality over price, which means a Marmot tent won’t be as cheap as one you’d find at Walmart.
However, it’ll most likely be a heck of a lot lighter and stronger and will last you a lifetime — or close to it.
Marmot gear generally doesn’t break for no reason, and if it does, the company’s warranty will almost always cover it.
What’s Marmot’s Warranty Like?
All Marmot products are covered by a “limited lifetime” warranty, which isn’t as no-questions-asked as some other brands’ warranties.
It means that if the materials or construction of the product are defective, you can get a free repair, replacement, or refund (the company will decide) during the “practical lifetime” of the product.
So, there are lots of ways the company can wriggle out of warranty claims.
However, many reviewers say it’s quite easy to get a defective product replaced or repaired, as the company doesn’t want people spreading negative publicity.
If you give it a call, the company will also repair common manufacturer defects such as:
- Broken or sticky zippers
- Velcro issues
- Elastic hem cord issues
- Broken toggles
- Broken stitching
Marmot’s warranty doesn’t include:
- Normal wear and tear
- Modifications
- Negligence or damage
- Use for a purpose other than that for which the product was designed
- UV damage
Right now, the company says repairs take 7 to 9 weeks, which is longer than normal, due to a high volume of requests.
Brands Comparable to Marmot
It’s generally agreed that Marmot is in the same league as technical outdoor brands like:
- Patagonia
- Arc'teryx
- Outdoor Research
- Mountain Hardwear
Other, lower-quality outdoor brands include companies like Eddie Bauer and, arguably, North Face, which market their gear primarily to people in cities and to “weekend warriors” — rather than people who need every ounce of warmth and toughness in their gear.
Where Is Marmot Made?
Most Marmot gear is made in China, Vietnam, and other Asian countries, though some of its high-end products are made in Rohnert Park, California.
Is Marmot a Good Ski Brand?
Yes, Marmot’s ski gear is generally thought of as being on par with that of other high-end manufacturers like Patagonia.
It’s made to keep you warm and last a long time. People have even used it on skiing and mountain climbing expeditions to Antarctica.
Marmot doesn’t make skis and snowboards, but it does make just about everything else, including:
- ski pants
- hoodies
- jackets
- tights
- base layers
- gloves
Though Marmot began as a social club dedicated to climbing mountains, it has since expanded into a company that gets people down them. T
he company’s logo is M-shaped and looks like two mountains. That should tell you where its priorities lie.
Is Marmot a Good Tent Brand?
Yes, Marmot tents are thought of as quality pieces of gear. They’re mostly lightweight and aimed at mountaineers who need to carry them a long way.
Since they’re designed for alpine conditions, they also need to stand up to extreme weather.
Marmot makes tents in nearly every size, from tents that sleep a single person to tents that sleep 6 and up.
They’re not what you would call ultralight, but they’re lighter than Walmart-brand tents, and a lot stronger.
In my experience, the richer kids in my Scout troop had Marmot tents. They were way lighter than my secondhand clunker and seemed to go up much more easily.
Is Marmot Clothing Good?
Yes, Marmot clothing has a reputation for warmth and toughness.
Marmot makes a ton of outdoors-focused clothing — everything from t-shirts to rain jackets to down parkas.
The brand isn’t as trendy as Patagonia, but its clothing is every bit as warm, and the fit is nice, too.
Plus, a Marmot sweater will give you some more cred among serious hikers and campers than the Patagonia fleece that everyone and their dog is wearing nowadays.
If you’re worried about ethical sourcing of materials, Marmot has a commitment to never use down obtained from the live plucking of geese.
Marmot’s History
Marmot began in 1971 when two college friends at U.C. Santa Cruz started the Marmot Club.
To join, you had to climb a mountain with another Marmot. Then, you were president of the club (as was everyone else).
In 1973, the two started designing down vests, parkas, and sleeping bags. The next year, they got an order for a Clint Eastwood movie (The Eiger Sanction) and created 108 parkas for it.
In 1976, Marmot became the first outdoor company to use GORE-TEX in its products. The company was clearly onto something, as GORE-TEX is now a staple of many outdoor brands’ waterproof products.
In 1982, Marmot boasted that it created the outdoor industry’s first women-specific styles. It has been a leader in supporting female athletes around the world.
Marmot’s Sustainability Commitment
Being an outdoors company, Marmot wants to take care of Mother Earth. The company commits to carbon reduction and says that it has reduced its air shipments by 60 percent since 2011.
Its products are packaged in recyclable and reusable materials.
Also, it’s Forest Stewardship Council-certified, meaning at least 70 percent of the paper the company uses comes from FSC-certified forests; the other 30 percent comes from controlled wood.
Marmot partners with organizations like Leave No Trace and The Conservation Alliance to further its sustainability goals.
Final Thoughts
Marmot is a lesser-known brand than many of its high-end competitors, like Patagonia and Arc'teryx.
However, its gear is every bit as good as that of the previously mentioned companies, and its warranty backs it up.
The next time you go for a hike or a camping trip, busting out a piece of Marmot gear is a surefire way to get some cred from experienced outdoorsy types, and maybe strike up a conversation with a mountaineer or two.
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Jack Hauen
Jack Hauen is a freelance writer and backpacking aficionado. When he's not writing, he can often be found in the Algonquin backcountry, wheezing through a portage that looked smaller on the map.
