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Big Sky Products
Warm-N-Cozy Full Zip Epic Pants Initial Report
November 2, 2005
Thomas
Vickers
37 years old
Male
5 ft 11 in tall (1.8 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
redroach@pobox.com
Southeast Texas, Houston Area |
Tester Background:
I grew up in the piney woods of southeast Texas. Camping was a quick trip into the
mosquito-infested woods behind the house. My style has evolved and over the last 4 or 5
years, I have begun to take a lighter weight approach to hiking gear (I still use sleeping
bags and tents, just lighter versions). While I have flirted with lightweight hiking, I
feel that I am more of a mid-weight hiker now. My philosophy is one of comfort, while
carrying the lightest load possible.
Manufacturer Information:
Website: http://www.bigskyproducts.com
Colors available: NA
Weight: 6.9 oz (197g)
MSRP: $ 89.95 US
Additional features:
Full zip pants
Highly water/wind resistant,
breathable Epic fabric
Flapless YKK water resistant zips
Double slider zips to zip from top or bottom
Velcro waist closures
Button elastic ankle cuffs
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Information From Tester:
Weight: 7.25 oz (205 g)
Size: Large
Color: Blue
Length from waist to cuff: 43 in (109 cm)
Additional Tester Measurements:
Waist size: 34 in (86 cm)
Inseam length: 31 in (79 cm)
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Expectations:
My initial expectation was that I was getting a light weight pair of rain pants
to test, so I went off to the Big Sky Products website to see what else I could learn.
Other than pricing and pictures, there was not much I learned from the website
visit. I would really like to be able to figure out what Epic is and other technical
information, but that will obviously be part of my learning experience during this test.
Arrival:
The Big Sky Products Warm-N-Cozy Full Zip Epic Pants arrived in a plain brown box
with no documentation at all. This wasn't too much of an issue, but after a quick
inspection I discovered that the Warm-N-Cozy Epic Full Zip Epic Pants didn't contain a tag
of any sort either. That means not only do I have no clue as to what Epic fabric is,
but I also don't have instructions on how to care for it it either. Not a big deal,
but not having some sort of care tag in the garment leaves some big mysteries about how to
clean and dry this jacket. Also due to a lack of tags, I am assuming that the jacket is a
size large. Due to the lack of a tag, I am also assuming that there is no front or
back to these pants, kind of a uni-front garment of some sort.
Description:
The Big Sky Products Warm-N-Cozy Full Zip Epic Pants are dark blue. A full length
zipper (which is black) runs down the side of each leg from the waist to the cuff of the
pants. I guess "full zip" wasn't such a big mystery after all, but I
have never seen rain pants that have zippers like this. The waist is elastic and
adjusts/seals on each hip by the means of velcro fasteners on flaps.
The flaps, velcro, and elastic allows some degree of
adjustment to the waist area of these pants. Best of all, in my view, is that these pants
are of the pull on variety and there is no button to close the waist band area.
Nothing I hate worse than buttons jabbing me under the waistbelt of a pack. The
cuffs of the pants contain elastic and close with a bright silver metal snap.
After pulling, tugging, and adjusting, I realized that
the pants are basically two sided. The pants can be completely unzipped and separated so
that I have two identical sides. No front and no back because both sides are exactly the
same. While that sounds weird as a description, I soon realized that if the zippers
work well, I will hopefully be able to remain fully shod and simply zip the pants on over
any existing pants or boots I am wearing. If this design keeps me from doing the
one-legged dance as I try and stand on one foot while removing a boot, keeping the sock on
the bootless foot dry, and sliding rain pants over the bootless foot, then I am going to
be one sold customer.
TEST PLAN
Testing Location:
Southeast Texas
Altitude: Sea level to 250 feet (76 m)
Temperatures expected: 36 - 80 F (2 - 27 C).
Testing Activities:
Geocaching
Day hiking
Jogging
Bicycle riding
Test Strategy:
FIT
1. How well do the Warm-N-Cozy Full Zip Epic Pants fit? Are they too tight or too
baggy?
2. Do the Velcro tabs allow me to comfortably adjust the pants at the waist?
3. Does the waist hold the pants up during differing levels of activity?
4. Can I layer under these pants?
COMFORT
1. How well does the Epic fabric breathe?
2. How well do the pants vent?
3. Can I use these pants during all activity levels without overheating?
4. Do they keep me warm?
PERFORMANCE
1. How well do the zippers work? Do they slide easily? Do they stay shut?
2. Are the zippers waterproof?
3. Can I work the zippers while wearing the pants?
4. How water resistant are these pants? Does the fabric ever get wet?
5. How wind resistant are they?
6. How durable is the Epic fabric? Will it hold up to normal wear? Will it hold up to
being worn under a pack? What is Epic?
This list is a basic guide for how I plan to test these pants. I will be using them
several days a week in all types of weather and I feel that I will be able to come up with
even more ways to test this item as the process progresses.
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Read more reviews of Big Sky International gear
Read more gear reviews by Thomas Vickers
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