OMM Aether Smock Review

I bought the OMM Aether Smock in the autumn of 2016 specifically with the 2017 Montane Spine Challenger in mind. My intention was to use it as the hard shell of a layered system for this particular event.

My main objective being keeping weight down and retaining the flexibility to regulate my temperature through the use of layering over a long period of running in very changeable weather.

Me in my trusty Aether Jacket on the Spine Challenger

Top 6 highlights of the OMM Aether Smock

The weight: At 195g it is the leanest 3 layer jacket on the market without compromising the solid protection you need in a harsh environment
The cut: The Aether Smock has a really good active fit that allows for freedom of movement without any flapping about in the wind
The hood: The hood system is easy to use and I love the fact now, with the inclusion of the hood gasket, the hood moves with your head when you turn from side to side
The new cuffs: OMM call it ‘active multi-cuff’. They are on a velcro tab so you can either have them tight round your wrist or convert them to a thumb loop configuration which is neat
The droptail: They have managed to develop a draw cord system that doesn’t ride the droptail up your bum as you tighten it up which works really well and allows the rain to shed off quickly without collecting in layers of fabric
Waterproofing and breathability: Supreme, never any doubt in this department. I was particularly impressed with the breathability

And a few little niggles…

The new cuffs: While I think the new cuff system is great, the actual cuffs are really tight. Every time I put the jacket on I find that I have to contort my hands to get them through the cuffs! Maybe I just have big hands/wrists.
The hood: Presumably they have got rid of the velcro hood strap to save weight. All this means is that if you are not wearing the hood and its blowing a gale, it flaps all over the place and just becomes irritating - I recently got in contact with the product guys at OMM with regards to this, and yes, they got rid of the hood strap to save weight having found, through customer research, that most people just didn't use it.
The price: Don’t buy it off the OMM online store, there are plenty of e-retailers out there who are discounting the OMM RRP.

Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post I used the Aether Smock on the Spine Challenger and thought it did the job brilliantly. The weather was all over the place as you’d expect for an event in mid January and the Aether Smock was more than up to the task. And the smock, coupled with my layering system worked a treat – never too cold and never too hot.

Breathability and Waterproofing

The Aether Smock uses eVent’s new DVStorm 3 layer fabric. The fabric carries a 10,000mm waterproofing rating which essentially means that it’s at the top end of moderate to heavy rain. Any ratings over 10,000mm are highly waterproof for really heavy rain. The breathability rating for this jacket is 30,000grams which means that it is spot on for trail runners pushing their heart rates and generating a lot of heat.

The face fabric, or the exterior layer of the jacket, is treated in Durable Water Repellent, DWR. This DWR coating is what makes the water bead up and roll off the jacket in the rain. Over time, like on any DWR coated jacket, this treatment will wear off over time and will need to be reapplied. You can get sprays from Grangers or Nikwax.

I don’t mind admitting that I used to think that my jacket had lost its waterproofing when the water beading stopped. I now realise that this is not the case and that the use of the DWR coating is more to do with stopping the fabric from becoming saturated and therefore gaining unnecessary weight.

There are plenty of sites out there where you can get lots of information on how waterproofing and breathability works. Do a little research so you can work out what will work best for you and your chosen activity. This research will be invaluable for when you finally commit your hard earned cash to what is a fairly significant investment.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/expert-advice/guide-to-breathability

http://www.mountainwarehouse.com/expert-advice/waterproof-jacket-guide/

http://www.evo.com/guides/outerwear-waterproof-ratings-and-breathability