I was lucky enough to win a Fuera Smock via the Paramo draw. I like the design but the cut is bizarre for a windproof. I'm pretty solid but there's enough room in the body & sleeves for me to put this on over a PHD Yukon without squashing the down! I'm trying to see this as a benefit... most of my windproofs are pretty close fitting (barring the baggy Montane Featherlite). But surely windproofs should be designed to go over a microfleece or baselayer at most. Even if a chap was a bit rotund, he'd have to be built like Bruto to fill out those sleeves. I'm sure I'll get plenty of use out of it but it'll be a flappy experience!
So I look with interest at this slimline clone. I've heard very mixed things about Epic though. Perhaps they've sorted out the quality control, but one industry insider I met said that the samples were extremely variable in terms of HH & breathability... and that it wasn't as breathable as most windproof fabrics.
That said, Wildthings Gear (a top end specialist brand in the States) has been selling Epic windshells for some time... so it can't be that bad.
Posted: 13/08/2009 at 09:04
