As a frequent belayer and pretty short lady, I always appreciate a cropped down jacket that doesn’t sacrifice warmth or style. Which is why, when I received the Marmot Guides Down Hoody in the mail, I was stoked at its cushy loftiness and adjustable elements.
The Guides Down Hoody is the quintessential puffy — it has massive baffles, a cushioned hood, and a certain retro aesthetic to it. If I’m being honest, I got numerous compliments from strangers about this jacket, which I can attribute to the bright, funky color scheme. Regardless of appearance, the Guides Hoody packs a punch in terms of warmth and loft.
This jacket utilizes a unique blend of natural feather down and ceiba, a plant-based insulation harvested from kapok trees in the southern hemisphere. This eco-friendliness doesn’t just stop at the innovative down, but more on that later.
The Guides Hoody quickly became a must-have in my suitcase and work bag this winter for its malleable nature and versatile style. I found myself wearing it for après coffee, leisurely walks around town, and setting up camp in Crested Butte, Colo. This jacket survived a cold and blustery winter without lacking in endurance or comfort.
In short: The Marmot Women’s Guides Down Hoody is a laidback puffy made for casual winter outings or belaying friends at the crag. With a 700-fill power down made of natural feathers and plant-based materials, this jacket is highly packable and insulating. And while it does lack in water resistance and ruggedness, the Guides Hoody is still a great puffy for folks needing something for everyday use in mild climates. For just a couple of hundred bucks, you can snag the Guides Hoody in diverse color options that provide a timeless style.
Read our full roundup: The Best Down Jackets for Women.
- Weight: 625 g/ 1 lb., 6 oz.
- Fill: 700 FP 80% recycled down, 20% Ceiba (Kapok) down
- Waterproof: No
- Main fabric: 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Polyester, Ripstop, 58g/sqm
- Sizes: XS to XL
- Fit: Relaxed
- Adjustable: Yes. Hood and bottom hem have pull cords
- Pockets: Two zipper handwarmer pockets, one exterior chest pocket
- Best use: Casual winter wear, belaying, cold and dry winter climates
Pros
- Maintains loft after exposure to moisture
- Adjustable waist allows wearer to tailor fit
- Eco-friendly down fill is made from Kapok trees
- Super comfortable and warm
Cons
- No water resistance or proofing
- Unavailability of extended or plus sizes
- Feathers start to poke out after a few wears
Marmot Women’s Guides Down Hoody Review
Right out of the gate, the Marmot Guides Down Hoody impressed me with its lofty nature and adjustable fit. The 100% recycled polyester ripstop shell is not only soft to the touch but also durable without adding weight. The baffles on the jacket are definitely bigger, which adds to the overall retro vibe of the jacket itself.
The inner liner is made of a similar polyester material, but it feels like butter once you’re cocooned in the coat. We found that due to the boxy nature of the Guided Hoody, it was easy to layer under without ever feeling too tight.
The retail tag on the Guides Down Hoody advertises it as having adjustable Velcro cuffs, but we found that the wrists were just simple elastic bands. After some research, I found that previous versions had these Velcro cuffs, a feature I would actually like to see come back. However, we did appreciate the customizable hem and hood draw cords that made this garment easy to customize and tailor.
Is It Warm?
To put it simply, yes! By now, you’ve seen that the Guides Down Hoody has an insulation blend of 80% natural down derived from feathers and 20% ceiba fill from kapok trees. This mostly feather blend is stellar at providing insulation, even on the coldest days. Furthermore, the ceiba fibers are an environmentally friendly form of insulation, as it is harvested from trees.
These massive rainforest trees are found in the southern hemisphere, where their flower seeds are used to create the down fiber through an extraction process. Because the trees do not need to be cut down for the textile to be manufactured, it is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional and synthetic down.
I found that the Guides Down Hoody was warm from 15 degrees to 40 degrees F. While it is not windproof, even in heavier gusts, I stayed quite cozy. I wore this jacket in a variety of conditions, ranging from blustery walks in the alpine desert to rain-sprinkled afternoons. The jacket doesn’t boast much water resistance, but the natural down certainly didn’t lose its warming abilities after moisture exposure.
The 700-fill power insulation on the Guides Hoody is some of the best I’ve tested in the industry, and overall, I found it to be plenty toasty for chilly evening walks in Aspen, Colo. And while the exterior fabric is a bit spongy when it comes to moisture, the down still did its job despite the circumstances.
Fit and Sizing
The Marmot Guides Hoody certainly has a boxier, vintage fit thanks to the looser silhouette and large baffles. For reference, I am 5’3” and petitely framed. I tested this jacket in a size small, but could have sized down for a more active fit. However, I prefer a looser fit for extra space for lateral movement. The adjustable waist and hood helped me tailor the fit of the jacket to my liking, which was a major plus.
The adjustable waist can actually transform this jacket completely. When cinched all the way, this jacket will have a more vintage aesthetic, with a cropped waist and puffier torso. When loosened, the jacket lays flatter, providing a more technical and streamlined look. Furthermore, the adjustable waist and hood can help make the coat airtight, providing even more warmth than initially assumed.
The Marmot Guides Hoody lacks in size diversity, as it is only available in sizes XS to XL. It would be awesome to see Marmot design a plus-size fit block for this garment.
Critiques
As I mentioned earlier, this jacket lacks water resistance or proofing. After walking for a few minutes in both rain and snow, I found that the exterior material was quickly damp and stained. Thankfully, the down insulation continued to warm, but it was a bummer to feel a bit soaked when returning home. So, if you’re heading out into the elements with this jacket on, we recommend throwing on a shell to better protect yourself.
Overall, the construction of this jacket is pretty excellent. I didn’t notice any tears or rips after months of heavy use, and I found all the zippers to be expertly made without much weakness or snagging. I do have to say that the down feathers like to poke out of this jacket, so be cautious when packing or storing it. I routinely found some down escaping when throwing this coat on and off.
Despite these critiques, the Guides Down Hoody is still a great winter jacket option. It has a ton of versatility in terms of style and design, without lacking in warming abilities.
Conclusion
The Marmot Guides Down Hoody is a solid down jacket for colder winters that don’t see a ton of moisture like snow, rain, or sleet. After a season’s worth of wearing this jacket in a brutal Colorado winter, I found that it held up well. Aside from stains from moisture and a few feathers escaping here and there, this coat is durably designed. With a 700-fill power natural feather and ceiba blend, the Guides Hoody is plenty insulating and packable.
This jacket feels like wearing a cloud, but to isn’t cumbersome at all. I love that the adjustable waist and hood add to the insulation factor and versatility. Furthermore, there are plenty of interesting color options that will suit any lady looking to add a splash of color to her winter garment rotation.
I would recommend this jacket to women who want a down jacket that can be worn both at the crag and the local brewery. This fashion-forward puffy doesn’t lack in technicality and has a super-affordable price tag for the fantastic insulation. And it’s eco-conscious thanks to the ceiba plant-based insulation, which is a great option for folks seeking sustainable apparel.
Currently, this jacket is being heavily redesigned for fall 2024, but it’s available on Marmot’s online store at several discount prices.
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