Marmot PreCip Eco Pant Review

Marmot's venerable PreCip line of rain gear offers lightweight, budget-minded performance in a variety of forms. In this review, we test both this traditional format (1/4 cuff zips) and the fully separating Marmot PreCip Eco Full-Zip Pant. In most ways—and definitely the important ways—these pants are identical to one another. The fabric is the same, and thus the durability and weather protection are basically the same. The full-zip version vents better and is easier to get on and off. The zippers increase the circumference of the legs slightly, making them feel a little looser. This version has a slightly lower volume fit and is lighter, more compact, and less expensive.

Performance Comparison

These are solid waterproof pants for anyone on a budget, especially for those for whom weight and bulk are a big concern. Durability and breathability suffer when directly compared to the more expensive products, but for short exposures to wet weather, these things matter a lot less.

Water Resistance

The PreCip Eco Pants use a 2.5L construction with Marmot's NanoPro Eco waterproof membrane. We found this proprietary membrane to last longer than most other models in its price range. It's recycled nylon face fabric boasted some of the best DWR in the test fleet, lasting longer and beading up water better than most other sub-$100 pants.

The PreCip Eco provides overall solid weather protection, especially considering the price. Its lack of a front fly actually helps keep the moisture out, though if we forgot to zip the mesh-lined pockets, we got some water leakage. After extensive side-by-side testing when backpacking, our review team was impressed with the weather protection provided by these pants and found them to provide some of the best weather protection for the price.

Comfort and Mobility

The PreCip Eco is pretty average regarding mobility and freedom of movement. It offers enough to keep most outdoor enthusiasts happy, but if more mobility-based pursuits are your jam, you might be better off with a different model. The PreCip Eco doesn't offer any special articulation features, but its looser cut helps keep these pants from feeling restrictive.

Folks comparing these to the full-zip version should note two things. The first is this version (the non-full zip) runs slightly slimmer than the full-zip pant. And second, our testers preferred the waistband of this model because it lacks the velcro waist tabs of the full-zip pair, making it more comfortable, especially when wearing a pack.

Lastly, this model's fabric is a little more clingy and clammy feeling than most, which can feel bad, especially when it's colder out and the material clings to bare legs. This is a non-factor if you're wearing long pants or pants beneath.

Breathability and Venting

The NanoPro membrane was slightly more breathable than other pants in this price range, but notably less breathable than higher-end models. We found them fine for wearing for a few hours at a time here or there while hiking or backpacking, but if you want something you could potentially wear during aerobic activities, we might go with something else.

If you are shopping for a rain pant as more of a just-in-case layer, this is plenty breathable to get you through that afternoon thunderstorm, as you'll likely be taking them off before you've managed to sweat them out.

Weight

Between 8 and 9 ounces, the PreCip pants are light enough to keep even the most diligent gram-counting thru-hiker happy. These pants are some of the lightest weight we've tested. For folks comparing both models of PreCip pants, we think most people should likely go with these because they are a little lighter and can still be pulled over most footwear compared with the full-zip version of the PreCip Eco.

Packed Size

These pants are compact enough to bring on pretty much any outdoor mission — even ones where weight and packed volume are of the utmost importance. They take up about as much space as a Nalgene.

Features

Given how light the PreCip pants are, they have an excellent set of pockets. There are a total of three mesh-lined pockets — two in the front and one in the rear. The 1/4 length lower leg zip allows the user to slip all but the bulkiest of mountaineering boots through, letting us put this pant on quickly without having to remove our shoes.

Durability

Tougher than our review team first gave them credit for, the PreCip Pants proved to be slightly above average for their abrasion and tear resistance. While it would be hard for us to call them "tough", they are plenty durable enough for most backpacking, hiking, or similar applications where you don't anticipate having to rub up against sharp objects very often. Even while hiking on two different week-long trips we hardly felt like we needed to treat them with any kind of special care compared to other models. We were also very pleased with the durability of the DWR coating, which held up quite well compared to similarly priced options.

Should You Buy the Marmot PreCip Eco?

If you're looking for a just-in-case piece of weather protection, it's hard to go wrong with the Marmot PreCip Eco, especially for the price. Few (if any) models can match it for its low weight and packed size and affordable price tag. There are pants that will last longer and breathe better, but you'll pay more for them. These are a great balance of cost and performance for folks who may only need to use a rain pant once in a blue moon.

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