Thanks for watching. Checkout the Gorka 4 for yourself- russiancoldcamo.com/collections/gorka-suits/products/bars-gorka-4-genuine-russian-army-special-military-bdu-uniform-camo-hunting-suit
In the winter of 1995 we invaded Bosnia, driving our vehicles and tanks across the Sava river on the first floating pontoon bridge used in an active military operation since World War II. Needless to say, it was cold and snowing. All we were wore were wool socks, cold weather boots, polypro tops and bottoms, cold weather gloves, and Goretex tops and bottoms - and that's it. That's what we wore the entire winter building Camp Colt, manning checkpoints, and patrolling the ZOS. We didn't even put on BDUs until spring. I stayed nice and warm the entire time. Did the same during the winter when on deployment to Kosovo back in '99. Looks like I'm going to pick up one of these Gorka 4 suits soon since they're much less expensive than the mil-issue Gortex suit I wore when deployed. I still have my Army-issue polypros from the 90s and they're still going strong. Military polypro top and bottom is where it's at for cold weather work, at least for me.
Thanks for the information. I'm an anorak/pullover kind of guy, so that Gorka 4 looks pretty awesome. I had always assumed it was constructed of full synthetic material. I'm a fan of tight cotton weave outer shells. You're a pretty compelling story teller and speaker, with a positive attitude. I think it would be pretty cool to see you on Alone. Take care
Thank you, Joshua! Appreciate it. These suits are really excellent. I have put so much time in wearing the 3 and it is still going strong. Alone would have been cool. Just auditioning for it changed me, or at least made me focus on this stuff very intensely. Have a good one
Great information. Especially reinforcing the importance of clothing in a survival scenario. I have the Gorka 3 and Gorka fleece lined. I will be wearing the fleece lined Gorka in February for training. Great video!
It is believed that in military affairs, a full-fledged mountain suit was first used by German mountain rifle units during the Second World War. This statement allows some researchers to believe that other army analogues, including the Soviet "gorka", come from German models. The version is very controversial, given the fact that similar clothes, in the same years, were used, for example, by mountain units that did not fight, Switzerland and Sweden. It is more fair to believe that the Soviet model was created on the compilation basis of the most successful civilian models and captured samples. "Anorak" is a long, knee-length, and often even lower, jacket-"cloak", one-piece, both back and front, with a large hood, in modern vision - comparable to a sleeping bag with sleeves, representing nothing more than the field clothes of the extreme peoples of the north of Russia, and, later, the USSR and Russia (Yakuts, Khanty, Mansi, etc.) and Fino-Ugric peoples of Western Europe, that is, the clothes of the peoples of the central and far north. By the mid-70s, when the developers were forming a technical specification for a special mountain suit for special forces, the specialists of the USSR Ministry of Defense already had a clear idea of what kind of uniforms a fighter needed in mountainous conditions. Since 1976, the first samples of the mountain suit in small batches began to arrive for test use in separate special forces units of the GRU GSH, in unit "A" of the KGB of the USSR and separate groups of border troops. By the beginning of the 80s, the supply of troops with a mountain suit began on a permanent basis. The suit quickly gained popularity among professional military. It consisted of a parka jacket (the version of the anorak jacket was rejected by the command at that time. There is a legend that when accepting a mountain suit by the state commission, he raised the question that when providing medical care for an injury, an anorak jacket of a mountain suit having one or more holes in many cases would be cut and become completely unusable, but simply the jacket could be unbuttoned, subsequently washed, darned and fought in it further. ) and a half-overalls, which was later replaced with loose-fitting trousers equipped with suspenders. The suit was made of tent cloth - a thin canvas fabric with a very dense structure and low weight. In addition to the suit, a warm wool sweater and a balaclava were attached. Gorka received a real combat run-in during the war in Afghanistan (1979 - 1989). In the 40th army, which was in the DRA, special mountain rifle battalions were formed, among other equipment, equipped with mountain suits. The Gorka also became the main field uniform for army special forces units and units of the KGB of the USSR that performed "special tasks" on the territory of Afghanistan.
Thank you very much for these details and history lesson. I tried to find better sources of information on the suits, but did not have much luck. It makes a lot of sense regarding the anorak being rejected in favor of the button up jacket for assessing and providing medical care. Thank you again for the information. If I do another gorka video in the future, I will be sure to provide better details thanks to you. Best regards, Jess
Thank you! Thats awesome you are getting into bushcraft and getting a gorka! Time outside is time well spent. Having the right clothes makes all the difference too. Cheers
I bought my Gorka 4 when I saw your review for the Gorka 3 awhile ago. I failed to recognize the different jacket. After receiving it though I do like the anorak design over the button up. A happy mistake. Thanks for the review
Ordered my Gorka 4 a week ago, coming from Russia. It's a bars Gorka 4. I paid £78 pounds don't know what that is in dollars, but that's with postage. Cheapest one I could get and made from bars. 👍🏻 🙂 Great piece of outdoor kit got mine of Ebay, check the Russian size guide. 👍🏻
@@EnduranceRoom enjoyed your review of the Gorka 4, watched your review on your gorka 3 which I was going to get. I watched another review on the Gorka 4 which made up my mind to get it. Thought you did a good review👍🏻🌲🧥. 🙂
Another excellent video, which is what I have come to expect from you. I purchased a 3 and a 4. I bought them at the same time. In cold weather I love the 4. Spring time and warmer weather I prefer the 3. I like being able to open the jacket for warmer weather. I put a oilskin finish on it and it makes the suit very water resistant and the product I used hasn't really affected the breathability of the coat. Anyways, had them near 5 years now. Pulled a few moose and bear out of the woods too, and still going. Like you stated, very underrated piece of gear. Always look forward to your videos. Thanks.
Thank you, Sandor. Appreciate the info on the oilskin. Bear and moose, that is excellent. We have some bear here and moose a little further north. Love to see one someday. Have a good one!
HooRaw ! Yea I stopped wearing carharts years ago ! Too bulky but I use them for to work in my shop so they get Dirty ! Now comes to my good gear yes I hand wash them in cold water but I use a tote for wash and rinse works great especially on my wool gear , and always dry on line ! Suite looks good have to check it out ! Lol
Nice! Carharts are great for getting dirty. What kind of shop? Totes sounds like a great option for the hand wash. 👍 If it is below 60F in your area, these suits are amazing. Definitely worth checking out. Cheers
Well it definitely gets below 60 hear in Indiana! But soon I’ll be moving up to New York around the redfield area , my shop I do all kinds of things from working on my old iron dodge ! To making 17th and 18th century weapons so I do some blacksmithing , woodworking, leather working and things for camping , just a old school jar head ! HooRaw !
@@EnduranceRoom you've got a great channel I discovered you when I bought a plash palatka a long time ago and was looking for different ways of setting it up really enjoy your content. It would be nice to hear your opinion on the Telnyashka I know there is a summer and winter variant
@@EnduranceRoom if you get one be sure to check the sizes I got a summer one in medium but it fit like a small I haven't gotten around to buying another the fabric feels nice though
Some comments... The Gorka 3 and 4 came out at the same time, they are different styles (full length zipper vs anorak half zipper). BARS is considered quite good quality and cheapest (though it is also the most recognizable/common), with SSO(SPOSN) being slightly higher quality, followed by Splav being the highest quality but also the most expensive. SSO(SPOSN) also uses a different naming system, the Gorka R (Gorka 3) and Gorka S (Gorka 4) (there are other ones, but the two main ones are R and S). They also come in all sorts of colors and camouflage patterns, plus there are also other types. You can still get the Splav Gorka 1, SSO Gorkas C P & E are for summer, Gorka 5 has fleece in it, and the Gorka 6 which is the modernized gorka 3 from Splav). If it has any other company name it is not a real Gorka, and probably substandard quality (there are a lot of knockoffs out there that are not as effective). So make sure it comes from BARS, SSO(SPOSN), or Splav.
@@frostydrifter Kommando makes their own versions of the Gorka - they aren't recreations of existing models and they aren't real Gorkas. They aren't substandard though, they have a full video detailing just what they have modified. It's made of ripstop material, they've upped the stitching count, newest model has mesh in the armpit to dump heat, and they've added better buttons as well as more material in the neck to facilitate head rotation. They go out of stock fairly quickly and a full set will run you 300$. You can get BARS for 200 or less elsewhere.
I have the bars gorka 3 and an sso/sposn gorka c (anorak). While the bars ones are ok, the SSO/Sposn are just a huge leap forwards in quality. Better features, better fabric etc.
Thanks Harry! Glad you liked it! It was a fun one to make. I definitely wanted to do a good job with it, as I think very highly of these suits. Cheers my friend
Excellent review. Think I’d prefer the 3 . You know roughly what area I live . Being able to open the front / chest to release excess heat is almost a necessity in our climate. Glad to see you’re well. Have a great day
Thanks Brother. I think one of the 3s or even one of the SSO Summer Gorkas would be excellent for your area. The SSO stuff is nice and is a little bit lighter weight canvas. Still blocks the wind and is water resistant. Make sure to get them a little oversized, then it is easier to add underlayers as needed. Have a good one!
So I understand the benefits of an anorak, but I really dislike them anyway. I like to be able to open my jacket when being physical, or when the weather warms up. So I would like the 3 more, BUT is there a difference between the fabrics? If the material is improved in the 4, it would make it a tougher choice. I think the clothing industry just loves polyester and has marketed it to death. It is convenient, and hard to beat for an outer layer, but cotton has been really overlooked. It breathes well, is tougher, and won’t be full of tiny holes after sitting around a fire. I e gone natural fibres for everything except rain gear, and even that I’m planning to get some wax for certain applications. So this suit is very likely going to be part of my hunting/camping gear in the future. I just want to chose the right one. And Happy new year from Montreal, and I hope your channel does well too.
Thanks Jim! Its a tough call. Being further north, I think either would serve you well. The fabric may be a bit heavier on the Gorka 4. I wasn’t sure, as my 3 has been in service for so long. I have gotten 3 years of hard use out of it, and expect to be able to get at least 3 more. I went with the 3 for the reason you mentioned, thinking it would have better thermoregulation and increase the ability to use it in warmer months. This is true, but after the temperature below a certain threshold, (60F for Gorka 3, 50F for Gorka 4), it doesn’t really matter. The main factor would be the under-layers. You want to get the suit slightly oversized. At 6’2, 210lbs, I fit in a 52/6, but I wear a 56/6
Благодарю за обзор. Данный костюм проверен временем, боевыми действиями. Я очень люблю этот костюм. У горки есть десятки модификаций. Я пользуюсь Горка 3 К. Этот костюм помог выжить многим людям.. Это тот костюм, которому можно доверять свою жизнь и он точно не подведёт.
First time at this channel. Corporal Corner suggested and I am very happy he did! I really enjoyed this video. Thank you for the awesome work you put into this!
Enjoyed your explanation, have a gorka 3 with fleece inside, been wearing it for a few years when hiking/camping or just working outside. Super strong jackets, after all these years of abuse it is starting to tear down at the lower arms...will wear it till it completely falls to pieces and then maybe try the 4
Gorka 3 fleece are awesome. Honestly, I have a couple 3s, and rarely use the 4 these days. They are nice. I like the 4 pants, but the anorak jacket to me just isn’t as convenient as the 3.
@@EnduranceRoom Yeah good point there..Biggest issue is finding a provider whom still sells these or whom can still deliver them due to the sanctions...
Hi Jess .. An informative share .. thanks. "Your Clothing is your First Line of Defence." That Sentence should be be inscribed on Mt Rushmore for everyone to see. I sometimes get ribbed at my preparation when going out for an extended period in adverse weather .. "Ha ha .. Tommy has everything." Yes, its good natured, but it is also an indication of mind sets that sometimes result in people getting into trouble. Good Quality Gear does not have to cost an arm and a leg .. likewise, 'buying cheap' can be costly. Also .. 'Branding' is not always indicative of being the most suitable for the situation at hand. As you have shown .. looking to what the 'Natives' use in their Geographical Extremes is a useful Guideline .. the Miltary Special Forces (the Cream of the Crop) being something to look to. Take care my Friend .. stay safe .. and Insulated 😊 .. Tommy
Thank you, Tommy! Glad that you liked it. It is interesting seeing the focus, or lack of focus I suppose, on the clothing. It really doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Some of my best finds were in my local surplus store for less than $20. Other items that I have really favored were things that I made or pieced together. Very true on the mindset of the ill prepared. We have seen our share here too. Kids hiking to a mountain top 15 miles into the woods with nothing but shorts, T shirt and a small water bottle. Those can be really expensive lessons. I guess sometimes, those are the ones we need to figure things out. I know I have had a few ;) Have a good one my friend. Cheers Jess
I have a gorka 3 and a first gen sumrak suit both are great for hiking and camping. i’ve also owned a partizan suit. the Russians are great at making uniforms and masking suits.
Great review Jess, I'd say by now you have a good bit of time in/with the Gorka clothing, and so any praise comes from honest and lengthy experience. I recall there was a Russian Gorka or Gorka type suit that had one of my favorite features, which is the "poacher's pocket", which is the large pocket on a smock or jacket that runs across the lower back and is accessible from the sides usually, but I can't seem to find it now, or recall if it was made of the preferable cotton canvas material, or something synthetic. I'll keep looking on a few Russian/Soviet sites to see if I can find it again, but if that sounds familiar to you at all, please let me know! Happy New Year my friend!
Thank you, Sean! That definitely sounds interesting. I have not seen any gorkas with the poachers pocket. Definitely interested if you come come across it. Have you seen Ivarr’s channel, Evasion Survival Alaska? He has some really good stuff and makes/mods a lot of his kit. Probably wouldn’t be too hard to sew in one of those pockets. Oh man, the wheels are turning lol Have a good one my friend and Happy New Year!
@@EnduranceRoom Hey Jess, thanks for the tip on Ivarr's channel, it looks pretty cool! I'm not sure how "official" a Gorka suit it is, but the one I had found was called a GORKA S (also shows up as a GORKA-S), which looks like a modified GORKA 4, though I'm not sure what the material actually is. It's a very similar anorak but with the poacher's pocket and a few smaller changes in details. The pants seem to be basically the same as a standard G4.
@@TheScoundrel70 sso/sposn gorka S or gorka C. Both the same thing i think. Basically the bars gorka 4 but a lot better made with better material, (higher thread count, denser, more durable and windproof) better features like windproof button fastenings (the one thing that let down my bars gorka 3, wind just blew right through the button up front, especially on the motorbike). The only thing with the poachers pocket on the gorka C is that while all the other pockets are buttons, the poachers pocket is velcro. But i head that is because it was designed for some sort of sit or insulated pad instead of being just a normal pocket although i dont know how true that is.
Thanks brother for this review. I appreciate your views on what I refer to as functional comfort. An amazing suit for hard wilderness use, but the selling point for me was the ability to keep parasites like leeches and ticks from making contact with your body! I also appreciate the pointers on cleaning and maintenance .. great video my friend!🤜🤛
Thank you very much, my friend! Really was an eye opener for me. I grew up on a farm in NW PA. All I ever used was Carharts, t shirts and flannels for work/woods clothes. Now, pretty much all I use is military gear. Its what its made for. The civilian outdoor gear is great, but the durability (typically) isn’t the same. Have a good one brother! 🤝
I wonder why they didn't use the V shape cut where the rear of the hood meets the back of the anorak like the GJ used on their WWII anoraks. This is a key feature for venting air to cool off and trapping air to stay warm.. Anyhow Im a huge fan of anoraks like this. Great video- smooth presentation...
That is interesting. Do you have any pics you could share? I saw an article saying that it was misinfo that these were inspired by the GJ gear, but I am not buying it. They also said that these suits were being used in the 70s, prior to Afghanistan, but I couldn’t find any other info. Regardless, it works. Thanks for watching man. Have a good one
completely agree with your comments about clothes being your first line of shelter and how important they are. have you heard of ventile cotton? ive some anoraks coming for review soon. its like a more refined cotton thats woven even tighter , swells up to become waterproof
@@EnduranceRoom similar but the ventile is more refined I think, it was developed to replace the need for rubber in car tyres I think! Back in WW2, British airmen wore it as a survival suit Incase they ditched in the ocean, I think it's only made in one factory in sweden
Because of the cotton this suit is made of it must be worn with the propper weight of base layer. Polypropylene, polyester or wool in cold, wet or below freezing conditions.
That looks really nice Jess, I am going to check it out! I'm still waiting for the Särmä TST L4 Recon Smock to be available, but for $150.00 for BOTH the jacket and pants, that is hard to beat!
Thanks, James! Its an awesome suit. The recon smock looks great, but for the money, you could have two gorka suits. The British smocks are pretty nice as well, and can be found quite reasonably, especially the desert camo, which is easy to dye. You would really like Ivarr’s page, Evasion Survival Alaska, if you haven’t seen it. He has a lot of good stuff going.
Dude, this was a great review. Is there any way you can provide your size ordered and your guess on which height and weight is would extend to? Thanks a ton.
Thanks my friend. You want to get one slightly oversized. I am 6’2 210lbs and can fit a size 52/6, but I prefer to wear 56/6, as this gives me a little extra room for under-layers. The elastic helps take care of it being baggy and it makes it really comfortable to move in. If you have any questions, let me know. Cheers
@@EnduranceRoom Thanks. I looked on the site and instantly knew I had to ask. Those are my almost exact physical attributes. Keep making awesome videos friend.
Your take on waxing would be useful. There is so much conflicting advice, I suppose experimentation is the key, but haven’t heard of beeswax coconut oil mix before. Proportions?
It isn’t really necessary, but easy enough to do. I mixed 50/50 coconut oil and beeswax. You can add pine tar to it as well. It helps keep wax soft and improves impregnation and waterproofing. Personally, I just wear them as they are.
I had my Gorka 4 for many years and it stil in very good condition...I use to have Digital flora and thay was perfect for our cold here in sweden,,,,Do you know how much cold this Gorka 4 can handle?...maybe i difficult question maybe depends on what you wear under i think?,,,,,Thanks for our video......CA from sweden
Hello, great review! Do you have a review about the belt with pouches you are waring and whats inside of the pouches. Friendly regards en keep on the good work..... niels
Thank you, Niels! Appreciate it. I did a video on the belt a few months ago. I believe it called Survival Belt Rig. If you scroll back through my videos it should be easy to find. Cheers Jess
Hi ! То что ты показал на видео,это ширпотребные костюмы,настоящий горный костюм делался из такого же материала как плащ-палатка с вставками из кирцы(материал солдатских сапог).И обязательно в фасоне анорак с длиной позволяющей закрывать поясницу и с возможностью одевать поверх штатного обмундирования
Hey Jess, mooie info van de Gorka 4 en 3 , alleen hier in Nederland een probleem (!) ik heb alleen IDEAL betalen , dus GEEN creditcard , voor mij onmogelijk om een Gorka 4 /3 te kopen . mogelijk heb jij een andere oplossing ?? Btw, een GOED 2022 gewenst, en blijf gezond !! grtz uit Nederland Janneman
Its a little different. They use two numbers, the first is for chest and waist, the second height. I am 6’2 210lbs and wear a 54/6 for warm weather, and either a 56/6 or 58/6 for winter, so I can add layers. The layers is key. These are totally awesome suits.
@@EnduranceRoom yeah they look like something I need for winter to stop the wind. Like you said if it rains use a poncho and then if its really cold layer up. Would you say its a good snow suit for long term use?
@@miked4152 Yes, absolutely. It deals with snow very well. I lived in my winter gorka last year. These are the same, just not lined, but thats lets you adjust your layers accordingly.
Alrighty, Been looking at the sizes and wondered what would fit me, I'm 6'2 and 245lbs with about a 38/39in waist, It looked like a 56/6 would fit me but i'm unsure, Anyone willing to help?
It is breathable. Key is having appropriate layers underneath and then adding or removing them as environment or activity changes. For example, if you were backpacking, you want to be a little cold with before beginning moving, activity generates heat and will balance out without causing undue perspiration. When you stop or it cools down, add another layer underneath gorka. 👍
@@EnduranceRoom Thanks for the answer. I usually have a layer of wool against my body, then a layer of fleece (if it's very cold). Then something wind repellent/shell on top. The reason I ask is because I live in an area with *very* steep mountains that will make you boil. Taking an anorak on and off to regulate heat is less ideal than opening a jacket, I reckon. Other than that, good advice. Sweating should be avoided in cold climate.
I doubt that a Gorka would fit. I do have a knockoff m65 field jacket with liner and that keeps me really toasty. BTW, did you setup the padded hip belt on your belt rig?
Never know, they make quite a few sizes. Nothing wrong with an M65 and a liner though. No pad on this belt, old ALICE rig. I have another that does have the pad though.
@@EnduranceRoom I hope keep using that setup. I like the layered concept. You carry your essentials on your harness setup, and I guess you carry your sleeping bag, shelter, extra food and comfort items in your backpack.
@@Grizzly907LA Thanks. Yes, that is the concept. I have been favoring my large pack for winter, but everything fits into it and I suppose I could put the belt rig in as well. Typically, I keep a haversack or buttpack inside the main pack for essentials when I get to camp if I plan on moving around. I have the habit of rotating my gear too much. I do it to keep things interesting on here, but lately more and more I want to stabilize and refine my kit.
@@EnduranceRoom I like that. I'm sure everything I am going to use will fit into my USMC ILBE or USGI ruck. I would like to wear a pack along with the kit. Keep rotatating your gear. I like the reviews. I also like the Ratnik and Smersh gear. You got a nice niche. By the way would do a review on the Ratnik sleeping bag? I snagged one for a little over $100 plus free shipping. The Russian stuff is pretty good gear, but expensive.
@@Grizzly907LA Thank you. Both the ILBE and US packs are great. I will try and get ahold of a Ratnik sleeping bag. They seem to fly off the shelf when they come in. Definitely look interesting.
Thanks for watching.
Checkout the Gorka 4 for yourself- russiancoldcamo.com/collections/gorka-suits/products/bars-gorka-4-genuine-russian-army-special-military-bdu-uniform-camo-hunting-suit
Dude you do a great job of explaining and showing us all the features of this gear! Jess awesome video! Well done sir !!
Thank you, Kris! I appreciate it my friend. I put some work into it. I am getting to the point where I need to make notes lol
In the winter of 1995 we invaded Bosnia, driving our vehicles and tanks across the Sava river on the first floating pontoon bridge used in an active military operation since World War II.
Needless to say, it was cold and snowing. All we were wore were wool socks, cold weather boots, polypro tops and bottoms, cold weather gloves, and Goretex tops and bottoms - and that's it.
That's what we wore the entire winter building Camp Colt, manning checkpoints, and patrolling the ZOS. We didn't even put on BDUs until spring. I stayed nice and warm the entire time.
Did the same during the winter when on deployment to Kosovo back in '99.
Looks like I'm going to pick up one of these Gorka 4 suits soon since they're much less expensive than the mil-issue Gortex suit I wore when deployed.
I still have my Army-issue polypros from the 90s and they're still going strong. Military polypro top and bottom is where it's at for cold weather work, at least for me.
Thanks for the information. I'm an anorak/pullover kind of guy, so that Gorka 4 looks pretty awesome. I had always assumed it was constructed of full synthetic material. I'm a fan of tight cotton weave outer shells. You're a pretty compelling story teller and speaker, with a positive attitude. I think it would be pretty cool to see you on Alone. Take care
Thank you, Joshua! Appreciate it. These suits are really excellent. I have put so much time in wearing the 3 and it is still going strong. Alone would have been cool. Just auditioning for it changed me, or at least made me focus on this stuff very intensely.
Have a good one
Great information. Especially reinforcing the importance of clothing in a survival scenario.
I have the Gorka 3 and Gorka fleece lined. I will be wearing the fleece lined Gorka in February for training. Great video!
Thank you. It really is a huge piece of the puzzle. The fleece lined gorkas are amazing. Good training to you my friend. Cheers
i have 2 gorka suits and are fantastic
Yes! 100%
It is believed that in military affairs, a full-fledged mountain suit was first used by German mountain rifle units during the Second World War. This statement allows some researchers to believe that other army analogues, including the Soviet "gorka", come from German models. The version is very controversial, given the fact that similar clothes, in the same years, were used, for example, by mountain units that did not fight, Switzerland and Sweden. It is more fair to believe that the Soviet model was created on the compilation basis of the most successful civilian models and captured samples.
"Anorak" is a long, knee-length, and often even lower, jacket-"cloak", one-piece, both back and front, with a large hood, in modern vision - comparable to a sleeping bag with sleeves, representing nothing more than the field clothes of the extreme peoples of the north of Russia, and, later, the USSR and Russia (Yakuts, Khanty, Mansi, etc.) and Fino-Ugric peoples of Western Europe, that is, the clothes of the peoples of the central and far north.
By the mid-70s, when the developers were forming a technical specification for a special mountain suit for special forces, the specialists of the USSR Ministry of Defense already had a clear idea of what kind of uniforms a fighter needed in mountainous conditions. Since 1976, the first samples of the mountain suit in small batches began to arrive for test use in separate special forces units of the GRU GSH, in unit "A" of the KGB of the USSR and separate groups of border troops. By the beginning of the 80s, the supply of troops with a mountain suit began on a permanent basis.
The suit quickly gained popularity among professional military. It consisted of a parka jacket (the version of the anorak jacket was rejected by the command at that time. There is a legend that when accepting a mountain suit by the state commission, he raised the question that when providing medical care for an injury, an anorak jacket of a mountain suit having one or more holes in many cases would be cut and become completely unusable, but simply the jacket could be unbuttoned, subsequently washed, darned and fought in it further. ) and a half-overalls, which was later replaced with loose-fitting trousers equipped with suspenders. The suit was made of tent cloth - a thin canvas fabric with a very dense structure and low weight.
In addition to the suit, a warm wool sweater and a balaclava were attached.
Gorka received a real combat run-in during the war in Afghanistan (1979 - 1989). In the 40th army, which was in the DRA, special mountain rifle battalions were formed, among other equipment, equipped with mountain suits. The Gorka also became the main field uniform for army special forces units and units of the KGB of the USSR that performed "special tasks" on the territory of Afghanistan.
Thank you very much for these details and history lesson. I tried to find better sources of information on the suits, but did not have much luck. It makes a lot of sense regarding the anorak being rejected in favor of the button up jacket for assessing and providing medical care. Thank you again for the information. If I do another gorka video in the future, I will be sure to provide better details thanks to you.
Best regards,
Jess
I have a gorka-4 on the way. I hope to share your enthusiasm as I’m just getting into bushcraft. I love your videos!
Thank you! Thats awesome you are getting into bushcraft and getting a gorka! Time outside is time well spent. Having the right clothes makes all the difference too. Cheers
I bought my Gorka 4 when I saw your review for the Gorka 3 awhile ago. I failed to recognize the different jacket. After receiving it though I do like the anorak design over the button up. A happy mistake. Thanks for the review
Nice! Funny how things seem to just work out sometimes. Have a good one!
Ordered my Gorka 4 a week ago, coming from Russia. It's a bars Gorka 4. I paid £78 pounds don't know what that is in dollars, but that's with postage. Cheapest one I could get and made from bars. 👍🏻 🙂
Great piece of outdoor kit got mine of Ebay, check the Russian size guide. 👍🏻
Thats awesome! Enjoy the gorka! 🤝
@@EnduranceRoom enjoyed your review of the Gorka 4, watched your review on your gorka 3 which I was going to get. I watched another review on the Gorka 4 which made up my mind to get it.
Thought you did a good review👍🏻🌲🧥. 🙂
@@johncamps1337 Thanks 😁🤝
Very cool Jess 🤠
Thanks Herb! 🤝
Another excellent video, which is what I have come to expect from you. I purchased a 3 and a 4. I bought them at the same time. In cold weather I love the 4. Spring time and warmer weather I prefer the 3. I like being able to open the jacket for warmer weather. I put a oilskin finish on it and it makes the suit very water resistant and the product I used hasn't really affected the breathability of the coat. Anyways, had them near 5 years now. Pulled a few moose and bear out of the woods too, and still going. Like you stated, very underrated piece of gear. Always look forward to your videos. Thanks.
Thank you, Sandor. Appreciate the info on the oilskin. Bear and moose, that is excellent. We have some bear here and moose a little further north. Love to see one someday. Have a good one!
Love your videos man 😁👍
Thanks Mike! 🤝
Nice clothing system. Adapts well in the northern hemisphere and explained great. 👍
Thank you! It really is excellent in the colder environments.
HooRaw ! Yea I stopped wearing carharts years ago ! Too bulky but I use them for to work in my shop so they get Dirty ! Now comes to my good gear yes I hand wash them in cold water but I use a tote for wash and rinse works great especially on my wool gear , and always dry on line ! Suite looks good have to check it out ! Lol
Nice! Carharts are great for getting dirty. What kind of shop? Totes sounds like a great option for the hand wash. 👍 If it is below 60F in your area, these suits are amazing. Definitely worth checking out. Cheers
Well it definitely gets below 60 hear in Indiana! But soon I’ll be moving up to New York around the redfield area , my shop I do all kinds of things from working on my old iron dodge ! To making 17th and 18th century weapons so I do some blacksmithing , woodworking, leather working and things for camping , just a old school jar head ! HooRaw !
Gorka suits are awesome pieces of equipment plus they look super badass.
100%
@@EnduranceRoom you've got a great channel I discovered you when I bought a plash palatka a long time ago and was looking for different ways of setting it up really enjoy your content. It would be nice to hear your opinion on the Telnyashka I know there is a summer and winter variant
@@taylorbennion3706 Thanks man, appreciate it! I haven’t checked one out, but they look interesting, especially the winter variation.
@@EnduranceRoom if you get one be sure to check the sizes I got a summer one in medium but it fit like a small I haven't gotten around to buying another the fabric feels nice though
Some comments... The Gorka 3 and 4 came out at the same time, they are different styles (full length zipper vs anorak half zipper). BARS is considered quite good quality and cheapest (though it is also the most recognizable/common), with SSO(SPOSN) being slightly higher quality, followed by Splav being the highest quality but also the most expensive.
SSO(SPOSN) also uses a different naming system, the Gorka R (Gorka 3) and Gorka S (Gorka 4) (there are other ones, but the two main ones are R and S). They also come in all sorts of colors and camouflage patterns, plus there are also other types. You can still get the Splav Gorka 1, SSO Gorkas C P & E are for summer, Gorka 5 has fleece in it, and the Gorka 6 which is the modernized gorka 3 from Splav).
If it has any other company name it is not a real Gorka, and probably substandard quality (there are a lot of knockoffs out there that are not as effective). So make sure it comes from BARS, SSO(SPOSN), or Splav.
Also kommando has some no?
@@frostydrifter Kommando makes their own versions of the Gorka - they aren't recreations of existing models and they aren't real Gorkas. They aren't substandard though, they have a full video detailing just what they have modified. It's made of ripstop material, they've upped the stitching count, newest model has mesh in the armpit to dump heat, and they've added better buttons as well as more material in the neck to facilitate head rotation. They go out of stock fairly quickly and a full set will run you 300$. You can get BARS for 200 or less elsewhere.
I have this one and is exactly as you describe it. Best camo, outdoors suit by far.
I have the bars gorka 3 and an sso/sposn gorka c (anorak).
While the bars ones are ok, the SSO/Sposn are just a huge leap forwards in quality. Better features, better fabric etc.
SSO is nice for sure. (I have a gorka E). I definitely appreciate them both.
A beautiful informative presentation, really enjoyed that Bro, well done. Harry
Thanks Harry! Glad you liked it! It was a fun one to make. I definitely wanted to do a good job with it, as I think very highly of these suits. Cheers my friend
Love the anorak design, traps heat really well especially with the waist cinch👍Native Technology!
Thanks Dana! It really works extremely well. Incredible how warm it is for fabric so thin.
Excellent review. Think I’d prefer the 3 . You know roughly what area I live . Being able to open the front / chest to release excess heat is almost a necessity in our climate. Glad to see you’re well. Have a great day
Thanks Brother. I think one of the 3s or even one of the SSO Summer Gorkas would be excellent for your area. The SSO stuff is nice and is a little bit lighter weight canvas. Still blocks the wind and is water resistant. Make sure to get them a little oversized, then it is easier to add underlayers as needed. Have a good one!
So I understand the benefits of an anorak, but I really dislike them anyway. I like to be able to open my jacket when being physical, or when the weather warms up. So I would like the 3 more, BUT is there a difference between the fabrics? If the material is improved in the 4, it would make it a tougher choice.
I think the clothing industry just loves polyester and has marketed it to death. It is convenient, and hard to beat for an outer layer, but cotton has been really overlooked. It breathes well, is tougher, and won’t be full of tiny holes after sitting around a fire. I e gone natural fibres for everything except rain gear, and even that I’m planning to get some wax for certain applications. So this suit is very likely going to be part of my hunting/camping gear in the future. I just want to chose the right one.
And Happy new year from Montreal, and I hope your channel does well too.
Thanks Jim! Its a tough call. Being further north, I think either would serve you well. The fabric may be a bit heavier on the Gorka 4. I wasn’t sure, as my 3 has been in service for so long. I have gotten 3 years of hard use out of it, and expect to be able to get at least 3 more. I went with the 3 for the reason you mentioned, thinking it would have better thermoregulation and increase the ability to use it in warmer months. This is true, but after the temperature below a certain threshold, (60F for Gorka 3, 50F for Gorka 4), it doesn’t really matter. The main factor would be the under-layers. You want to get the suit slightly oversized. At 6’2, 210lbs, I fit in a 52/6, but I wear a 56/6
Nice look at the Gorkas Jess. It also does break the bank. Thanks
Nate
Thanks Nate! Have a good one man
Благодарю за обзор. Данный костюм проверен временем, боевыми действиями. Я очень люблю этот костюм. У горки есть десятки модификаций. Я пользуюсь Горка 3 К. Этот костюм помог выжить многим людям.. Это тот костюм, которому можно доверять свою жизнь и он точно не подведёт.
First time at this channel. Corporal Corner suggested and I am very happy he did! I really enjoyed this video. Thank you for the awesome work you put into this!
Thank you! Appreciate it!
Thanks for the video Jess and all the good information. 👍
Thank you, Jeff! Appreciate it.
Excellent review brother! I love the Gorka 4, it’s a solid, robust and well built suit.
Thanks brother! It is totally awesome. Really dig it.
Enjoyed your explanation, have a gorka 3 with fleece inside, been wearing it for a few years when hiking/camping or just working outside.
Super strong jackets, after all these years of abuse it is starting to tear down at the lower arms...will wear it till it completely falls to pieces and then maybe try the 4
Gorka 3 fleece are awesome. Honestly, I have a couple 3s, and rarely use the 4 these days. They are nice. I like the 4 pants, but the anorak jacket to me just isn’t as convenient as the 3.
@@EnduranceRoom Yeah good point there..Biggest issue is finding a provider whom still sells these or whom can still deliver them due to the sanctions...
The kommandostore gorka m1 is the next level up from this.
Hello .. Excellent présentation .. thank's
Thank you, Laurent! Appreciate it
Nice bit of kit, for sure !!
Hi Jess ..
An informative share .. thanks.
"Your Clothing is your First Line of Defence."
That Sentence should be be inscribed on Mt Rushmore for everyone to see.
I sometimes get ribbed at my preparation when going out for an extended period in adverse weather .. "Ha ha .. Tommy has everything." Yes, its good natured, but it is also an indication of mind sets that sometimes result in people getting into trouble.
Good Quality Gear does not have to cost an arm and a leg .. likewise, 'buying cheap' can be costly. Also .. 'Branding' is not always indicative of being the most suitable for the situation at hand.
As you have shown .. looking to what the 'Natives' use in their Geographical Extremes is a useful Guideline .. the Miltary Special Forces (the Cream of the Crop) being something to look to.
Take care my Friend .. stay safe .. and Insulated 😊 .. Tommy
Thank you, Tommy! Glad that you liked it. It is interesting seeing the focus, or lack of focus I suppose, on the clothing. It really doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Some of my best finds were in my local surplus store for less than $20. Other items that I have really favored were things that I made or pieced together. Very true on the mindset of the ill prepared. We have seen our share here too. Kids hiking to a mountain top 15 miles into the woods with nothing but shorts, T shirt and a small water bottle. Those can be really expensive lessons. I guess sometimes, those are the ones we need to figure things out. I know I have had a few ;)
Have a good one my friend.
Cheers
Jess
@@EnduranceRoom 👍
I have a gorka 3 and a first gen sumrak suit both are great for hiking and camping. i’ve also owned a partizan suit. the Russians are great at making uniforms and masking suits.
Great review Jess, I'd say by now you have a good bit of time in/with the Gorka clothing, and so any praise comes from honest and lengthy experience. I recall there was a Russian Gorka or Gorka type suit that had one of my favorite features, which is the "poacher's pocket", which is the large pocket on a smock or jacket that runs across the lower back and is accessible from the sides usually, but I can't seem to find it now, or recall if it was made of the preferable cotton canvas material, or something synthetic. I'll keep looking on a few Russian/Soviet sites to see if I can find it again, but if that sounds familiar to you at all, please let me know! Happy New Year my friend!
Thank you, Sean! That definitely sounds interesting. I have not seen any gorkas with the poachers pocket. Definitely interested if you come come across it. Have you seen Ivarr’s channel, Evasion Survival Alaska? He has some really good stuff and makes/mods a lot of his kit. Probably wouldn’t be too hard to sew in one of those pockets. Oh man, the wheels are turning lol
Have a good one my friend and Happy New Year!
@@EnduranceRoom Hey Jess, thanks for the tip on Ivarr's channel, it looks pretty cool! I'm not sure how "official" a Gorka suit it is, but the one I had found was called a GORKA S (also shows up as a GORKA-S), which looks like a modified GORKA 4, though I'm not sure what the material actually is. It's a very similar anorak but with the poacher's pocket and a few smaller changes in details. The pants seem to be basically the same as a standard G4.
@@TheScoundrel70 Thanks Sean! Appreciate it. I will check it out. Have a good one
@@TheScoundrel70 sso/sposn gorka S or gorka C. Both the same thing i think.
Basically the bars gorka 4 but a lot better made with better material, (higher thread count, denser, more durable and windproof) better features like windproof button fastenings (the one thing that let down my bars gorka 3, wind just blew right through the button up front, especially on the motorbike).
The only thing with the poachers pocket on the gorka C is that while all the other pockets are buttons, the poachers pocket is velcro. But i head that is because it was designed for some sort of sit or insulated pad instead of being just a normal pocket although i dont know how true that is.
Outstanding, I have never heard of the GORKA suit. Will look for one and give it a try. Thanks.
Thanks brother for this review. I appreciate your views on what I refer to as functional comfort. An amazing suit for hard wilderness use, but the selling point for me was the ability to keep parasites like leeches and ticks from making contact with your body! I also appreciate the pointers on cleaning and maintenance .. great video my friend!🤜🤛
Thank you very much, my friend! Really was an eye opener for me. I grew up on a farm in NW PA. All I ever used was Carharts, t shirts and flannels for work/woods clothes. Now, pretty much all I use is military gear. Its what its made for. The civilian outdoor gear is great, but the durability (typically) isn’t the same. Have a good one brother! 🤝
Wow! Nice find, so reasonably priced and so well explained! Thank you.
Greetings via sean
Thank you! Definitely great outdoors suits
I wonder why they didn't use the V shape cut where the rear of the hood meets the back of the anorak like the GJ used on their WWII anoraks. This is a key feature for venting air to cool off and trapping air to stay warm.. Anyhow Im a huge fan of anoraks like this. Great video- smooth presentation...
That is interesting. Do you have any pics you could share? I saw an article saying that it was misinfo that these were inspired by the GJ gear, but I am not buying it. They also said that these suits were being used in the 70s, prior to Afghanistan, but I couldn’t find any other info. Regardless, it works. Thanks for watching man. Have a good one
@@EnduranceRoom If the link did not appear you may have to look in the withheld comments on your admin panel..
@@EnduranceRoom sent..
Great review video. Super informative, easy to listen too and none of that talking just to talk.
completely agree with your comments about clothes being your first line of shelter and how important they are. have you heard of ventile cotton? ive some anoraks coming for review soon. its like a more refined cotton thats woven even tighter , swells up to become waterproof
Nice! I haven’t heard of it before. I wonder if it is a similar weave to the tent fabric of the gorka
@@EnduranceRoom similar but the ventile is more refined I think, it was developed to replace the need for rubber in car tyres I think! Back in WW2, British airmen wore it as a survival suit Incase they ditched in the ocean, I think it's only made in one factory in sweden
Awesome I'm going for the gorka 4 for me and my son
Thanks for the information 🙏
Use mine for when I'm out doing wildlife photography/filming, I love my Gorka 4! :D
Great Video, Jesse! These russian suits are awesome. Happy New Year and all the best from 🇦🇹🤠👍
Thank you my friend! They really are excellent. Happy new year! Cheers
Great video. This is everything I could have wanted to know about the Gorka 4.
P.S. can you do a tutorial on layering?
Thanks! Yes, I have one in the works on layering coming up. Cheers
thanks mister ;) i go gorka 4 for sure ;) and thanks for the link
Thank you for this!!
THANK YOU FOR KOREAN SUB. :)
Because of the cotton this suit is made of it must be worn with the propper weight of base layer. Polypropylene, polyester or wool in cold, wet or below freezing conditions.
Yes, as mentioned in the video, it is an outer shell to protect layers of clothing underneath.
Have you tried a telogreika in snow or extreme cold? Would be interesting to hear your take on this iconic classic!
I have not, but definitely would be interested to try one out. Looks quite interesting.
That looks really nice Jess, I am going to check it out!
I'm still waiting for the Särmä TST L4 Recon Smock to be available, but for $150.00 for BOTH the jacket and pants, that is hard to beat!
Thanks, James! Its an awesome suit. The recon smock looks great, but for the money, you could have two gorka suits. The British smocks are pretty nice as well, and can be found quite reasonably, especially the desert camo, which is easy to dye. You would really like Ivarr’s page, Evasion Survival Alaska, if you haven’t seen it. He has a lot of good stuff going.
@@EnduranceRoom
I agree that there is a huge price difference!
I do follow his channel as well
Dude, this was a great review. Is there any way you can provide your size ordered and your guess on which height and weight is would extend to? Thanks a ton.
Thanks my friend. You want to get one slightly oversized. I am 6’2 210lbs and can fit a size 52/6, but I prefer to wear 56/6, as this gives me a little extra room for under-layers. The elastic helps take care of it being baggy and it makes it really comfortable to move in. If you have any questions, let me know. Cheers
@@EnduranceRoom Thanks. I looked on the site and instantly knew I had to ask. Those are my almost exact physical attributes. Keep making awesome videos friend.
Great review!
Your take on waxing would be useful. There is so much conflicting advice, I suppose experimentation is the key, but haven’t heard of beeswax coconut oil mix before. Proportions?
It isn’t really necessary, but easy enough to do. I mixed 50/50 coconut oil and beeswax. You can add pine tar to it as well. It helps keep wax soft and improves impregnation and waterproofing. Personally, I just wear them as they are.
I had my Gorka 4 for many years and it stil in very good condition...I use to have Digital flora and thay was perfect for our cold here in sweden,,,,Do you know how much cold this Gorka 4 can handle?...maybe i difficult question maybe depends on what you wear under i think?,,,,,Thanks for our video......CA from sweden
Thank you! It really just depends on the under layers. Great suits.
Hello, great review! Do you have a review about the belt with pouches you are waring and whats inside of the pouches.
Friendly regards en keep on the good work..... niels
Thank you, Niels! Appreciate it. I did a video on the belt a few months ago. I believe it called Survival Belt Rig. If you scroll back through my videos it should be easy to find. Cheers
Jess
@@EnduranceRoom ok i will look for it. Thanks for the quick response
👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you!
это не горка , а "инцифалитка", в основе костюм геолога 60-х годов, но в конфликтах использовалась. имеется ввиду модель.
Hi ! То что ты показал на видео,это ширпотребные костюмы,настоящий горный костюм делался из такого же материала как плащ-палатка с вставками из кирцы(материал солдатских сапог).И обязательно в фасоне анорак с длиной позволяющей закрывать поясницу и с возможностью одевать поверх штатного обмундирования
Спасибо за информацию! Будет ли горка 1 считаться горным костюмом? Кажется, что у него есть характеристики, о которых вы говорите.
@@EnduranceRoom горный костюм и горка это немного разные вещи)
Great review, I like it. Have you thought about using fabric dye to restain your Gorka 3?
Thank you! I kind of like it to be honest as is. Reminds me that I have put some time in it.
@@EnduranceRoom nothing wrong with that! I like items that show use. Adds character. Stay safe out there.
The loose fit also masks the typical shape of a human body.
Hey Jess,
mooie info van de Gorka 4 en 3 , alleen hier in Nederland een probleem (!)
ik heb alleen IDEAL betalen , dus GEEN creditcard , voor mij onmogelijk om een Gorka 4 /3 te kopen .
mogelijk heb jij een andere oplossing ??
Btw, een GOED 2022 gewenst, en blijf gezond !!
grtz uit Nederland
Janneman
Thanks Jan! I don’t know for sure, but maybe send Russian Cold Camo an email. They have great customer service. Cheers my friend
How is the sizing is it equivalent to US sizing? They look really cool
Its a little different. They use two numbers, the first is for chest and waist, the second height. I am 6’2 210lbs and wear a 54/6 for warm weather, and either a 56/6 or 58/6 for winter, so I can add layers. The layers is key. These are totally awesome suits.
@@EnduranceRoom yeah they look like something I need for winter to stop the wind. Like you said if it rains use a poncho and then if its really cold layer up. Would you say its a good snow suit for long term use?
@@miked4152 Yes, absolutely. It deals with snow very well. I lived in my winter gorka last year. These are the same, just not lined, but thats lets you adjust your layers accordingly.
@@EnduranceRoom perfect 😁👍 that's all I need to know. Thank you
i cant find the olive version, they just have the khaki
Its one and the same. It looks different depending on the angle and lighting.
What about gorka 5 now
Idk... kind of hard to come by these days.
Alrighty, Been looking at the sizes and wondered what would fit me, I'm 6'2 and 245lbs with about a 38/39in waist, It looked like a 56/6 would fit me but i'm unsure, Anyone willing to help?
I would grab a 58/6. That would be a good fit plus room for layers.
How noisy is the material.. thinking on a hunting front?
Its good to go.
How does it breathe? Is it easy to ventilate heat if you are (for instance) climbing hills?
It is breathable. Key is having appropriate layers underneath and then adding or removing them as environment or activity changes. For example, if you were backpacking, you want to be a little cold with before beginning moving, activity generates heat and will balance out without causing undue perspiration. When you stop or it cools down, add another layer underneath gorka. 👍
@@EnduranceRoom Thanks for the answer. I usually have a layer of wool against my body, then a layer of fleece (if it's very cold). Then something wind repellent/shell on top.
The reason I ask is because I live in an area with *very* steep mountains that will make you boil. Taking an anorak on and off to regulate heat is less ideal than opening a jacket, I reckon.
Other than that, good advice. Sweating should be avoided in cold climate.
Did the gorka 3 you machine washed and dried shrink in length or width? Or both?
Both. I only hand wash in cold water now and air dry now. No problems with any other gorkas since.
@@EnduranceRoom thanks bro
Маленький холм
Gorka
I doubt that a Gorka would fit. I do have a knockoff m65 field jacket with liner and that keeps me really toasty. BTW, did you setup the padded hip belt on your belt rig?
Never know, they make quite a few sizes. Nothing wrong with an M65 and a liner though. No pad on this belt, old ALICE rig. I have another that does have the pad though.
@@EnduranceRoom I hope keep using that setup. I like the layered concept. You carry your essentials on your harness setup, and I guess you carry your sleeping bag, shelter, extra food and comfort items in your backpack.
@@Grizzly907LA Thanks. Yes, that is the concept. I have been favoring my large pack for winter, but everything fits into it and I suppose I could put the belt rig in as well. Typically, I keep a haversack or buttpack inside the main pack for essentials when I get to camp if I plan on moving around. I have the habit of rotating my gear too much. I do it to keep things interesting on here, but lately more and more I want to stabilize and refine my kit.
@@EnduranceRoom I like that. I'm sure everything I am going to use will fit into my USMC ILBE or USGI ruck. I would like to wear a pack along with the kit. Keep rotatating your gear. I like the reviews. I also like the Ratnik and Smersh gear. You got a nice niche. By the way would do a review on the Ratnik sleeping bag? I snagged one for a little over $100 plus free shipping. The Russian stuff is pretty good gear, but expensive.
@@Grizzly907LA Thank you. Both the ILBE and US packs are great. I will try and get ahold of a Ratnik sleeping bag. They seem to fly off the shelf when they come in. Definitely look interesting.
who made that one? SSO?
BARS
@@EnduranceRoom thanks