My Impressions:
Pros:
Constructed of waterproof, but breathable durable
material.
Cool, functional built in kidney belt & back
support.
Built in under the helmet hood that acts as a rain barrier for
neck area & collar.
Removable liner makes this a perfect cold weather
jacket.
Abundant functional pockets.
The most comfortable neck collar in the industry.
Cons:
none.
Bottom Line:
Let me tell you that I am a little biased towards Tour Master
coming into this review. I have been wearing Tour Master Jackets since I have
been Atving. These jackets are built to last. My original Tour Master Jacket is
still in excellent shape, even though I have tortured in over the years. When it
gets dirty I either hose it down or throw it in the washer to clean it.
When I had a chance to review the Epic Jacket by Tour Master I
jumped at the chance to do so. When I first picked up the Epic Jacket my first
impression was how heavy duty it was and how many cool features it has.
The built in kidney belt is a working piece of art for those
of us that ride the type of trails that I do.
One of my complaints with some of the jackets that I have
reviewed is the lack of padding in the collar area. I have worn the Epic Jacket
for grueling all day shoots on location and my neck never once felt
uncomfortable, where as before it would be rubbed raw from some of the other
jackets unpadded collars.
It's modular design with it's removable liner allows you to be
able to wear the jacket on very cold days, and remove the liner for other days
when it is warmer out. Bare in mind this jacket is best suited for cold weather
and wet riding. Myself I get too hot wearing this type of jacket in the summer
time.
There are enough zippers, snaps, and collar adjustments to
tailor this jacket to your riding needs. Also you will find an abundance of
waterproof zippered vents to keep that air flowing through your jacket when the
weather gets too warm for your comfort zone.
The aqua barrier under the helmet hood is a cool feature and
can serve several purposes, such as keeping the water off your neck in wet
conditions, plus as an effective air barrier to keep the wind off your
neck.
The bottom line is I would highly recommend this jacket to
anybody that wants to get the maximum value for their purchase. This jacket is
of very high quality and will last you for years of great service. I would
highly recommend this jacket for anyone that rides in wet, cold, & windy
environments. This jacket will keep you dry, warm, and comfortable. When the
elements let you down, this Epic Jacket from Tour Master will keep you
covered!
I liked this jacket so much that this is the only jacket I
wore while filming the Quad Trails TV segment featured in some of the pictures
above. During this shoot, I encountered near wintry conditions with rain, mud,
and very cold days. The Epic Jacket kept me dry, warm, and comfortable for the
entire shoot. Just think about it, when you are warm, dry, & comfortable you
are more alert when you are riding. This intern makes for safer riding, and a
more pleasant atv trip!]
Do yourself a favor and check out Tour Master when you want to
purchase one jacket that does it all.