Mountain Hardwear Epic Jacket Review

Similar in features and weight to the Patagonia Rain Shadow, this is a middle-of-the-road jacket. It has medium weight, great waterproofing, but can't stuff into its own pocket. It works well as an every day rain shell.

Performance Comparison

Water Resistance

With 10,000 mm in water resistance, we found that the jacket was pretty darn waterproof. Mountain Hardwear's Dry.Q Core laminate is effective, all the seams are fully taped and all the zippers have storm flaps or a waterproof coating.

Breathability

Mountain Hardwear's Epic Jacket has two mesh-lined pockets that can be left open in addition to the pit-zips to help with breathability. While the jacket isn't very breathable with the vents all closed, once we opened the pit-zips and the pockets there was a marked increase in air circulation with little loss of weather protection. The pockets are rather small, however, and didn't add as much ventilation as the large front pockets on the Marmot Precip and Marmot Oracle.

Comfort & Mobility

We enjoy the simple design of the Epic Jacket. No Frills, just function. The jacket fits well, even with a layer or two underneath, and is generally comfortable and good looking. Testers' range of motion was generally uninhibited and the jacket kept mid-sections covered in reachy situations.

Features

The hood is comfortable and easy to adjust, as it has just a single cinch on the backside of the hood. The cinches along the waistline are easy to operate and the cuffs are adjusted with a simple Velcro strap.

The main front pockets are mesh lined to help with breathability and warmth, though they are small. There's also a little waterproof pocket on the chest for stashing your belongings safely.

While the zippers on the pit-zips have a waterproof coating that does a good job keeping the water out, the coating also makes the zippers really sticky; almost impossible to work with one hand. Generally testers preferred a zipper that can be quickly operated with one hand, especially on the pit-zips.

Weight & Bulk

The Epic weighs 12 ounces, which is pretty middle of the road compared to other shells, though leaning towards the lightweight end of the spectrum. For a very minimal and lightweight rain shell, check out the Outdoor Research Helium 2 - Men's. Or for a jacket of similar weight but better and more comfortable features, try the Marmot Aegis.

The biggest drawback to this jacket is that it can't pack inside itself. We aren't sure why two of the lightest jackets we tested (this and the Patagonia Rain Shadow) don't pack into one of their own pockets, but we feel that it is a major design flaw. It is impossible to clip the jacket onto your harness or the outside of your pack, resigning it to being packed inside the pack (not as easy to get to) and requiring that you carry a pack (sometimes when climbing you may not want a pack with you).

Best Application

This is an excellent shell for any activity in wet or rainy conditions,backpacking, or around town use. It can also cross over as a shell for skiing or other winter activities, but will require layers underneath.

Value

At $120 this is right in the middle in terms of price. It is $60 less than the similar Patagonia Rain Shadow. Saving $10 while only adding half an ounce seems like a good idea.

Conclusion