The new OMM Kamleika Smock comes with some impressive claims – it is a light top with a breathable waterproof and windproof nylon membrane, with taped seams, soft to the touch and stretching in all directions. The hood is wired to form a peak, and wrist loops ensure the sleeves stay in place. Having worn the smock over three months running and mountain walking in wet mountain weather in the UK and in the wind, snow and sleet of the Spanish Sierras, I can honestly say that I have been impressed by the performance of the garment, and that I would be confident in the protection it offers in all but the worst weathers.
Features
- 37.5 technology maintains comfortable skin temperature
- Extended elasticated cuff with thumbslit
- Watchface window on left sleeve
- YKK® AquaGuard half-length zip
- Fully adjustable hood with wired peak
- Fully adjustable elasticated hem with dynamic droptail
Technical Details
- 215g
- Flexile: Nylon/Spandex mix
- 4-way stretch
- Waterproof
- Windproof
- PFAS-Free Bio Membrane
- PFC-Free DWR: Durable Water Repellancy
The fabric has a good soft feel and it is comfortable to wear either as an outer shell in wet and windy conditions, or as a second layer under a hard shell in minging mountain conditions. I found that it kept me acceptably dry in all but the worst conditions, other than the sort of condensation I normally get when running or walking hard. The Kamleika Smock is well shaped with the drop tail keeping my back protected when bending to scramble on steep ground or to faff in the rucksack. In severe winter wind and rain I preferred having the added protection of a hard shell when walking into a head wind but only really because I wanted pockets to put my map into and to keep my hands covered.
The innovative new fabric is also PFA-free, avoiding the use of ‘forever chemicals’ such as PTFEs. I was interested to see whether OMM’s claims of long term performance could be maintained by regular washing – its been washed three times now, and so far it has remained excellent – and it doesn’t have that well-used waterproof smell about it (yet!).
The wired hood is a good feature, though I found a cap underneath was needed to keep it from flapping in my face in windy conditions. The Kamleika Smock features a window in the left sleeve to enable you to keep an eye on the watch. However, as a proud left-hander I wear my watch on my right arm so my one complaint is that the window is on the wrong arm. To all you right-handers out there, it’s a great feature!
This lightweight smock is a garment that I would be happy to take as part of my kit on any ultra or mountain race, though if the weather was forecast to be very wet or windy my preference might be to go for a heavier hard shell jacket for additional protection. However it’s small pack size and low weight will make it a perfect addition to my kit for this year’s ultra challenges.
About the author: Tim Laney is a long-time mountaineer, and some-time fell- and ultra-runner. He runs regularly with Bath Bats and has run one or two mountain marathons. He guides runs over the British (and other) mountains, and is always looking for a new challenge!
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All images courtesy of OMM/James Gray
