Facebook Twitter Instagram
    FeedTheHabit.com
    • Home
    • Gear Reviews
      • Mountain Biking
      • Road Biking
      • Bike Commuting
      • Trail Running
      • Skiing
      • Outdoors
      • Water Sports
      • Vehicles
    • News
    • Trip Reports
    • Videos
    FeedTheHabit.com
    Gear Reviews

    Merrell Quentin Jacket Review

    Donald BuraglioBy Donald BuraglioNovember 13, 2013No Comments3 Mins Read

    Take the key elements of a few classic winter top layers, and combine them into a single multi-purpose design; chances are you’ll come up with something like Merrell’s Quentin Jacket.

    Merrell Quentin Jacket Features:

    • Fabric: 100% Polyester
    • 80g Primaloft Synergy insulation in body and sleeves
    • 30 Denier wind resistance
    • Stretch fleece on side panels and underside of sleeves
    • Water and stain-resistant finish
    • Two snap closure chest pockets
    • Reverse coil zippers
    • Lycra-bound cuffs
    • Drawcord adjustable hem
    • 30” center back length
    • Three color options
    • MSRP $149

    merrell quentin jacket

    Quentin Jacket in the Wild

    Depending on how you look at it, Merrell’s Quentin jacket is either an evolution or a curious amalgam.  It combines the styling and performance features of a few active cold-weather classics to create a distinctive look and feel in the sometimes hard to distinguish category of midweight performance tops.

    IMG_0245

    Style element #1: the heavy duty work shirt.  The Quentin’s dual chest pockets and slim profile give it the same versatility as either a stand-alone top or a toasty middle layer on super-cold outings.

    Style element #2: the puffy jacket.  The insulative components of the Quentin – basically the entire jacket apart from the side torso and undersurface of the sleeves – are very similar to the wide variety of micro/nano-puff garments available.  Merrell’s Primaloft Synergy insulation is very thin, but creates reflective microspaces against your skin to trap body heat.  The Quentin can be compressed down significantly for easy storage in a backpack, although its compressibility isn’t quite on par with similar synthetic insulation garments (Patagonia’s Nano Puff pullover, for example).  Its cuffs at the torso and sleeves stay comfortably in place close to your body to prevent heat from escaping inadvertently.

    Style element #3: wicking jacket for high-demand active use.  Of course, the down side of most synthetic down jackets is that they don’t wick sweat or ventilate nearly as effectively as true moisture-managing shells.  The Quentin addresses this by placing a wide strip of soft, stretchy, moisture-wicking fleece on the sides of the torso and underneath the sleeves.

    merrell quentin jacket side view

    The net result of this amalgamation is a jacket that keeps a trim profile but easily moves with you during activity.  It breathes well and removes moisture when you’re working hard, but retains enough heat to keep you comfortable when you slow down.  It’s not as effective as a full-scale wicking shell for dedicated high-aerobic use, but for mixed use, it serves a number of purposes quite effectively.  I primarily tested the Quentin on some mountain hike outings this fall: it breathed well when I was working hard uphill, kept me warm when the temperature dropped or the winds gusted above timberline, and stayed comfortable under a backpack all day long.

    The Good

    • Versatility of use
    • Good insulation to bulk ratio
    • Overall comfort of insulation and fleece

    The Bad

    • Not as compressible as comparable down layers
    • Insufficient moisture management and ventilation for high-aerobic activity

    The Bottom Line

    With nice versatility for multiple activity and a low profile for winter layering, Merrell’s Quentin jacket is well-suited for a variety of cold-weather adventures.

    Buy it now: Available at Amazon.com

    179
    SHARES
    ShareTweet
    merrell
    Previous ArticleCastelli Fawesome Vest Review
    Next Article Thule Raceway Platform 2 Trunk Rack Review
    Donald Buraglio
    • Website

    Donald is a physical therapist, ultrarunner, barefoot aficionado, and father of three with more than 20 years of experience in endurance sports. When he's not training for ultramarathons, he enjoys hiking or slacklining with his family in Monterey County, CA.

    You Might Also Like

    Küat Grip 4 Ski Rack Review

    January 26, 2023

    Trek Circuit Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey Review

    January 23, 2023

    Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Insulated Jacket Review

    January 19, 2023

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Most Popular

    Montec Fawk Ski Jacket and Bib Review

    February 28, 2022
    8.9

    Zipp 303 S Carbon Wheelset Review

    November 4, 2021

    Patagonia Downdrift Parka Review

    February 2, 2022
    8.5

    Canyon Lux Trail CF 7 Review

    November 28, 2022
    9.2

    SRAM Rival XPLR eTap AXS Groupset Review

    August 12, 2022

    Ultimate All-rounder? Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket Review

    February 2, 2021

    SRAM Rival/GX AXS Mullet Gravel Kit Review

    September 17, 2021

    Patagonia Storm Shift Jacket and Pants Review, feat. Gore-Tex ePE membrane

    December 21, 2022
    9.1

    Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 TLR Wheelset Review

    September 9, 2021
    9.1

    Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 TLR Wheelset Review

    June 18, 2020
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Advertisement
    Our Latest Posts
    • Küat Grip 4 Ski Rack Review
    • Ibis Exie Goes Global
    • Trek Circuit Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey Review
    • Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Insulated Jacket Review
    • Pearl Izumi PRO NeoShell WxB Jacket Review
    • Montane Anti-Freeze Down Hooded Jacket Review
    • Fresh Wheels: Fezzari Veyo is an Aero All-rounder
    • Mountain Hardwear Summit Grid Hoody Review
    • Review: Patagonia Long-sleeve Capilene Cool Merino Shirt
    • 2022 Gear of the Year
    About Us
    About Us

    Since 1999, we have delivered in-depth gear reviews, articles and content. We feature a small staff of savvy, experienced writers who love to review outdoor gear.

    External links to Amazon, REI, Backcountry and other retailers include affiliate codes that give us a small commission on each sale.

    To contact us or learn more, go to our About Us page.

    © FeedTheHabit.com 1999 - 2023. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.