Shipping
It took 25 days for the package to arrive from China to my local post office in Finland. This is a fairly standard timeframe for mid-speed shipping. There were no nominal shipping costs for this product.
The package was well-packed and completely blank. The only visible sender was a Dutch logistics company, and there was no content description—very discreet packaging.
Usability
The EPIC is a high-tension device. Due to its significant weight, it must be kept under relatively high tension to stay in place.
The package included straps for neck support, but I didn’t find them suitable for my remote work setup.
The device is also quite long, making it difficult to conceal even under loose pants.
Adjustment is very easy, and the indicated kilogram values seem highly accurate, at least in the 2–3 kg range.
The adjustment screws are large and move smoothly. There is a metal nut inside the adjustment screw, making it durable for repeated adjustments.
The vacuum cup fitting is initially very tight, which may give the impression that it doesn’t fit. However, by applying pressure and using a twisting motion, it does snap into place.
Opinions
The device is heavy, but at the same time, it is very sturdy and made of good materials.
The stretcher can be easily disassembled, allowing for the replacement of the threaded rods with shorter or longer ones if needed.
The default M6 threaded rods are stainless steel but could be swapped for lighter titanium ones.
Unfortunately, my device had strong thread locker applied to the bottom of the rods, preventing me from loosening the locking nuts!
As a result, removing the rods is not easy in my case.
The extra silicone cushion is soft, but it reduces the hole size too much and doesn’t stay in place very well.
EPIC or NOT?
I don’t consider the device epic—it’s mediocre at best. The price might be acceptable if purchased at a discount.
I also noticed that EPIC Version 5 has been released. It’s great to see that the device (or devices) are actively being developed, which is not a given.
As a product designer, I understand that devices and components have various hidden costs, such as mold production, which raises manufacturing expenses. With small production volumes, this inevitably affects the final price or leads to poor-quality products due to cheaper molds.
However, I don’t see any obvious quality issues with the EPIC. It is a clean and well-made product, and the packaging is neat as well.
The Version 5 changes are not to my liking:
- My EPIC has large, long adjustment screws, while the new version has short ones.
- The vacuum cup attachment has also changed.
- I prefer the original design because it does not reduce the device’s effective length.
- When trying to shorten the device, the cup attachment method matters significantly. This was also an issue with my homemade device.
Final verdict: Not quite EPIC, but it replaces my previous extenders and will remain in regular use.
...And the included smartphone app? Not really my thing.