Marmot Fordham Review

The Fordham is a general-purpose, daily wear jacket well suited for cold temps. It offers all of the bells and whistles found in a quality down puffer, but is unique for offering a more robust outer shell more indicative of a work jacket.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

Generous amounts of 700-fill down and a heavy, densely woven, hardwearing exterior shell allow the Fordham to effectively trap body heat. It doesn't share company with the most elite jackets on our list, but for a daily wearer, the Fordham is toasty, earning it noteworthy scores for warmth.

Not all down is equal, so we were impressed with the quality of feathers the Fordham offers. The most basic down jackets typically use 550-fill, while high-performance jackets start at 800-fill and can even be stuffed with 900 to 1000-fill (rarer finds). The Fordham's 700-fill insulation is above average for its price point, making this jacket equally as warm as it is affordable. We noticed its outstanding warmth while wearing the Fordham daily during the coldest months of Utah's winter.

We backed up our anecdotal opinions during our warmth tests with the help of a chest-mounted Bluetooth thermometer. This jacket maintained a core temperature of 78.6°F during a 20-minute standing test in 20°F nighttime temps, landing it in the company of other top performers in this test.

A densely insulated removable hood is a key player in this jacket's ability to retain body heat. It utilizes the 700-fill down and is shielded by the same dense polyester shell as the top portion of the coat. The hood also integrates directly into the collar by way of Velcro tabs, making it one of the sturdiest removable hoods we've ever seen.

Weather Resistance

The Fordham falls a little short on premium weather resistance, but we still awarded it better-than-average scores across the board during all of our weather resistance testing. All things considered, we feel its strong suit is wind resistance.

A 100-percent recycled polyester shell (post-consumer) environmentally gives the Fordham a leg up on the competition. This repurposed exterior is also super dense and rugged, making it much more resistant to weather than the average down puffy. However, the shell tends to absorb moisture from rain or snow. We first noticed this during our water tests, where we drenched it for nearly three minutes.

Although the shell takes on water, we never detected the moisture passing through the exterior into the insulation or lining. Additionally, this jacket is filled with treated down (Down Defender), which allows it to stay drier than unprotected down. That said, it still left us with concerns as to how the Fordham would perform during prolonged exposure to any extreme form of precipitation. As for wind, this jacket showed no weaknesses. It offers excellent protection against moderate to high winds. This is made possible by a thick exterior shell, dense insulation, a full-length, snapping zipper flap, drawstring hem, and adjustable cuffs. However, the Fordham's hem length is similar to a standard puffy jacket, leaving more of the lower body exposed to wind, rain, and cold.

Comfort

The Fordham can accommodate a wide variety of body types; however, it is more tailored to an athletic build. Users with larger frames may find it a little tight through the shoulders, armpits, and midsection, depending on individual measurements. The Fordham's solid scores in this metric were based largely on its appealing fabrics and overall feel.

If an old-school lumberjack were in the market for a down puffy, the Fordham would be at the top of their list. Its polyester shell is thick and weighty, like canvas, while its silky liner is cool and accommodating. Both of these features are enhanced by an overstuffed down core. This combination gives the Fordham an appealing feel that lands it somewhere between your favorite work coat and your puffiest mountaineering jacket. Another comfort feature is its duo fabric design, which divides the jacket in two. Its top half and sleeves are shielded in very dense polyester fabric, while the bottom section employs a softer, thinner, and more pliable weave. The result is more protection for the upper half of the jacket (which receives more contact) and malleable mid-section that allows the user to bend, twist, and move freely. The interior fabric at the cuffs was the only thing we didn't like. The seams are not symmetrical, and the fabric tends to grab at the wrists when putting on or taking off the jacket.

Versatility and Style

The Fordham has its own distinct vibe. Its style is urban enough to fit in at the local sports bar or java stop, yet Marmot's roots are firmly grounded in the outdoors, making the Fordham perfect for winter camping, chopping wood, or chilling by a bonfire. In short, the Fordham is an excellent all-purpose, daily-wear jacket. However, it's a little too warm for shoulder seasons, which slightly limits its versatility.

Construction Quality

Disclaimer: No corners were cut in the making of this product. Solid fabrics, high-performance treated down, reverse-coil zippers, storm flaps, and metal snaps are just a few of the features that allowed us to give the Fordham top marks in this metric. In fact, we're still scratching our heads over its near-perfect balance of equal parts quality and affordability.

When it comes to durability, sometimes small things are the most important, specifically how the jacket is stitched. We randomly selected several seams across the Fordham's shell and liner and then counted the number of stitches per linear inch. High-end jackets typically have 12 stitches or more per inch. The Fordham averaged 10-12 stitches — very acceptable for its price point. During our scratch tests, none of the Fordham's fabrics failed, but they do tend to scar. This isn't ideal, but it doesn't affect its overall function. All things considered, this jacket is well-made and built to last for years of normal use.

Should You Buy the Marmot Fordham?

We were certainly impressed with the quality and functionality of the Fordham. It brings a boatload of value to the table and provides excellent all-around performance at a fraction of the price of most of the top contenders. If you're in the market for a down puffy with a little more brawn, this jacket is a top contender. However, if you have a larger body type, you may have to study the manufacturer's size chart or try on the Fordham in person in order to get the right fit.

What Other Winter Jackets Should You Consider?

If a down puffy jacket is what you need, but you are focused on weight, the Rab Neutrino Pro is essentially parallel to the Fordham, but it has a much thinner shell, 800-fill down, and more of a mountaineer vibe. The Outdoor Research Stormcraft Down Parka offers the same down fill as the Fordham (700-fill), but it is protected by a dense GoreTex shell, so if you need something that is more resistant to precipitation, it may be the better choice.