Mountain Hardware Epic Jacket

[grrickar]

I'm looking for a lightweight shell jacket and pants and I have been considering Mountain Hardware Epic jacket and pants. I hiked with a buddy that wore these and they appear to be well made, and he stated they breathed well. I used a $40 set of O2 Rainwear, in trademark hideous yellow (some hikers probably thought they had sighted Big Bird in the GSMNP last month). The O2 rainwear worked well, breathed well, but I am looking for something more durable in a lightweight shell, and somethng to block the wind better. The 3M propore material seemed to let a good bit of wind cut through. The Mtn. Hardware setup is expensive, are there cheaper alternatives that are just as good?

[Youngblood]

I'm looking for a lightweight shell jacket and pants and I have been considering Mountain Hardware Epic jacket and pants. I hiked with a buddy that wore these and they appear to be well made, and he stated they breathed well. I used a $40 set of O2 Rainwear, in trademark hideous yellow (some hikers probably thought they had sighted Big Bird in the GSMNP last month). The O2 rainwear worked well, breathed well, but I am looking for something more durable in a lightweight shell, and somethng to block the wind better. The 3M propore material seemed to let a good bit of wind cut through. The Mtn. Hardware setup is expensive, are there cheaper alternatives that are just as good?

Grrickar,

Just a thought. I would think that your breathable rain gear is blocking the wind and that you would have felt the same coolness in any light weight, unlined rain gear. What happens sometimes is that a stiff wind pushes the shell near your skin, removing that layer of dead air between you and the shell while at the same time it blows away the boundry layer of warm air on the outside. This rapid cooling affect may make it feel like the wind penetrated but in reality, it didn't. In those conditions, you just need more insulation under it.

Youngblood

[The Solemates]

The Mtn. Hardware setup is expensive, are there cheaper alternatives that are just as good?

The Marmot precip combo is a great one. I think the jacket is around $80 and the pants are about $50 if you buy last years model instead of a brand new version. My jacket weighs in at 16oz (size XL); pants are 9oz (size L). They worked great for us on our thru.

I would recommend NEVER washing them however. The detergents and hot dryers we used on the trail virtually ruined ours. They are no longer waterproof. But we never got wet on the trail until the last few weeks, when they reached their end. A thru-hike will do that to gear though, I wouldnt blame the manufacturer.

[tlbj6142]

Why not get a windshirt to put under your O2? Cheaper and a much more flexible solution. That's exactly what I do for 3-season hiking.

Base Layer (7.8oz LS Merino Wool)-->Wind Shirt (3.6oz '03 Chinook or 2.8oz Montane Aero)-->Thermal Layer (9.1oz Montbell UL Down Inner Liner)-->O2 (5.9oz).

Of course, I don't wear the Thermal Layer while hiking. Just in camp or on breaks.

Though this doesn't meet your "durablity" requirement. How about the 3-layer (blue) O2 stuff?

[gravityman]

The best solution that we have found is the new Integral Designs eVent rain jacket. At 9.5 oz for a large it is light, (my blue o2 rainshields weight 9 oz in a large) and is MUCH more breathable than gortex. If you want to learn more about it before buying, I would suggest getting a subscription to backpackinglight. Worth $25 before dropping $220 on a rain jacket. He does a good job review a bunch of rain jackets.

Oh, we hated our precips. The breathability is essentially nonexistant, and they leaked withing a few weeks of hiking. The event jacket is pretty much exactly what we were looking for. We've been using the blue rainshields, which breath very well for the price, but aren't very form fitting.

Gravity

PS You can also get it in Yellow in case that is important to you!

[tlbj6142]

While I love to throw money away on gear, I just can't get myself to consider a $220 rain jacket. However, if/when I finally destroy my Rainshield, eVent is tops on my list.

On the bpl boards (Sh1tty UI and all), Ryan though the eVent might be breathable enough to replace a windshirt. IOW, not only do you drop a few ounces over a Gore rain jacket, but you can drop another 3-4oz by not carrying a windshirt.

I love my windshirt. I'd have to try this myself a few times before I'd give up the windshirt and just carry a hard shell.

[grrickar]

I ended up putting a Duofold Varitherm thermal shirt on under it, where previously I had worn just my Duofold wicking (coolmax style) shirt that is more breezy. I have purchased a Alpine Designs fleece zip shirt and pants for about $40 (for the two of them) that is lightweight and should fit the bill for the middle layer. It could have been that the wind pushed the cold shell against bare skin which made me think the wind was cutting through it. I'll have to test that theory. If correct then no need to dump a bunch of money on new raingear. :clap

The O2 stuff is fine, seems durable enough to get some good use out of it, but all they had it in was yellow. I'm embarrassed to post the pics of my in it, because I do have a remarkable resemblance to Big Bird! My hiking partner said all my rainsuit was missing was a biohazard symbol painted in red on it. Imagine me showing up at Clingman Dome in a crowd wearing that!;)

[gravityman]

While I love to throw money away on gear, I just can't get myself to consider a $220 rain jacket. However, if/when I finally destroy my Rainshield, eVent is tops on my list.

On the bpl boards (Sh1tty UI and all), Ryan though the eVent might be breathable enough to replace a windshirt. IOW, not only do you drop a few ounces over a Gore rain jacket, but you can drop another 3-4oz by not carrying a windshirt.

I love my windshirt. I'd have to try this myself a few times before I'd give up the windshirt and just carry a hard shell.

We are using it for winter backpacking/day hiking in colorado. The blue O2's just didn't work well in a strong (40 mph) wind. And the heavy (2 lb) gortex jackets are just, well... too heavy. But now that we have it, it will replace the 02 rainshields all together. It's just that much nicer and about the same weight.

We have never carried a windshirt. Just the rainjackets.

Gravity

[tlbj6142]

We have never carried a windshirt. Just the rainjackets.So, did/do you use your hardshell as a windbreak as well as for precipatation? IOW, would you hike in your hardshell on cool windy days?

Though I use my windshirt for more than just wind.

[Youngblood]

...but all they had it in was yellow. I'm embarrassed to post the pics of my in it, because I do have a remarkable resemblance to Big Bird!

You'll be alright, just don't wear a yellow cap with an orange beak... er, I mean bill. :jump

Youngblood

[The Will]

I'll cast a vote for the Marmot Precip Jacket.

This jacket represents a surprising equilibrium between weight, features and cost. An adjustable hem and cuffs, pit-zips and front chest pockets ensure as much ventilation as any jacket you'll find. The weight is sub-16 oz. and at a cost of around $100.

[gravityman]

So, did/do you use your hardshell as a windbreak as well as for precipatation? IOW, would you hike in your hardshell on cool windy days?

Though I use my windshirt for more than just wind.

Yes, absolutely. It is very breathable. I couldn't do this with my goretex jacket or my precips, but I can and do with my event and did with my blue o2's (although it was not a good solution with the o2 because of the "flapping" from the poor cut).

Breathability in my opinion between the ID event jacket and o2 is fairly similar with the o2 slightly in the lead (totally subjective, and might have more to do with the fit than actual breathability). The precip felt like a coated nylon jacket (IOW no preceptable breathability).

Gravity

[grrickar]

Besides the fit issue with the O2 raingear, I found the pants hard to pull on and off without removing my boots. It could be done sitting down or leaning on a tree, but not easily. Zippers on the legs would be a welcome addition, as would a drawcord in the waist to keep them up. The elastic was okay, but my pack kept pushing the pants down off my rump :o A drawcord should fix that.

[gravityman]

Besides the fit issue with the O2 raingear, I found the pants hard to pull on and off without removing my boots. It could be done sitting down or leaning on a tree, but not easily. Zippers on the legs would be a welcome addition, as would a drawcord in the waist to keep them up. The elastic was okay, but my pack kept pushing the pants down off my rump :o A drawcord should fix that.


True true! Note that the weight of the pants (6 oz) is just as heavy as some PU waterproof-breathable pants ( Golite Reeds are actually lighter), and you can get a pair of really nice pacliteIII pants from Montebell (Torrent Fliers) for 7 oz that have a side zip! So, the pants, for some reason, don't seem to be very weight effective given their functionality.

Gravity

[tlbj6142]

My O2 gear XL top is 5.89oz and my Size L bottoms are 3.92oz on my EX5 scale. Excluding the 0.67oz stuff sack (I put both items in the same stuff sack).

So total in pack weight is 10.48oz (297g).

I haven't had too many complaints about the set. Though most of my trips have been dry. I've used the jacket 2-3 times (in some ugly rain north of Damascus) and the pants once (though I wear them in camp as they are my only long pants for 3-season).

I wish the pants had elastic cuffs and the hood on the jacket doesn't give me enough room to wear my sunhat (for the visor). I now have a smaller sunhat and some day I'll add a bit of velcro (or a snap) to the pant cuffs to keep them under control.

[gravityman]

My O2 gear XL top is 5.89oz and my Size L bottoms are 3.92oz on my EX5 scale. Excluding the 0.67oz stuff sack (I put both items in the same stuff sack).

So total in pack weight is 10.48oz (297g).

I haven't had too many complaints about the set. Though most of my trips have been dry. I've used the jacket 2-3 times (in some ugly rain north of Damascus) and the pants once (though I wear them in camp as they are my only long pants for 3-season).

I wish the pants had elastic cuffs and the hood on the jacket doesn't give me enough room to wear my sunhat (for the visor). I now have a smaller sunhat and some day I'll add a bit of velcro (or a snap) to the pant cuffs to keep them under control.

Yeah, you must have the yellow suit. It's lighter than the blue suit, as the blue is a heavier material. Of course it's been a while since I weighed my blue suit, from memory my XL was 9 oz, pants 6 oz.

Is that right, you have the yellow suit? Maybe I need to reweigh it...

The blue has a few more frills, like a storm flap over the front zipper and tougher material.

Gravity

[tlbj6142]

Yes, I have the easter egg yellow suit.

[Youngblood]

Yes, I have the easter egg yellow suit.

I would have expected no less from Yellow Jacket. :)

Youngblood

[tlbj6142]

Actually the name comes from a pack I use to use (and still do from time to time) and a "bee" (or Yellow Jacket) that wouldn't leave me alone during a break on the trail.

[Youngblood]

Actually the name comes from a pack I use to use (and still do from time to time) and a "bee" (or Yellow Jacket) that wouldn't leave me alone during a break on the trail.


Okay, I understand the 'bee' part, but what did the pack have to do with it?

Youngblood

[tlbj6142]

Okay, I understand the 'bee' part, but what did the pack have to do with it?Sorry, I guess I left that detail out. I own a Yellow Equinox Katahdin pack. With the 3 compression straps closed, it sort of looks like a bee's body from behind. We figured our 'pest' thought of me as some sort of giant queen bee.

It was really just after the salt on our stuff. I had one licking my fingers for a couple of minutes while we took a break.