After a quiet year on the gear front, OMM is coming back with a bunch of new lightweight kit.
The pack range will stay much the same until 2011, and the brilliant new-style Kamleika models also remain, but there will be more clothing options now to make OMM a proper multi-use one-stop brand for lightweight outdoor pursuits.
Above is the new Radian Top, a mix of Polartec 100 microfleece with a lightweight stretch softshell running around the sides, the underarms arms and making up the cuffs as well. The is gives it a close fit and maintains free movement. The main zip is long for venting, there’s a single chest pocket and thumbloops which create semi-mitts for good hand coverage. The weight is 300g.
Below Iain of ARK, the new owners of OMM, is holding up another colour option and a wummins-fit version in the pale blue. The zips on the his and hers versions will be orange on the black production versions.
Below are the new blue versions of the Kamleika Smock (260g) and Jacket (300g). It’s not a cobalt blue, it’s got a bit of paler ice blue mixed in there which I like as it’s a little different. The blue water resistant zips are very subtle too if the back with orange zip versions are little to punk for you.
These current Kamleika models are fantastic, the new fabric is much better than the original and the looks are much easier on the eye. I’ve been using a smock for months and I’ll have an update coming up.
That dummy was taller than me even though he didn’t have a head. That’s disconcerting.
The big news is that there will be two eVent shells coming later in the year, the Cypher Jacket (280g) and Smock (240g) as seen below.
The Smock is very minimal, single pocket, lycra cuffs with thumbloops, fully adjustable hood and water resistant zips. There’s very few seams in here, and couple that with the eVent fabric and it’s about as breathable as a membrane shell is going to get. The arm and body length are good too.
The jacket had velcro adjustable cuffs, two front pockets (which will slide upwards onto the chest for the production model), and both models will come in the yellow pictured or black with orange trim.
The detailing is also good, zip garages, soft-feel face adjustment, and reflective logos and printing feature on both.
The Finch down vest will be back and improved, with 800 fill, sizes from XS to XL, elasticated arm holes and Pertex Quantum shell inside and out. Weight will be around 260g. The colours will be black, yellow or bright green. Photie below of the orange and black version just in by Pony Express!
We’ve also got the Rotor Smock, a Pertex Quantum shelled, 40g Primaloft One pullover. It has a zipped-tunnel front pocket, velcro adjustable cuffs (a rarity on similar tops), weight will be around 280g for a size large and it’ll be black with orange zips.
Most of us know how good a piece like this is to carry and use, this along with a down vest and you’re king of camp comfort all year round.
Below is Iain again, now wearing a different Rotor Smock sample, this has the right coloured zips but has an extra chest pocket that won’t be on the production version. He’s also wearing the stretch fleece Radian Beanie which I didn’t see or I’d be sitting wearing it right now.
The weights above are all provisional, but are looking good, and there’s a bunch of other stuff in the works across the range which we should see emerge next year, new packs, updates to old favourites too.
It might be a new start of sorts for the brand, but it’s a strong one. I’ll be testing some of the kit and let you know how it performs in its natural habitat: oot there.
Lots to like here. I take it the weights for the Cypher jacket and smock are the wrong way round? Just to test to see if we’re paying attention? Great to see more minimalist eVent smocks, the death knell of the Oz Pull-over?!
Liking the Rotor smock too, direct competition for the Fireball and Zephyrus, no?
Well spotted, now changed.
The Rotor is good, nice long arms. Like you say, it’s right up against the other models for a proper fight.
The prices are all pretty similar as well I think.
That Cypher smock – just put a spanner in the works for me… suppose it will be down to fit when compared with the Rab Demand :-$
That event smock is a belter. Mellow (or not) yellow is looking good. What sort of price will it be?
I think the smock is £180, but I’ll check at home.
Chewy, just to muddy the waters even more, the smock feels more like an Oz than a Demand when you wear it…
“Below Iain of ARK, the new owners of OMM, is holding up another colour option and *** a wummins-fit version in the pale blue *** ”
:0) Lol, I can’t wait for Metric Kate to see that line!!
Some of that kit looks like it could be tremendous and a serious advance for OMM me thinks, clothing wise. Particularly liking the event tops (hood any good), microfleece pullover and that insulated bin bag. Never tried Event but allegedly its the BEST for breathability, is it Pete? I have an old ME protoype micro fleece with powerstretch side panels and underarms from about 18 years ago, still going strong. It never took off then but now a lot of people seem to be doing it and they are a great midlayers combo. Bloody wallets twitching already
Ooh I might hold out for a rotor smock, my old Rab generator is getting a bit worn, the pertex outer is starting to fray around the hem and cuffs.
A finch smock with full sleeves would be welcome here, seeing as I put a hole in the cuff of my PHD ultra and I still have the ultra vest.
Matt, don’t you upset Kate now!
Coops, the Pertex will be the newer less shiny version for the production model. I like the Fonz leather look though :o)
The hood on the smock was pretty good, laminated peak with face and volume adjustment.
There’ll be more tweaks though, so I’ll udate on it when I get a tester in later on.
The fleece should be good, it’s a nice use of fabrics. Stretch always makes me happy!
BBF, there might be a Finch jacket later on, the vest looks properly fat doesn’t it?
I’ve got a Yeti down wear preview coming up as well though just to add to the confusion.
It’s a shame the hood on the event smock isn’t wired. Any rumours of a Montane event smock?
We were taling about this the other day with the Oz hood, and I looked at the OMM smock with the comments in mind.
The fabric is so light that a proper wire on the peak wouldn’t work, it would catch the wind more than repel it unless you made the peak quite small.
The Rab Demand has a wired peak bit it’s quite short, it’s also not using the lightest eVent.
I’m finding out more all the time about the reasons for things!
But, as long as the peak is stiff enough, lamination should be fine. The Oz peak was just too soft.
fair play. sounds like it’s worth a try then for sure.
Time will tell!
blah, blah, waterproofs, blah blah fleece, blah blah hoods, blah blah event. Yeah, Yeah very interesting, but you need to get back on the case, where do we get our OMM beanies from ;o)
As soon as I know it’ll be on here!
More seriously though, with the leaving of Mike Parsons from OMM, is OMM now just a brand of a larger company, hence all the new stuff, with an OMM logo slapped on it. Can’t help but wonder and shudder, after what happened with Karrimor.
It will be a very different OMM without Mike, the man is a legend and an inspiration.
I remember talking about some of the kit above with Mike and the rest of the ARK and OMM folks a year or more ago when they were felt pen drawings on a flip-pad, so I think there’s still a tangible thread running through the range right now.
We’ll just have to wait and see what direction it all goes in the future I suppose.
Interestingly, I’ve been playing with a couple of current Karrimor packs that came in for test, and although there’s some stuff that’s annoying, in some ways they’re the best packs to wear the name since Mike’s day’s ended in the 90’s.
Wow, exciting times ahead! I love the look of the new Cypher smock and it will sell out fast. I’m Looking forward to your reviews and how the Cypher compares to the OZ and OZO, both walking and running. You’re going to be a busy fella Mr PTC. Good luck with all the new kit.
…and are they updating the pants? On the Kamleika pants I preferred the zips on the old version, the current orange water resistant version feels to tight and restrictive on the lower leg. Have you been testing any and will the water resistant zip soften with use?
The pants remain the same. These zips do soften a little after much use, but I think you only really notice when you’re opening and closing them, not in a general flexibilty.
But I shall pay closer attention to that in the future and take note.
Busy? Aye, it’s kit armageddon here just now!
There’s another kind of armaggedon going on in the Higgins house but I’ll spare you the details (we all have the bug lurgy). Let’s just say my first sick day for about 6 years! And water and Lucozade are the only things I can keep down-bleurgh…
Kit above looks good. And see if you are gonna do black stuff then the wee touches of orange zips here and there or the blue / green on the Haglofs are what make them stand out. (I’m coming at this from a colour/design eye again as techy things go over my head, for now at least).
:o)
I started to type “milk that sick day” but that sounds all wrong so I shall say rest and recouperate in front the telly instead, and don’t hurry back to work. Aye, that reads better.
The black with orange zips look magic, I love it.
I have the usual extensive coverage of Montane’s wummins gear coming soon also.
Oh the colours…
Today has been interesting. A day on the couch in front of the telly (except when I was out of commision on the bathroom floor scared to move in case I was sick). I didn’t like that part. Tennis, Jessica Fletcher, Diagnosis murder, flog it and now ready steady cook! With wee naps in between all that.
Don’t mention milk though, all I’ve had is water and a couple sips of lucozade ( the chemist lady gave my mum pepto bismal which will NOT be going near my lips-yucky! Looks like those bottles of peniccillin). I am craving a big cold drink of Irn Bru but that would be suicide in this condition, I shall wait a few hours!
Yes, Montane wummins wear, can’t wait! is it spring/summer? I’ll look out for that post.
:o)
The day when Irn Bru isn’t the saviour is a bad day indeed!
All will be well by the weekend, you wait and see.
Just had my first few sips of Irn Bru. It tasted great! Had a piece on sausage for my dinner too :o) but still not 100% though.
Now, do you think it would be bad to have 3 sick days off in a row? (tomorrow being the 3rd day). This causes me great anguish…
I’d say it’s pointless going back ’til next week?
Piece on sausage, oh yes.
Any idea when we’ll be seeing the finch vest in the shops?
I’ve been look at the Haglofs LIM down vest and the PHD Ultra vest for this years Saunders MM, I might have to wait until the finch vest hits the shops.
Should be August/September before the new Finch is in the shops if the samples are right.
Bit of a wait!
I’m sorry to be posting nearly a year on but as i’m considering combining two of these products i would apriciate your advice…
So father christmas brought me a OMM cypher smock and i’m thinking about purchasing the rotor smock for warmth. Are these jackets designed to go together? I feel like the Cypher smock is quite fitted and maybe the jacket version would be better suited to fit a insulator underneath?? The smock cuts quite high in to the armpit , which i think ideal for running in. Have you tested these over the last year? whats your verdict?
Cheers
Your timing is perfect, my test samples were supposed to come in ages back, but I was talking to them today and a Cypher and a Finch are now on their way.
I’ll have a look when they get here and see what’s doing, it’s too long since I tried the samples on to remember much about them!
More soon.
Resurrecting a dead thread is that allowed?
Gonna do it this time anyhow ;)
So after a fall from the bike my old Kamleika smock is shredded :(
So now I have a problem… Replace it with the all new Kamleika (£88) or shell out for the Cypher (found one for £126)?
I’m just not convinced I can put up with the crisp packet feel/sound of a “proper” waterproof :S
Help me Obi-Wan your my only hope :D
eVent does soften quite a bit after a few washes, and it has noticably better breathability compared to the Kamleika, but that close fit with the stretch is very hard to beat.
You won’t go far wrong with either at those prices.
Dead threads always welcome a little stirring :o)