[/I’ve been using the Spire jacket by Marmot in pretty tough weather, that is with temperatures ranging between -18 and - 2 Celsius. Although occasionally the wind was very strong, I never felt cold air passing through the three-layer Gore-Tex shell. On the other hand, the breathability was very good, as I could notice when climbing with skins.
As regards the fit, I’m 184 cm and 73 Kg; the size I’ve tried on, that is an M, was a little bit short especially on the back, whereas it fitted perfectly a friend of mine who is 177 cm and 70 Kg (look in photos).
Other details such as size of the pockets (two external and one in the interior), the fitting of the hood on the helmet and the zips (easy opening and closing, particularly as regards the underarm) are perfect. Moreover, I did appreciate the very high closure of the anterior zip, which allows an adequate protection of the chin and mouth from the wind. Last but not least, the powder skirt works very well and is very easy to quickly remove when not needed.
As a personal touch, I would have appreciated a pocket on the left arm to put the ticket, which however can be easily placed in the left anterior pocket.
In summary, the Spire jacket is a highly recommendable shell, characterized by a very good cost/quality ratio.
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