Interesting review! This and all the other smocks on market are lesser imitations of the issue windproof smocks we had in the RAF (basically the old SAS style ones). Great kit,but ours were higher cotton content which is better for weather proofness. The pocket on sleeve was used for field dressings. We always kept the hoods rolled up too and pretty much all wore our smocks long and baggy..as was the style all the dog handlers had back then😅 There used to be a company in Lancashire,England that mde the best smocks bar none..SASS..but they no longer exist. Great bit of kit,i wore im summer over a tshirt,and in winter down the Falklands in minus 30c,tshirt,snugpak softie and my trusty windproof jacket. Also had matching trousers..which make for a awesome anti wind setup. Just a lil of my experience of wearing these jackets non stop for 9 years👌
What did you boys do for water repellency? Tried the wash in stuff in my sabre SF smock, which didn't work. Melted in 3 bars of wax and now she beads 😅 I suppose Fabsil would be better?
@@dude6546 They got soaked in a rainstorm😅..so you either put your goretex over it, or as most of us did youd fund somewhere to lurk for a bit until the heavy rain had gone. Some lads used nikwax type stuff on their smocks too. Plenty of options. Just a shame most modern smocks these days aren't windproof..feels like a tradition that's dying out.
@@TroyTempest777 well, I suppose I'll have to wear the goretex under it because there's no way it'll fit over. This thing is windproof though, can put a hair dryer in a pocket and not feel any air getting through the fabric. Thank you for your input! I'll just find a place to have a brew when it comes to storms)
@@andrewjerdan8069 IDK man, Airforce SERE instructors and para rescue boys seem pretty hardcore to me and do not deserve that slight. As for Mr. James I'm not sure what he did in the RAF. Maybe he was a pilot, maybe he was a para rescue guy, maybe he was cook, gate guard or admin, maybe he's taking the piss and was at Hereford but is going by his former service/command, which is typical for those guys. But he did his part in serving his country. Everyone in the service has their part to play and deserve some respect. If you served and you've got some interservice rivalry going on between Army and Airforce then that's outside of my comfort zone to meddle in as I'm not British nor served in your military. Happy morning read, my friend, didn't mean to write a book to ya.
I purchased one of these a while back, took the time and expense to spray it with 2 cans of scotch guard, just last week broke it out of my ruck and used it for 5 days straight in a cold Arkansas rain deluge, it wasnt perfect but I wasnt drenched. Lots of storage pockets for sure and the hood fit well over the leather brimmed hat I found on the road one day. I think I paid 60 bucks for it .
I got mine for 35$. Love it! Water repellent ripstop. As an SAS guy said below it's all season stuff (with proper underwear underneath in the winter). As well, as it looks cool. I used to wear in the street, too (mine is grey).
The British MTP is also poly cotton and made in China, yes the British military contracts to Chinese factories. It comes with covers for the velcro on the arms. It's a good smock, but all the velcro on the storm flap closure along the front catches on the mess inner lining and can start to tear it up. They should have just used buttons. The hood is huge, too big I suppose it might be designed to be worn over a helmet. Yes the looping in the pockets is for dummy cords, upper left chest small pocket for British issued compass. The cord in the hood is the same material, some kind of cotton they're terrible, get wet stay wet and you can't melt the ends so they can start fraying.
I've become quite enamoured with OD. Opposite the FDE trend. Most of the FDE trend comes from people drooling over the war in the desert. In the 90s it was OD and black like the military and SF.
That smaller pocket on the left chest pocket is most likely for a combi tool. The older version of this jacket in the old DPM camo had a small pocket on the left arm that was perfect size for a combi tool. Not 100% sure if it was infact designed for that but that's what it was always used for. Now the British army use all the Velcro on the arms they removed it. I would guess that small pocket is what they have come up with instead. I say that because the old jacket has all the same features other than the Velcro arms. So it would sense that pocket was moved. But although everyone used that pocket for a combi tool it might not be for that. Just a thought of what it could be. And for anyone that doesn't know (as I'm not sure what they are called in the US or other places) a combi tool is a small metal utility tool used to clean and maintain the SA80 L85 A2/A3. It's like a fancy pen knife and is about the same size as one. But great jackets overall. I've never had an issue with one.
The little sleeve pocket was there to hold a Recco avalanche locator, as the older smocks took the design from an even older Arctic windproof smock and the locator was for rescuing personal who might get buried in an avalanche.
9:30 the hole is probably for regimental mark. European nations usually have company/regiment emblems, a little shield in metal on leather used close to the heart. That could be used for it.
Hey! Would be interested to see your Smock Set Up for Patroling or what ever, like what you keep in the Smock, what Gear, which Pocket etc. Cool Videos anyway!
@@doitriteak awesome I'm from southern California we barely get super cold weather in the city but if you go to the mountains we have snow sometimes plus a snow resort 2hrs away from me.
The small pocket on upper left pocket is dedicated for compass. Brits use it for their silva.
Sweet. Thank you for the info.
As said before small chest pocket is for a compass. The button hole is for you to tie the lanyard of the compass to the jacket so you don’t lose it.
Interesting review! This and all the other smocks on market are lesser imitations of the issue windproof smocks we had in the RAF (basically the old SAS style ones).
Great kit,but ours were higher cotton content which is better for weather proofness. The pocket on sleeve was used for field dressings. We always kept the hoods rolled up too and pretty much all wore our smocks long and baggy..as was the style all the dog handlers had back then😅
There used to be a company in Lancashire,England that mde the best smocks bar none..SASS..but they no longer exist.
Great bit of kit,i wore im summer over a tshirt,and in winter down the Falklands in minus 30c,tshirt,snugpak softie and my trusty windproof jacket. Also had matching trousers..which make for a awesome anti wind setup.
Just a lil of my experience of wearing these jackets non stop for 9 years👌
What did you boys do for water repellency?
Tried the wash in stuff in my sabre SF smock, which didn't work.
Melted in 3 bars of wax and now she beads 😅
I suppose Fabsil would be better?
@@dude6546 They got soaked in a rainstorm😅..so you either put your goretex over it, or as most of us did youd fund somewhere to lurk for a bit until the heavy rain had gone. Some lads used nikwax type stuff on their smocks too.
Plenty of options.
Just a shame most modern smocks these days aren't windproof..feels like a tradition that's dying out.
@@TroyTempest777 well, I suppose I'll have to wear the goretex under it because there's no way it'll fit over.
This thing is windproof though, can put a hair dryer in a pocket and not feel any air getting through the fabric.
Thank you for your input! I'll just find a place to have a brew when it comes to storms)
@@dude6546 The RAF DO NOT leave their Hotel Spa if its raining
@@andrewjerdan8069 IDK man, Airforce SERE instructors and para rescue boys seem pretty hardcore to me and do not deserve that slight.
As for Mr. James I'm not sure what he did in the RAF. Maybe he was a pilot, maybe he was a para rescue guy, maybe he was cook, gate guard or admin, maybe he's taking the piss and was at Hereford but is going by his former service/command, which is typical for those guys. But he did his part in serving his country.
Everyone in the service has their part to play and deserve some respect.
If you served and you've got some interservice rivalry going on between Army and Airforce then that's outside of my comfort zone to meddle in as I'm not British nor served in your military.
Happy morning read, my friend, didn't mean to write a book to ya.
I purchased one of these a while back, took the time and expense to spray it with 2 cans of scotch guard, just last week broke it out of my ruck and used it for 5 days straight in a cold Arkansas rain deluge, it wasnt perfect but I wasnt drenched. Lots of storage pockets for sure and the hood fit well over the leather brimmed hat I found on the road one day. I think I paid 60 bucks for it .
Great detailed review. Would have been nice to see the jacket on for the fit. Thanks
I got mine for 35$. Love it! Water repellent ripstop. As an SAS guy said below it's all season stuff (with proper underwear underneath in the winter). As well, as it looks cool. I used to wear in the street, too (mine is grey).
The pockets on the old Alyeska pipeline parkas folded over like that. Keeps the snow out.
This looks light enough to carry in a bug out bag, an emergency kit, or a vehicle.
The British MTP is also poly cotton and made in China, yes the British military contracts to Chinese factories. It comes with covers for the velcro on the arms. It's a good smock, but all the velcro on the storm flap closure along the front catches on the mess inner lining and can start to tear it up. They should have just used buttons. The hood is huge, too big I suppose it might be designed to be worn over a helmet. Yes the looping in the pockets is for dummy cords, upper left chest small pocket for British issued compass. The cord in the hood is the same material, some kind of cotton they're terrible, get wet stay wet and you can't melt the ends so they can start fraying.
I have a few versions of sas smock some have old style dpm patterns and other new. Great design
Looks like a arktis coat design and spec
Rank slide. You can tailor them into a pocket. Depending on width, a bit of cord and a Bic, or a compass
Thanks for the review. Need to order one. Like the OD green as well.
I've become quite enamoured with OD. Opposite the FDE trend. Most of the FDE trend comes from people drooling over the war in the desert. In the 90s it was OD and black like the military and SF.
A shame that they dont offer these in more color/camo options.
Get a British ripstop,aircrew smock much lighter and also fire retardent ideal for camping etc
@Hew Jarsol If noise is a problem get buttons put on the pockets, my cuffs are elasticated not velcro modded to my needs.
That smaller pocket on the left chest pocket is most likely for a combi tool. The older version of this jacket in the old DPM camo had a small pocket on the left arm that was perfect size for a combi tool. Not 100% sure if it was infact designed for that but that's what it was always used for. Now the British army use all the Velcro on the arms they removed it. I would guess that small pocket is what they have come up with instead. I say that because the old jacket has all the same features other than the Velcro arms. So it would sense that pocket was moved. But although everyone used that pocket for a combi tool it might not be for that. Just a thought of what it could be. And for anyone that doesn't know (as I'm not sure what they are called in the US or other places) a combi tool is a small metal utility tool used to clean and maintain the SA80 L85 A2/A3. It's like a fancy pen knife and is about the same size as one. But great jackets overall. I've never had an issue with one.
Silva compass AFAIK.
The little sleeve pocket was there to hold a Recco avalanche locator, as the older smocks took the design from an even older Arctic windproof smock and the locator was for rescuing personal who might get buried in an avalanche.
On my cwu-45/p flight it has that same folding pocket thing maybe for not losing stuff.
9:30 the hole is probably for regimental mark. European nations usually have company/regiment emblems, a little shield in metal on leather used close to the heart. That could be used for it.
@Hew Jarsol *facepalms* tell me, on what continent is Britain? In case the cockney accent made you forget.
Thanks for reviewing this product.
Edit: BTW what happened to your old channel ?
Hey!
Would be interested to see your Smock Set Up for Patroling or what ever, like what you keep in the Smock, what Gear, which Pocket etc.
Cool Videos anyway!
Will do once winter is complete
@@doitriteak Very cool!!!!
are you sure it's olive green and not olive drab?
Green
how about an update? is this holding up well? Semper Fi btw.
Looked on helikons site and military1st couldn't find it. Could you provide a link to your specific one?
Can you do a cold weather USGI military surplus clothing review for winter in Alaska?
if you have military or tactical clothing only.
Sure
@@doitriteak awesome I'm from southern California we barely get super cold weather in the city but if you go to the mountains we have snow sometimes plus a snow resort 2hrs away from me.
What size is the jacket in the review, does anyone know?
Wait so for USMC MARPAT didn't have any M65s or similar? like the MCWCS I've seen before polartec made stuff not just GORETEX parka and trousers...
When I was in, we just had goretex
@@doitriteak I had a acu m65 and polypropylene drawers and shirt heavyweight stuff. None of the gen iii ecwcs was out yet.
The army usually has more gear than the Marines. Fight with less