Stealth Gear Extreme Photographers Suit Review - EPS Jacket

The Stealth Gear EPS Jacket - stylish and cut with a professional and low key look. It says it on the tin, Stealth.

The EPS Jacket.
Right, lets have a look at the jacket away from the website images and show you my actual jacket. Stylish isn't it. A professional cut that looks the business. Soft, warm and covered in pockets and a few surprises to boot.

Note the positioning of the Teflon pads on the arms and shoulders. Not some tiny area, but two thirds of the entire elbow range is covered in Teflon so as you drag yourself over gorse in pursuit of that dotterel, you wont have to worry about weak points.

The shoulder Teflon also goes right across the back. As individuals we wear clothes in different ways, so rather than mess about with trying to find the best place to reinforce, let's coat the whole area in the stuff. That's great thinking.

The pockets look more than substantial don't they, well you're in for a surprise in a minute..

Straight Forward Pockets - what you would expect...
Some simple straightforward features of any jacket, with a buttoned flap that fastens shut and opens quicker than any zipper. It's a system used all over the jacket and it works well.

Jacket Pocket - large and substantial with an over flap fastened with two buttons, a simple feature used all over the jacket.	Chest Pocket - it's two in one with an upper zip inside and a flapped outer pocket.	Jacket Pocket - not big enough for a map, but just about everything else. Soft inner lining as well.

now what you WOULDN'T expect...
An extending pocket, that is unfastened with a zipper around the rim will give a simply enormous amount of space. No more putting cameras on the ground when you need your hands free...

The large lower pocket unzips...	... to give an enormous amount of extension....	... to fit a camera with lens attached completely inside.

It's the shear volume you get from this pocket that makes it so utterly useful.

Carry the camera with ease....	...or for some light reading....	... compare two separate Yellow Pages for typing mistakes whilst waiting for the light.

The extendable over pocket.....

Yes you are seeing straight, that's two Yellow Pages inside one pocket. The buttoned over flap has an extender to give the pocket extra reach to keep that compelling text nice and try.

It's nice touches like this that make the EPS such a user friendly garment. You can tell that each of these ideas has come from some serious product thinking.

Let's have a look at some more of the jacket features....

Inside the Jacket
The inner lining and additional pockets are well thought out again. With pockets specifically for accessories, phones, credit cards, pens and perhaps a satnav or PDA, there is masses of space to take all you need and more.

Inside left of the jacket....	...now the inside right, loads of room for a fax printer copier....	...also an ample mobile phone pocket that is capable of holding a Sat Nav or PDA....

The Spacious Hood.
The EPS Jacket also comes with a spacious and snug hood that is detachable by the usual popper system. Just pull the collars up and snap the hood into place. Again there is Teflon coating on the tops of the hood material to stop it snagging on branches. A wire peak keep the rain out of your eyes....

Collar up.....	...snap the hood into place....	...stowaway in the lower mesh pocket when not it use....

More of what you WOULDN'T expect....
How about a bit of left field thinking, something to sit on. Ever frozen you bum to the rocks or got wet pants sitting on something you didn't expect?! Well just fold down the 'Sit Anywhere Seat' by unzipping the back panel on the rear of the jacket and it provides another layer of comfort. It also doubles up a huge pocket should you need it.

Unzip each flap from the side of the jacket	... and it extends downwards to make things a little easier on the rear...

Extending Zips for Crouching.
Here's another great feature, zips that open to allow greater comfort when crouching down. They open up on the sides meaning the front section of the coat now has greater freedom, so you can shoot without agitation.

Lift up the zips on each side...	...to get greater flexibility. Genius.

Under Arm Vents and Collar

It can be rather irritating to be uncomfortable and sweaty, so an underarm ventilation has been added. It's a common design in outdoor jackets and softshells, welcomed here also.

The Collar pulls up nice and high to keep whistling winds from getting inside. Its got a good size that means your face drops into it easily when fully zipped up, unlike many modern Gortex waterproofs that feel like they are strangling you.

Under arm Ventilation is a godsend for helping cool down quicker.	Soft 'Barbour' style collar which is comfortable and sensibly coloured	The collar pulls up high and keeps drafts away.

OK, lets have a look at the trousers.