Marmot Reactor Overview
Like a fresh cup of morning coffee, the Marmot Reactor Jacket will warm your soul both at home and on the trail. In fact once you start using it, you might find you can’t live without it. The ultra-soft micro fleece is a daily comfort during the brisk months of the year and it layers well for just about any adventurous outing, whether it be on the snowy slopes, at a riverside campsite, or your neighbor’s backyard barbecue.
More than a standard fleece, the Reactor comes equipped with an elastic drawstring waist to lock in your warmth, two zippered hand-warming pockets, a zippered sleeve pocket, a wind flap, and a reinforced collar. Any fleece can keep you warm, as can any cup of coffee, but these extra features are the cream and sugar that make it just right.
We’re giving the Marmot Reactor Fleece our Classic Pick award for the Wilderness Backpacker, Day Hiker, and Ultralight Backpacker because it’s lightweight, versatile, warm, and has the right features for the price. The women’s version of the Reactor is the Flashpoint.
Marmot Reactor Star Rating
- Comfort
- Durability
- Warmth
- Breathability
Summary
The Marmot Reactor fleece jacket is a standout lightweight fleece for high out put activities like hiking and backpacking. Cozy zippered hand-pockets, a reinforced collar, and easy movement throughout allows the jacket to layer well, or be your primary defense against cold.
Check out our comprehensive guide on fleece jackets to understand where the Reactor sits in the market and why a fleece is critical to active pursuits in cold weather. Read on to see what makes the Marmot Reactor better than your average cup of joe.
Update: The Marmot Reactor was tested in 2017, and received an update in late 2018/early 2019. The Marmot Reactor is now made with Polartec Micro, a small-grid fleece that’s quite different in texture than the version tested here, which is Classic 100 (and very fuzzy to the touch). The grid fleece is typically better at breathability and can improve warmth, and makes the jacket overall even more dialed in for active pursuits. The third pocket is also now an angled chest pocket, the entire shoulder area is reinforced, and the jacket weighs a couple ounces less overall.
Marmot Reactor Specifications<
| Feature Type | Feature Specs | What This Means |
| Weight | 12.7 oz (360 g) | Most fleece jackets weigh this much, but the Reactor is a little heavy for a lightweight fleece. |
| Fabric Weight | Lightweight | Fleeces are broken up in three weight types, and this is the lightest. This means more breathability and movement, and not as much warmth. But the Reactor is actually pretty warm. More on fleece fabric weight in our Guide. |
| Fabric Material | Polartec Classic 100 | One of the classic fleece fabrics. 100 is specific to the fabric weight, and it will feel like most of the active fleeces you know. More on fleece material in our Guide. |
| Fit | Athletic | This is a relatively tight-fitting fleece. Meant for active pursuits like hiking and backpacking. |
| Number of Pockets | 3 | Two zippered hand pockets and a zippered sleeve pocket. The hand-pockets are excellent, the sleeve is a little less useful. |
| Thumb Holes | No | No thumb-holes on this fleece, but it does have elastic around the wrists to keep some heat in. |
| Hood/Jacket Option | No | Marmot only offers this as a jacket or a vest. Bring a beanie. |
| Zipper | Full Length | The full length zipper has a wind flap behind it, greatly increasing the warmth. |
| Adjustable Waist | Yes | The waist has an elastic hem with an adjustable toggle which helps to keep in the heat. |
| Gender(s) | Men’s, Women’s Flashpoint | The men’s is called the Reactor, the women’s is called the Flashpoint. Except for fit they are the same jacket. |
| Sizes Available | Men: S-XXL, Women: XS-XL | Many options, but not an endless amount. They fit pretty true to size for an active layer. |
| Manufacturer Warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty | Marmot offers a lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects and workmanship issues. It doesn’t cover normal wear and tear. Most useful for zippers that fail. Be sure to file a claim if something fails on this jacket. |
| Retail Price | $95.00 | Not cheap, not crazy expensive. This jacket is worth the price for warmth and versatility. |
Gear Review of Marmot Reactor
Revelation: The Moment I Knew
Windy, wet, and wild makes an appropriate alliteration to describe the Oregon coast, especially so during autumn. The day hikes around here are incredible. Mossy trees, ocean views, muddy trails — it’s the best!
The Oregon coast does not want for epic views.
You have to know what you’re getting into, though, and be prepared for it. A quick jaunt through the woods often means cleaning the mud off your boots at home and throwing your clothes into the dryer.
The Marmot Reactor served me well on multiple hikes to the ocean-splitting cliffs of Yaquina Head and Cascade Head where the forest meets the sea. In drier moments the fleece worked well on its own. The breathable fleece kept me warm without making me sweat, and the added comfort of the extra features, such as the main zipper’s storm flap and chin guard, blocked the worst of the wind.
Cozy in the Marmot Reactor.
When things got wet the Reactor served as a nice buffer between me and my rain jacket. Sometimes a heavy coat was necessary, and sometimes the lighter Frogg Toggs jacket was enough, but no matter what layers I piled on I was happy to have the Reactor’s fleece close to my skin.
Digging Deeper
Comfort
The micro fleece is cozy to the touch and the jacket fits snugly in all the right places. The fabric is sewn to allow a full range of arm movement without causing the rest of the jacket to ride up on you. Marmot calls this “Angel-Wing Movement” (silly, I know), but I just like to call it a well-designed jacket, especially for active pursuits.
Angel Wing Movement means you can move your arms easily. As demonstrated here.
Warmth
The Reactor feels like it belongs on the warmer side of the scale when comparing it to other 100-weight fleeces I’ve worn. It uses Polartec Classic 100 Micro fleece, which many jackets use, but the reinforced collar zips high up on your neck, eliminating any need for a scarf, and the elastic hem locks in the heat down low. These extra touches make a lightweight fleece go far in terms of warmth.
The reinforced neck guard and full zipper make sure you stay warm. Most fleeces don’t pack quite this punch.
Fit
At 5’10 and 180 pounds, the medium men’s fleece fits me like a glove — a torso and arms glove, an upper body glove, a neck glove…you know what I mean. It fits well for an active layer. The hem rests a few inches below my hips, the arm cuffs reach my lower palm, the pits fit nicely in my pits, and everything else from the shoulders to the collar are on point.
It fits! Can’t you tell?
This is all for the men’s Marmot Reactor. The women’s version of this fleece is called the Flashpoint, and claims a similar tighter fit. Obviously I can’t comment on that.
Style
The Reactor has a sharp look. Marmot’s designers added a couple of extra details that make this fleece stand out. The textured interior lining is a subtle touch, and the complimentary colors on the cuffs and collar kick this jacket up a notch in the cool department.
So stylish.
Grievances
While the sleeve pocket looks nice and is functional, it’s not very large. I can fit my small iPhone 5s in the pocket, though that itself is a stretch, and most modern smartphones won’t make the cut. A small snack is the most you’ll probably ever use this pocket for. It could have been made a bit bigger, which is actually the case with almost all sleeve pockets.
I’d prefer a zippered chest pocket any day.
Final Word
For a stellar start to your day, grab a cup of your favorite coffee and wrap yourself in the cozy Marmot Reactor fleece jacket. Stave off the chilly air and look good doing it wherever your plans take you.
Where to Buy Marmot Reactor
We tested a men’s medium Marmot Reactor fleece jacket. It’s only offered as a non-hooded jacket. The women’s version of this product is the Marmot Flashpoint — it has the same features and materials as the Reactor. The only difference is fit.
Compare Marmot Reactor and Flashpoint prices below.
