Mountain Hardwear Epic Jacket - Men's - 2007

I usually have no trouble finding a complaint or two about the best designed gear - the Epic jacket is an exception. I just returned from two weeks in Alaska which provided several chances to try out the Epic jacket and I can find nothing to complain about! Layered over a fleece jacket, it was up to the task on two 45-degree, rainy days in Denali NP. Kudos to Mountain Hardwear on this one.

Keep in mind, for the price point this jacket is stellar. I live in the Great Pacific Northwest where 30 straight days of rain doesn't come close to breaking any records; this jacket is superb in all types of precipitation and when coupled with a fleece or softshell does surprisingly well at sub freezing temperatures. The extra long pitzips come in handy as this jacket will retain heat when your active or, in my case, digging the car out of the snow. I choose this shell over others for its versatility; its weight allows the jacket to be used almost year-round and packed anywhere; and is classy enough to wear over a suit on wet days out of the office. Again, for the price and the jacket's versatility its a superb product.

After the heartbreak of losing my 9 year old Mountain Hard Wear Ethereal shell I began researching the market knowing I'd not find the same gear from Mountain Hard Wear (MHW) after all these years. Trying not to let the emotions of my loss influence my decision for new possibilities I also had to come to grips with the fact, I'm not involved in the same activities as when I first purchased my dream GORTEX shell from the early days of MHW. I have also learned that MHW is not the same core group, either. Too bad.

After considering options from the top to bottom, $500.00 plus to less than $100.00, trying to be realistic and outfit to my recent needs, I allowed my self to try a technically different product from MHW, the Epic constructed of Conduit Silk? Why not, great pricing, what's to loose?

Briefly, I'm out doors without huge demand beyond everyday work, which does not require that I trek anywhere other than between projects. I miss my heavy-duty GORTEX shell, however the Epic delivers lightweight comfort with room to spare, dryness and a windbreak. The zippers actually perform better than my old shell, however the lower draw cords don't stay as tightly cinched as I like and of course the length could be increased. I'm constantly pulling down on the bottom of the jacket, mostly to compensate for the loss of a snow skirt. Good news, the sleeve length, which MHW is known for is still built in. That's important to me as I weigh in at 195 lbs with long arms and a height of 74, Oh, and I enjoy a few cold brewskies now and again, there's room for moderate brew-belly, too.
So far I've only experienced mild winter temps maybe 60 F to 0 F, the latter requires layering, which works OK and that's using lightweight fleece.
Although there's been no down pours I have used the Epic in blowing sleet and mild soakers as well as windy days. At present, I'm satisfied given that I know this is a light to medium duty shell, with promise and features enough.

I feel that Bang for the Buck, I'm satisfied and in fact I may need to grab one more Epic for the road!

Respectfully,
Joe,
PS ~ I'm not the Plumber

I got this jacket as a gift and love it. I climb radio towers and in cold windy weather it does a good job blocking wind and is tough enough to not tear on the galvanized steel towers. My only complaint is the zipper on the vent under the arms is causing friction and the flap of material covering the zipper is wearing through.

The first time I wore this jacket I almost forgot to take my lunch because I always stay in the rain. It’s been raining hard the moment I received this thru the mailman. I’m about to deliver water so it’s the best try for my new epic jacket. This jacket is so light and waterproof, it’s really worth it. So those who are looking for a rain jacket this is the best, don’t waste your time looking for any jacket. And thanks for backcountry shipment is so fasts...

I used this jacket almost daily for two years in all weather conditions. It's shot now (leaking quite a bit) but for the mileage I got out of it I'm satisfied. Going to buy another soon. Two notable features are: Awesome pit zips and ventilation. The deep hood and visor keeps rain out of your face. I like this better than the precip.

I received my order the day after I placed it. The order was accurate and everything was perfectly packed. I had my first chance to use the jacket this past weekend at a family function with about 30 people there. Unfortunately, we had a cold, light drizzle, but I was prepared. The jacket performed better than I expected. I stayed perfectly dry. The rain beaded up on the jacket like a newly waxed car. The breathability was perfect. Very comfortable. Everyone asked where they could get one! My wife bought one too.

This jacket DOES have seam tape and it is waterproof. The "Tech Specs" say otherwise. An important detail for sure.

I am 6'3" 210 with monkey arms and the XL fits great. If anything it is a slightly larger than normal XL.

I wanted a great rain jacket to keep out the rain and chilly winds and this one certainly serves the purpose. It is actually very good in climates like humid Singapore but it is definitely not warm enough to be used in far colder climates alone to keep warm. Overall I love the design of everything on the jacket except for the hood area because it doesn't fold down nicely to form a great looking jacket with a collar. It sort of sticks out and just looks weird in that area. Oh well I guess what is important is that it serves the purpose it was intended, though I would have given it five stars if not for the collar/hood area!

This is one of the best purchases I've got this year. Keeps all the water out and has really gotten me out of a nasty fix when some unforeseen weather came in. Breathes well but really does exactly what it's suppose to do!

I'm a jacket lover. This one is superb, lightweight, perfect length and well ventilated. It's much better than the North Face Geosphere.

Ordered a small (5'6'' 130 pounds) and it fits just a tad bit big, but that's perfectly fine because I need to layer underneath it. I live in Southern California so it doesn't rain much here but i had a chance to test it out today during one of our few rain storms. It kept the rain out pretty well. I ordered it as a go to jacket for hiking just to stash in my pack just in case the weather turns sour. Its good enough that I'll probably also use it occasionally snowboarding over a light base layer as it doesn't really get too cold here. Nice jacket overall.

This rain jacket is awesome. The day I received it, I jumped in the shower with it and I was perfectly dry. It is very breathable and very comfortable. I would highly recommend this jacket to anyone who is serious about staying dry outdoors.

When it arrived i noticed it was much darker than i had expected (i ordered it in green). It also runs a little bigger so you if youre on the border between L and XL like me, youre probably better off going with the L. That being said it functions like a champ! keeps the wind and the rain out and its pretty warm! i have worn it in a rain to snow storm and it kept me toasty.

This rain jacket will perform well in fairly heavy rain storms. Pit zips are great, especially in the Southeast where I'm from. I got so sick of all the warm humidity in my jackets all the time, and they perform well. It's durable enough, and very lightweight. Don't think twice about throwing this into your pack for a short day hike or backpacking trip. Recommended.

Nice jacket. Has kept me dry thru a lot of rainy days. Works well with a heavy fleece under for cold wet days. Love the pit zips and water tight front zipper. Hood is hard to get on if jacket is zipped up all the way, but it stays put when then wind tries to move it.

Over all great jacket for the money.

I'm not sure where the other reviewer is getting the 'crinkly' aspect of the jacket, I never experienced that. The jackets cut and large hood are great, regarding advertised weight as noted in another review(my tag also stated 11 oz.) I think this may have been an issue before, but they are now advertising 13 oz and also found a way to get to that weight. Packs to about a softball or so size, pitzips work well, not perfect for easy access, but do their job. Would buy again

I needed to replace an old, worn out lightweight jacket and decided to get a rainproof one. I didn't want to spend a lot of money and I also didn't want some cheap no name jacket. This jacket is a good compromise.
I looked at the Marmot Precip and this one and chose the Epic mainly because I have been very pleased with the Mountain Hardware winter coat I have.
The day the Epic was delivered to me it was raining hard and steadily. I'm pretty sure the postman got wetter than I did!
I'm happy with this site as well; easy to deal with, good advice from the live chat(thanks, Jaime!), price is good, and shipping was quick.
Rob

It rains a lot here in Northwest Washington, and my Epic is the best raincoat I've ever had.

This jacket rocks. I basically lived in it during three days of constant rain. It breathed well and didn't even wet out. It is extremely light, compressible and durable. It looks pretty sweet too. I would definitely recommend this jacket for anyone looking for an inexpensive, completely waterproof/breathable jacket that won't make you go broke.

For price, features, and performance, you can't go wrong with the Epic. I was skeptical about the comfort of the interior material and about the waterproofness of the garment and, particularly, any breathability—but because of the weight and price I was willing to give it a try. It's been through two heavy downpours on three daytrips and is as breathable as any waterproof breathable fabric I've tried (and now, having tried Conduit, I think I've tried them all). The highest temps I've worn it have been in the mid 70s where, with pitzips, internal dampness was negligible in non-strenuous trail walking with pack. A great advantage, of course, is the weight and yet it doesn't lack many features. Not clammy like other 2-ply rainwear, either. Highly recommended!

The tag on the new jacket states that it weighs 11 ounces. In reality it weighs 15 1/2 ounces. Why lie about it? That just makes me distrust anything that Mountain Hardwear says. As for the rest of the jacket, it crackles and feels stiff when it moves, and the pitzips catch on the underneath coating when they close, which means that you have to take off the jacket to get the pitzips to close. During a one-hour rain drizzle, with the pits half open, the jacket felt comfortable and there was a light coating of moisture on the inside of the shell, but not enough to make me wet.

This jacket is a replacement for a Precip by Marmot. So far I really like the Epic. It seems to be more durable than the Marmot yet breathable and waterproof. The color is snazzy too! (Shiraz/Yarn).

Had one of these jackets already, lost it. Had to replace it! Best jacket in it's class for the price.

Very light, nice, well-made, and great-priced jacket from MH. I like the large pit zips. Good fit, too. Good coverage. I cannot comment on the rain resistance though, which is why I bought it, cos it's been too cold in the north east to test yet (I bought this for spring, summer, fall wear), so my fingers are crossed, but I am betting it's gonna be a lot better than the run of the mill slicker I had (fer shur).

While a little lightweight for full protection. This jacket worked well on our climb of Kilmanjaro.

This is an awesome jacket! I've worn it through a few heavy rains now, and have never gotten wet. The only problem I've seen is that the zipper catches a bit on the fabric in the chest area. You can't beat the price for such a great jacket.

I took this jacket to Panama thinking it would keep me dry in the infamous Panamanian rain season. It did, for about 15 minutes.

Well thought-out jacket in terms of staying dry, venting, and great design/fit. One point to improve - the cell phone pocket (breast pocket) steams-up a bit during a run so best not to keep phone there for too long.

This jacket was bought to replace a very similar but different brand G. M. Tech H2O jacket that I wore out in two backpacking trips in roaring downpours. I have used this jacket in only one downpour so far but I can tell that the fit, feel, and function of this jacket is the best quality I have found. I have have had lesser quality jackets and they have leaked through the linings The lining in this jacket is smooth and not grabby like the rubber coatings some others use. This jacket does not feel clammy even when in the rain for a hour or more. Dependable Brand A+

This jacket made it through some of the worst conditions I have been hit with. Rain, freezing rain, snow, gale force winds, you name it we got it. The jacket laughed everything off thanks to its impermeability, armpit vents, and superior hood design. I am going to buy backups of this jacket!

This is an inexpensive and nicely styled rain coat. Because of the white plastic lining, it's not as cozy as the Epic gloves, but as an outside shell it would do well in many weathers.

One week after getting this jacket I went on a trip to Canyonlands NP Utah. It rained and snowed the entire time I was in the backcountry. By the time I exited the backcountry 3 days later the only thing that wasn't wet was me thanks to my epic jacket. Also when I got my jacket I intended to be gentle with it since it is so thin. However, our campsite was under a juniper tree which I managed to bash my head off of numerous times, it didn't harm the hood one bit, which is far more than I can say for my head.

This jacket does what is expected. It repels rain and breathes well. It was a little stiff for the first few times worn but loosened up nicely and now is very comfortable. Nice fit, not too tight or baggy. A good buy and I would recommend to anyone.

Very nice jacket for the price.

I wear a 36 sleeve and even with layers under it sleeve length is great.

Couldn't be happier with this minimalist weight shell. It is completley water and wind proof and is cut long in the sleeves and waist to completly cover any layers or jackets. Very pleased with my purchase.

Awesome shell for the price. weighs nothing and is super well built.

My son took this jacket to Philmont Scout Ranch. It rained 8 out of 10 days on the trail - he said the jacket was great.

I bought this shell for my backpacking trip on Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. It held up great, however the front pocket tore when I bumped up against a small tree.

Keeps the rain off perfectly and warmer than I thought it would be. Couldn't be happier!

My wife and I bought the Mountain Hardware Epic rain suits. We like the fit and they are sooooo light weight. She really likes the placement of the pockets, etc., etc., I agree and I like the sharp appearance. We will definitely check your site first and seek the aid of your helpful gearheads.

This jacket is great and packs well. It is longer in the back so it comes to under my waist. It also it a great price.

I have used this jacket a lot. Whether it be fishing, camping, rock climbing, or just walking around. It's ultra lightweight and comfortable, plus it breathes really well. It packs down super small. The Epic is the best rain shell I've ever used. Dare I call it an "Epic" jacket...he he he....um

I gave this jacket 3 chances and after the 3rd time of having wet shoulders, wet lower arms and being wet near the upper zipper I decided to send it back. Wish it was as waterproof as it claims because I would've liked to keep it.

Keeps me dry and packs very light. Great for day hiking and long trips.

I purchased this rain jacket for my husband as a holiday gift. Unfortunately, it did not fit as expected. The sleeves were much too long and the length fell a bit too short. We were disappointed as the quality of the jacket itself, w/o the sizing problem, is excellent.

this add is very deciving it claims this is a backcountry ski jacket and its not its a very very thin ripstop NYLON RAIN JACKET its not a ski jacket and the green color they show is not at all like the picture its much darker ..it may be worth the money if your looking for a rain jacket with pit zips but the marmot one is much better quality

Great jacket!

Bought this jacket for my husband, but had to return it because he found his old one. It looked really nice on, fit true to size.

Not the best jacket but for the $ you can't beat it. The hood can't be pulled up when zipped all the way up. And the multiple layers make it feel baggy. But for the money you can't beat the look and dryness.

I love this jacket and wear it all the time! Its great!!!

I have too much gear. Nuff said about that. However, I do have a small group of items that I simply can't do without and the Epic Jacket is one of those. Its super lite-weight design and superb hydrophobic abilities keep me dry time and time again. What makes it different than say a PreCip or something like that? Well, it always comes down to the little things right? Otherwise, all of us in the outdoor industry would just wear trash bags right? The Epic sports maximum customization from heat vents to that little thingie on the hood to keep it out of the way. The clincher for me. But don't just take my word for it, try it out and see for yourself.

The picture and discription are very deciving it says its a ski jacket and great for back country but in reality its a very thin ripstop nylon rain coat the add has one little tiny mention that its good for rain sure it will keep the wind off you but if your looking for a light ski jacket I would not recomend this one
if you want better quaility I would recomend marmot lightweight jackets much better for about the same price

This jacket is not waterproof! I wore it in a moderate rain storm and the sleeves got totally soaked through. There were also some damp spots inside the body. I need a lightweight waterproof jacket so i am returning this for credit and will try a jacket from another manufacturer.