Mountain Hardwear Plasmic Jacket Review

Whether you’re out in the backcountry or braving the wet city streets, a dependable rain jacket can sometimes mean the difference between wet and miserable and dry and comfortable.  Over the last few months, I’ve had the opportunity to test out the Mountain Hardwear Plasmic Jacket in a number of different moisture rich environments and I am hear to tell you while this jacket is simplistic, it’s impressive!

The Mountain Hardwear Plasmic Jacket is considered to be more of an entry to mid level rain jacket when it comes to high-end outdoor brands because it doesn’t have all the technical bells and whistles, but the bells and whistles aren’t always all that necessary for most people.  Typically with outdoorsy rain jackets, you’ll see features from pit zips to 3 layers of material being used which helps with breathability and durability.  While these features often allow a jacket to perform better in specific outdoor activities, they add to the price of a jacket. Through eliminating some of these features, Mountain Hardwear was able to reduce the price down to $140 while still providing a quality outdoor rain jacket.

Pockets on the Mountain Hardwear Plasmic Jacket

The most noticeable feature in my opinion worth noting in the Plasmic Jacket is the hand or side pocket locations.  Typically with outdoor focused brands, the side pockets are often raised above the hips to avoid being placed where a backpack hip belt generally crosses.  The trouble with having these pockets raised is that they are often awkward to get to and you generally wear a rain jacket 95% of the time without using a backpack’s hip belt.  It sounds simple, but it’s really nice to have the side pockets in this jacket where the hands and arms naturally sit.  The downside of having those pockets lower where the hip belt goes on a backpack is that they often cover the pockets and make it challenging to access your pockets while using a backpack hip belt.

What type of rain jacket is right for you?

This is where you have to weigh the pros and cons of pocket location.  If you rarely go backpacking in or out of the rain, lower pockets usually most convenient.  However, if you’re constantly partaking in activities where you’re wearing a pack with a hip belt, using a rain jacket or shell with raised pockets might be best for you.

Dry Q EVAP – Waterproof & Breathable

To prevent rain from penetrating through the Mountain Hardwear Plasmic Jacket, MH uses Dry Q EVAP which is a material/textile that attaches on the inside of the outer layer of the jacket and prevents water from entering in through the outside while allowing moisture to escape. I’ve used this jacket on a number of hiking trips involving both heavy rain and strong winds and I am happy to confirm this material keeps the wind and rain out like a champ.  While I don’t believe that any waterproof jacket is 100% breathable, I found the Mountain Hardwear Plasmic Jacket to do a good job at pulling the moisture on the inside of the jacket to the outside.

Fit

I tested out a size medium jacket and found that size to be correct for my body size.  I am 6’0 tall and weigh 172lbs, and if you happen to weigh up to 15 lbs more, I think a size medium would work well at 6’0 tall and shorter.  The Mountain Hardwear Plasmic Jacket is meant to have a relaxed fit so you can layer underneath the jacket without having to look like the Pillsbury dough boy.

Final Thoughts

For the outdoorsy person who’s looking for a entry to mid level performance rain jacket, the Mountain Hardwear Plasmic jacket is a great option and a great value.  For more information, please visit MountainHardwear.com