Marmot PreCip Eco Full-Zip Review

If you don't want to spend a lot of money but want a fully-featured rain pant for trekking, backpacking, and mountaineering, the Marmot PreCip Eco Full-Zip is one of the best options. Marmot uses a recycled face fabric with better DWR than older versions. The PreCip Eco fabric is PFC-free and features a microporous coating that is designed to be more durable than the previous version.

Preformance Comparison

Water Resistance

The PreCip Eco Full-Zip offers solid rain protection, especially considering its price tag. It features a 2.5-layer construction and Marmot's proprietary NanoPro Eco for its waterproof membrane. We found this proprietary membrane held up better than average compared to other models. Our testing team was impressed by its recycled ripstop nylon face fabric, which easily offered some of the better DWR in the review and beaded up water far better and longer than similarly priced models.

We liked that this model didn't have a front fly, which only helped it to more effectively seal out the elements. However, it was prone to leak water in through the front pockets. This wasn't a big deal as long as we remembered to zip them shut.

After extensive use in both real-world and side-by-side garden hose tests, our entire testing team was impressed with the storm worthiness of this pant and found it to be one of the most weather resistant in its price category.

Comfort and Mobility

The PreCip Eco doesn't offer anything special regarding articulation or fit, but its slightly looser cut increased mobility. Folks who like these pants but don't want the baggier fit should note that the non-full zip version of this pant, the Marmot PreCip Eco Pant, has a slightly narrower and less baggy fit.

Marmot's previous version of this pant had larger velcro tabs at the waist, which we found uncomfortable under a pack's hip belt. They've reduced the size of the tabs, which helps with comfort. This version has a fully elastic waist and a wide waistband, offering a nice balance of stretch and security and minimizing sag while walking up the trail. However, these pants feel a bit clammier than some of the spendier products we tested.

Breathability and Ventilation

This model's breathability was slightly below average overall but better than most other rain pants in this price range. The PreCip Eco Full-Zip Pant offers top-notch ventilation, which performs as well as you could hope for. As the name would imply, this pant features a full-length zipper on each leg, allowing plenty of ventilation from the top and bottom.

However, if it's pouring or you're hiking on a wet overgrown trail, using the side zips for ventilation isn't an option, as they will likely funnel water down the insides of your pants and your boots, negating the purpose of wearing rain pants. It's worth noting that the PreCip's mesh-lined pockets can pull double duty by offering some (though obviously limited) ventilation.

Weight

The Marmot PreCip Eco Full-Zip Pants weigh just under 12 ounces on our scale — especially impressive given all this model's features, including its full-length zippers. While on the lighter side among rain pants on the market, they are heavier than many options we tested.

Packed Size

The PreCip Eco Full-Zip Pants are pretty average among products in our review regarding packed volume. However, they are certainly still smaller than average among shell pants on the market and plenty small enough to please any backpacker or hiker. They take up about as much space as a Nalgene bottle.

Features

This contender is packed full of features that most backpackers and hikers commonly look for. There are three total pockets; two hand pockets and a third zippered back pocket. At the top of the side zippers there are Velcro closures (on the waist of the pant) to help keep the zips closed and the pants from sliding down, which would occasionally come undone when wearing a pack. The waist belt would also slowly open the zippers, pulling the velcro apart and causing the pants to start to slip down. This was a minor annoyance but certainly wasn't a dealbreaker.

The PreCip features an elastic shock cord with a toggle that helps cinch pant cuffs, keeping debris out of the wearer's shoes. We felt this design worked okay; however, when used on snow, we'd recommend bringing gaiters, though these pants were highly functional when used for some off-trail travel.

Durability

The PreCip Pants are tougher than we first expected. We found them to have above-average durability for their abrasion and tear resistance. While hardly burly, they're plenty tough enough for most backpacking, hiking, or similar applications, and you shouldn't have to baby them. The DWR held up longer than most similarly priced options, and several of our testers noted that they didn't need to be re-treated as frequently.

Should You Buy the Marmot PreCip Eco Full-Zip?

This pant offers an excellent blend of features, functionality, and storm worthiness for the price. While it wasn't as breathable as Gore-Tex models in the review, it likely presented the best breathability in its price range. It also comes loaded with features and offers comparable (or better) rain protection to a number of more expensive models.

What Other Rain Pants Should You Consider?