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As a sizing reference: I'm 5'7", 155 lbs (yeah, I'm a little guy), medium build (BDU top medium/regular, BDU pant medium/short), waist 32", chest 43". Keep this in mind when you read my comments with respect to sizing, so you have an idea of how the garments featured below will fit on you. ALL garments in these pages are size Medium, unless stated otherwise.

TO VIEW FULL SIZE IMAGES: USERNAME and PASSWORD are both "mm"

OTTE Gear Patrol Parka (2007)

5/20/07 - I met Todd Fairbairn of Ops-Technical Gear at the 2005 SHOT Show. He had some interesting stuff on display - softshells, hardshells etc. At the 2006 SHOT Show, he was sporting a MultiCam hardshell that everyone was drooling over. Since then, he has renamed the company OTTE Gear. 'Otte' was Todd's grandfather's last name. Todd chose to honour his grandfather (who was a soldier, and had no sons) and keep his name alive by naming his company after him. OTTE gear's goal is to provide lightweight, packable and durable clothing for troops and civilians alike for harsh use. Featured here is OTTE Gear's Patrol Parka, in Crye MultiCam. A matching hardshell pant is also available.

Material - A note about hardshell MultiCam material. Ever since Crye Precision introduced the MultiCam pattern, we've been waiting for Gore to produce MultiCam GoreTex fabric, or an equivalent hardshell material. However, that project has yet to come to fruition. Crye does not (at the time of this writing), and has not, produced or marketed waterproof hardshell fabric for production use. Bradford Dye, who produces some of the MultiCam fabric for Crye, has printed small quantities of 70D taslan nylon. While the 70D fabric has not yet been tested and officially approved by Crye for its IR properties, Bradford does use the correct dyes to the IR spec. It is this 70D nylon that OTTE purchased and laminated to produce 3-layer hardshell material. The fabric shown is MultiCam 70D Taslan nylon laminated to a PU (Polyurethane) film, as opposed to PTFE film, with a DWR finish on the face . The result is a waterproof/breathable 3-layer fabric very similar in look and feel to GoreTex XCR, but with a slightly softer hand. OTTE Gear will also be experimenting with some PTFE films as well. PU film laminates are in wide use by the outdoor gear industry.

Here's a summary of the features on the Patrol Parka Hardshell:

  • Material - The Patrol Parka is also available in earth or CADPAT (OD coming soon). As I mentioned above, the feel of the fabric is much lighter and packable than classic Goretex, and very similar to Goretex XCR. The spring weather was uncooperatively sunny and dry at the time of this writing, so I was not able to try it out in the rain. I did perform a simple test in the sink where I lined the sink with the jacket and filled it up with water about 3-4" deep and let it sit for about 6 hours. Initially, when running water over the fabric, the water beaded up and rolled off, but after soaking, the nylon face fabric did eventually feel slightly damp as moisture was slowly penetrating the face fabric. I also saw this on both Goretex Classic and XCR (to a lesser extent) fabrics, and seems to be a function of the tightness of the face fabric weave and also the DWR. Looking very closely under a magnifying glass, the weave of the 70D Multicam taslan is just slightly coarser than XCR, so it makes sense that it'd wet out a bit faster. Since the face fabric is thin, it dried out quickly. As expected, the fabric was waterproof as no moisture made it through to the inside, or through the taped seams. All stitching and construction looks good.
  • Full-length cut - The tail of the jacket is longer in the back than the front of the jacket; cut a bit longer than my other hardshell jackets - a couple of inches below my butt.
  • Fully factory seam taped - seam taping looks neat and well done.
  • Waist and bottom hem shock cords - There is a black nylon 'tunnel' around the waist inside, which houses the elastic drawcord with cord locks at both ends. The shock cord ends are routed through grommets at the bottom of the side-entry pockets and are accessed through the pockets. The ends are pulled from inside the pockets to cinch up the waist. Loosening them requires reaching inside the jacket to release the cord locks. The bottom hem adjustments are also one-handed, and are located at the sides.
  • Water resistant zippers - All zippers are wind and water resistant with cord zipper pulls. Front main zipper is two-way.


Hood stowed

Hood stowed, rear

Hood deployed

Hood stowed, collar zipped up

Side entry pockets

Shown with pack
  • High-mobility stowable hood - The hood rolls up and stows inside the collar, accessed by the two-way zipper on the back of the collar. The hood has three adjustments. The size of the hood opening is adjusted with the shock cord ends at the front of the collar. The vertical and horizontal adjustments are located on the back of the hood - the lower one adjusts the height (or how low the brim is), and the upper one pulls the opening rearwards for peripheral vision. I found it very easy to adjust the hood so it moves with the head. The product literature stated that the hood is helmet compatible - it's meant to be worn under a helmet as it's a compact hood, not over a helmet. I think the brim could be extended a bit more protection against the rain for the face.
  • Velcro patches on shoulders - on each shoulder is a 6" tall x 4" wide loop velcro patch for attachment of ID, or flag patches.

Inside collar details

Inside of hood

Hood

Shoulder pocket

Shoulder pocket and ID patch
  • 2 deep side entry chest pockets - The side entry pockets are positioned higher up and angled so that a pack's shoulder straps and waist belt will not interfere with access. They're VERY roomy, at 9" wide x 12" tall. The bottom is also bellowed internally, for more volume.
  • 2 large sleeve pockets - These are accessible when wearing body armour and quite spacious - 8" tall x 6" wide.
  • Velcro adjustable wrist cuffs - Same-fabric velcro tab and the cuffs are also elasticized so you don't have to loosen the tab everytime you slip the cuffs over your hands.

Pit zip, side entry pocket

Pit zip

Waist and bottom adjustment

Wrist cuffs

At the range in the wet

Sizing - I got the Medium size, and there's more than enough room to wear the Patrol Parka over insulated layers. It'll fit over the bulky SPEAR fleece jacket without a problem. There's enough length and room for full mobility and range of motion without the jacket or sleeves riding up, but it doesn't feel or look oversized when worn by itself.

As far as 'breathability' goes, I found the Patrol Parka one of the more comfortable, less 'stuffy'-feeling hard shells. Also, while the fabric doesn't seem any thinner than XCR, it's not as stiff. It's my guess that the Patrol Parka can be used in slightly warmer temperatures or climates than garments made out of Goretex XCR or classic. This review will be updated when I get some rain.

Updated 8/26/07 - Just got the first rain of the season - we had light to medium rain and it was a bit muggy, but I spent about an hour walking around the neighbourhood with the Patrol Parka. It kept me completely dry underneath, as expected, but the thing that struck me most was the comfort. Usually it feels a bit humid under rain gear but the OTTE Patrol Parka didn't feel stuffy at all. I'd have to rate this as the most 'breathable' hardshell jacket I've tried so far. Very promising.

Updated 1/06/08 - I tested it out in very heavy rain the day before, and also at the range the next day. It performed admirably in the rain - no wet throughs or anything. The next days was damp, and the temperature was around 60°. Running around, it got a bit warm and stuffy, but this was even without a jacket. When the temp got a bit colder, it was very comfortable and more importantly kept me dry from the wet ground when shooting from prone.


OTTE Gear Patrol Parka (Earth)

11/15/07 - Here's a look at OTTE Gear's Hardline Patrol Parka in Earth Colour. It differs from the MultiCam Patrol Parka above in both material and of course, colour. All other features and dimensions are the same.

Material - During the time the MultiCam Patrol Parka was reviewed, OTTE Gear was experimenting with PTFE membranes besides the PU membrane that was featured above. Since then, OTTE has chosen Donaldson Tetratex® PTFE laminate for all their Patrol Parkas. Donaldson’s PTFE laminate is found in current Military waterproof breathable jackets. It is beefier and slightly more durable than the PU film laminate used on the MC Parka, but slightly stiffer. That was the first thing I noticed when I handled the Earth Patrol Parka. According to OTTE, It was a trade off, but some of the operators in the field wanted the beefier fabric for when they are rolling around on the rocky ground. It will perform like classic Gore-tex; not quite as breathable as Gore-Tex XCR but many users probably won't notice the difference. Donaldson also puts a thicker coating of DWR (Durable Water Repellant) on the fabric that softens up with use.

For detailed features of the Patrol Parka (Earth) Hardshell, please see the above review of the MultiCam Patrol Parka.

  • Material - Donaldson Tetratex® PTFE waterproof, windproof, breathable laminate.
  • Full-length cut
  • Fully factory seam taped
  • Water resistant zippers


Hood stowed


Hood stowed, rear

Hood deployed

Pit zips
  • High-mobility stowable hood
  • Velcro patches on shoulders

Hood down

Hood up

  • 2 deep side entry chest pockets
  • 2 large sleeve pockets
  • Velcro adjustable wrist cuffs

Inside collar details

Inside hood, and adjustments

Chest pockets

Pit zip details

Sleeve pocket
  • Waist and bottom hem shock cords

    Waist adjustment

    Bottom cuff adjustment

    Colour comparison

The "Earth" colour is a bit difficult to pin down; the shade is a bit more on the green side than brown, sort of like Eagle's khaki, but not as yellow. It goes well with most nylon gear, as seen above with an OD MAXPEDITION mini rollypoly, an EMDOM MultiCam Recon Waist Pack, and BH camel tan (khaki) pouch. It goes particularly well with Crye MultiCam as it matches some of the shades in MC very closely. As far as the inital 'stiffness' of the material, Todd was correct - it softens up with wear. Because the material is beefier than the MC PU material, this parka can be used in cooler/colder temperatures that Gore-Tex "classic" garments would be used in.

 


OTTE Gear Patrol Parka (2010)

4/25/10 - The OTTE Gear Patrol Parka is designed for the operator who spends extended time in the field where weight, durability and complete weather protection are mission-critical factors. I first featured the OTTE Gear Patrol Parka back in 2007. Since then, the Patrol Parka has undergone some changes, which were implemented in the fall of 2009. The changes are in both design and manufacturing; resulting in a more refined and improved product.

OTTE Gear was one of the first companies to debut a hard shell jacket in Crye MultiCam. One of the challenges back then was finding hard shell fabric in MultiCam. Back in 2007, since a water proof breathable fabric was not yet available in MultiCam, companies had to purchase 70D taslan nylon fabric and laminate it to produce 3-layer hardshell material. The original OTTE Patrol Parka was made from this 70D taslan nylon laminated to a PU (Polyurethant) fil with a DWR finish. Since then, Crye has introduced a much wider variety of MultiCam fabrics through Duro Industries, including a waterproof breathable. The 'Gen 2' Patrol Parka is made from this material. I'll refer to this as the 'Gen 2' to differentiate it from the previous 'Gen 1' version reviewed above, to which I'll be comparing it to, since that's my frame of reference. The Gen 2 Patrol Parka is now made in Canada, vs. China for some of the earlier versions. This has enabled OTTE to take advantage of some of the more advanced manufacturing and construction capabilities available in Canada.

Here's a summary of the features on the Gen 2 Patrol Parka Hardshell. The overall design is shared with the Gen 1 parka, but with some major detail differences in the construction:

  • Material - A wide variety of MultiCam pattern fabrics are now manufactured and sold through Duro Industries. The Gen 2 Patrol Parka is made from 70D nylon laminated to an ePTFE film with a tricot backing and is IR treated. The ePTFE film is provided by Stedfast and is called Stedair EMS. Stedair EMS is a MVP (Moisture Vapour Permeable) fabric that is designed to provide protection and performance needed by the end user. A test report for the fabric is available here. Duro's fabric feels a bit stiffer/heavier than the earlier fabric used on the Gen 1 Patrol Parka. The tricot backing material is OD green instead of the usual gun-metal gray. As far as feel goes, I'd estimate that it's thicker than Goretex XCR but not as thick as Goretex classic. Weight of a size large Parka is 31 oz.
    As usual, with new weather-resistant jackets, I performed a my simple test in the sink where I lined the sink with the jacket and filled it up with water about 3-4" deep and let it sit for a few hours (which ended up being the next day as I forgot it was there). Since this is a hardshell, I made sure that one of the seams was submerged. As the DWR was new, running water just beaded up and rolled off the fabric. After letting the water sit for more than 16 hours, the outer nylon fabric felt a bit damp, which was to be expected, but didn't feel like it was saturated at all. This is usually a function of the tightness of the face fabric weave and also the condition of the DWR treatment. No water made it through the fabric or seam; it was completely dry inside.
  • Top-stitchless seams - This is a very big 'detail difference' between the Gen 2 and its predecessor. Almost all of the stitching used to construct the Gen 2 is what OTTE refers to as 'top-stitchless" seams. I encountered something similar when I reviewed Arc'Teryx's Alpha Lt jacket, which had micro seams that were top stitchless. "Top stitchless" means that there is no exposed stitching/thread at the seams joining the separate panels of the garment together. Instead of overlapping material and stitching it together with thread visible on the outside; the two pieces of fabric are sewn together on the inside and covered on the inside with seam tape. So, from the outside, no threads are visible, which also means that they're not exposed to abrasion. All you can see is the parting line, and a hint of stitching underneath. The Patrol Parka doesn't use the tiny, "micro-seam allowances" that Arc'teryx uses on the LT, but it's still cleaner and stronger than a conventional stitch. A special duller needle is used that pushes the fabric thread aside as it enters instead of breaking it, which makes for a stronger seam.
  • Laminated/welded construction - This is the other major construction advancement. The Gen 2 Patrol Parka uses laminated/welded construction in certain areas to eliminate stitching. On a water proof garment, stitches make holes in the fabric, which require seam tape behind them to water proof them, adding weight and bulk. Laminated construction puts no stitch holes in the fabric, eliminating the need for seam tape. Some of the laminated areas on the Gen 2 Patrol Parka are the hood brim, all pocket zippers, the pit zippers, wrist cuffs, and bottom hem.


    Hood stowed, collar open

    Hood stowed, collar zipped up

    Hood stowed, side and rear views

    Hood open

  • Full-length parka cut - The tail of the jacket is longer in the back than the front of the jacket; cut a bit longer than my other hardshell jackets - a couple of inches below my butt.
  • Pit Zips - The 15" pit zips are two-way, so the opening can be varied in size and location anywhere along the zipper. They're used to avoid overheating and internal moisture buildup.


Hood up

Pit zip
  • High-mobility stowable hood - The Patrol Parka hood was one of the areas that I felt could use some improvments, when I originally reviewed the Gen 1 Patrol Parka. I felt that it did not provide enough coverage, as the face opening could not be cinched small enough to protect the face from the elements. There was also no brim. I was very glad to see that all my concerns have been addressed on the Gen 2 hood. The Gen 2 hood is larger than the original, and a substantial and very effective brim has been added to the front. The new hood is helmet compatible, but unlike the original one, can be worn OVER some helmets, instead of only under them. It'll fit over my Ops-Core Bump shell. The original would only fit over my head. The re-designed hood and collar allows the face opening to be cinched up and adjusted so that it provides maximum protection for the head and face. The front of the collar is also higher so that it covers the mouth, instead of only up to the chin.
    Like the original, the Gen 2 hood rolls up and stows inside the collar, accessed by the two-way zipper on the back of the collar. I prefer to wear the hood out instead of stowed, as the collar then becomes rather stiff with it inside. The hood has three adjustments. The size of the face opening is adjusted with the shock cord ends at the front of the collar. The vertical and horizontal adjustments are located on the back of the hood - the lower one adjusts the height (or how low the brim is), and the upper one pulls the opening rearwards for peripheral vision. The hood can be adjusted so that it moves with the head. Adjustments can be made with one hand most of the time.
    The inside of the collar is completely lined with soft, brushed material. On the original, it had a patch in the back and one in the front for the chin.

Inside collar details

Hood details

Hood rear

Hood compartment

Hood compartment zipper
  • Fully factory seam taped - the seam taping is neat and well done.
  • Velcro adjustable wrist cuffs - Rather than the same-fabric velcro tab used on the original, the Gen 2 has a die-cut rubber tab. The cuffs are also elasticized so you don't have to loosen the tab everytime you slip the cuffs over your hands.
  • 2 deep side entry chest pockets - The side entry pockets are positioned higher up and angled so that a pack's shoulder straps and waist belt will not interfere with access. They're roomy, at 9" wide x 12" tall. The bottom is also bellowed internally, for more volume.
  • 2 high-volume, low profile sleeve pockets - The two sleeve pockets are accessible when wearing body armour and are quite spacious - 8" tall x 6" wide. They're low profile as they have no bellows or pleats. The zipper opening is 6".
  • Velcro patches on shoulders - on each shoulder is a 6" tall x 4" wide loop velcro patch for attachment of ID, or flag patches. It is now khaki instead of the medium brown used on the Gen 1 parka.
  • Waist and bottom hem shock cords - There is a black nylon 'tunnel' around the waist inside, which houses the elastic drawcord with cord locks at both ends. The shock cord ends are routed through grommets at the bottom of the side-entry pockets and are accessed through the pockets. The ends are pulled from inside the pockets to cinch up the waist. Loosening them requires reaching inside the jacket to release the cord locks, but that's not done very often so it's barely an inconvenience. The bottom hem adjustments are also one-handed, and are located at the sides.
  • Water resistant zippers - All zippers are non-glare YKK wind and water resistant. The main zippers, pit zips and front pockets have cord zipper pulls (instead of 550 cord sheath). The front main zipper is of the two-way type, and can be unzipped from the bottom. For some reason, the main zipper pull is on the left instead of the right.

Inside taping

"Top stitchless" seams

Shoulder pocket and pit zips

Shoulder pocket

Side entry pocket

Cuffs

Bottom hem drawcord

Sizing - The Gen 2 is sized the same as the Gen 1 as far as I can tell. I have the Medium size, and there's more than enough room to wear it over insulated layers. There's enough length and room for full mobility and range of motion without the jacket or sleeves riding up, but it doesn't feel or look oversized when worn by itself.

Note/Observations - I got this in early March when we had some unusually rainy weather, so I took advantage of it whenever I could to try out my weather-resistant gear. The Patrol Parka performed as expected, based on my earlier observations with the fabric. The DWR was better than on the Gen 1, which meant that water rolled off better and the outer fabric didn't get saturated. No water made it through at all; I'd have been very surprised if any had. The only minor thing I noticed was the water rolling down the back of the hood can collect and drip into the hood compartment in the collar (note that the compartment is waterproof and the user will still remain dry). Some water will drain out the shock cord grommet at the bottom, but if there's water in the collar, it can still wet the inside of the hood when the jacket is taken off or when the hood is flipped down. Only a little bit made it in when I used it in heavy rain, but it's still something for OTTE to look at for future tweaks, as other users might be using it under wetter conditions for extended periods.

As with the Gen 1 Patrol Parka, the Gen 2 felt very breathable for a hard shell and didn't get overly stuffy. Being slightly heavier, the fabric is a bit stiffer than some lighter weight hard shell fabrics like eVent, or Gore-Tex XCR, but still much better than Gore-Tex classic. Stiffer also conveys a sense of additional durability.

With some of the earlier OTTE products, I felt that some of the stitching could be tighter, and there was some catching up to do when compared with Arc'teryx (which I usually use as the standard as far as "state of the art" and technology goes). With the use of welded construction and top-stitchless seams, OTTE has made a leap forward with the Gen 2 Patrol Parka.

 


TAD Gear Combat and Bug Out Anorak Hardshells (discontinued)

4/23/08 - Triple Aught Design (TAD Gear) has introduced two new hardshell jackets, the Combat Anorak and Bug Out Anorak Hardshells. The Combat Anorak was designed to be the most abrasion-resistant hardshell available, that would stand up to just about anything you could throw at it. The Bug Out Anorak was designed to provide protection from the elements in a more compactable package for stowing. They're essentially Anorak versions of the Predator Hardshell, and share many of the same features.

An Anorak is typically described as a hooded pullover garment instead of having a full front zipper. I used to wear them when I was a kid in England. The word 'Anorak' has its origins in Eskimo-Aleut language. Now, why offer an Anorak design? I asked Patrick at TAD to shed some light on this latest direction in TAD's hardshell offerings and he replied:

"The traditional reasoning behind an anorak versus full zips were that anoraks are typically to be worn for long periods of time and would provide the user with better overall protection by virtue of “less zipper”. This translated to “fewer possible points of entry for snow, wind and rain”. Also, less zipper = less weight/bulk. Without a full zipper, there are no hot spots and friction points on the body when wearing a pack waist belt. In fact some old classic designs had the Kangaroo pocket big enough to allow the belt to pass entirely thru on the inside. The Kangaroo pocket also allowed for both hands to be put together to keep warm. In high altitude alpine conditions, a shell would be worn all day; mountaineering, skiing, etc. Professional dogsledders, European mountain/ski troops, arctic explorers still use the anorak design. The TAD Combat anorak design is tasked for those kinds of environments where a shell would be worn all day, into the night and possible even to sleep. The Kevlar blend poly 3 layer found in the combat anorak IS the most abrasion resistant shell available from anyone, it is a tough mofo of a shell. The fabric was developed specifically to resist frequent exposure to rock faces, crampons, ski edges, and “climbing racks” (pitons, anchors such as cams, etc found on a sling).

The Bug Out Anorak was a shell I wanted to offer that had less bulk and was more compactable for stowing. All of TAD's hardshells are great overall shells for protection against rain, snow, wind. However each has it’s own specialty and excels in that specialty. Anorak designs are a bit of a throwback, as there is the very compelling convenience of easy on/off with full zip jackets which dominate the market today. But, the virtues of an anorak stand out under certain circumstances, and are enough for me to explore the design this year."

So, there you have it from Mr. TAD himself. Other than some small details, the main difference between the Combat and Bug Out Anoraks is the material.

Material - The TAD Gear Combat Anorak is constructed of TAD's "Storm Shield EDGE" 3 layer, waterproof/windproof/breathable Kevlar reinforced shell fabric. Going beyond TAD's regular Storm Shield 3 layer fabric, the EDGE version of their high performance, technical material has all the familiar well known benefits of a waterproof-breathable textile, but now has the highest abrasion resistance of any hardshell available on the market, anywhere. Storm Shield EDGE is designed to provide extra protection against the environment, tools and equipment commonly found in alpine and mountaineering arenas that can wreak havoc on typical hardshells. The Combat Anorak is currrently only available in TAD's M.E. (Multi Environment) Green. The shade of green is slightly more olive/darker than either the Predator V1.0 or the Bug Out Anorak. It doesn't have the typical nylon look or feel to it; in fact it reminds me of the oiled canvas Drover coats, only without the oily sheen or feel. It's slightly stiffer than the Predator.


Combat and Bug Out fabrics

The TAD Gear Bug Out Anorak is constructed out of TADs durable, all-season, light weight "Storm Shield LITE", which is a 3 layer, waterproof/windproof/breathable ripstop nylon shell fabric. Like the EDGE fabric of the Combat Anorak, the Storm Shield LITE version has all the benefits of a waterproof-breathable textile, but is made in a lighter weight modified ripstop pattern. It's probably one of the lightest 3-layer hardshell fabrics I've come across. It is designed to be "durable enough for fast summit assaults to summer thunderheads" and protect the wearer from the elements, but with reduced weight, bulk, and packs down to a compact and portable size. The Bug Out Anorak is also available only in M.E. Green for now. The fabric isn't a solid green colour; there's a pleasing subdued crosshatch pattern to it, with the horizontal lines fainter than the vertical ones.

Overall Features

The Combat and Bug Out Anoraks share the same features except for the material; the other main difference is that the Combat Anorak has a traditional length bias Alpine cut and is about 2.5" longer than the Bug Out Anorak (which has a modern length bias Alpine cut) in the front and back, and about 3" longer than the Predator so it's more of a traditional length anorak. This is so it covers the loins better when sitting down and much of the seat.

The Combat Anorak and Bug Out Anorak have the same overall fit and cut. In the photos below, the Combat Anorak looks a bit bigger, but it's due to the stiffness of the fabric. The Bug Out Anorak is thinner and tends to drape more over the body.


Combat Anorak, hood rolled up





Hood rolled up

Hood down

 

  • Material - Combat Anorak - Technical 3-layer wind/water-proof breathable, matte finish kevlar reinforced outer fabric.
    Bug Out Anorak - same 3-layer wind/water-proof breathable fabric, but with a lightweight matte modified pattern ripstop nylon outer fabric. Both are bonded with an inner facing that acts with capillary action to provide additional 'stay dry' performance with no bulky or hanging liner needed. Both fabrics are DWR treated to shed rain and snow. When I did my rain test, I did notice that the Bug Out Anorak material repels water completely. None of it soaks into the outer fabric (that I could notice). Blood doesn't stick to it either. I accidentally cut myself with a knife and the Bug Out Anorak was in the area where my blood was spurting out, and some blood got onto it. When the blood dried, it simply flaked off completely, leaving no trace.
    The fabric on the Combat Anorak doesn't repel water as readily. When I soaked the Combat Anorak and left water on it, the outer fabric got damp eventually. It never made it past the middle waterproof membrane, though, and therefore dried quickly afterwards. I asked Patrick about it and he explained that while the DWR is the same, the poly/Kevlar blend is a different composition than the Bug Out nylon hardshell and the poly content is actually a bit less hydrophobic. The middle membrane, however is the same rating so will have the same resistance to water penetration. After taking both out in the rain and also trying out overnight 'line the sink and fill with water' tests, I never had any water make it through either fabric or taped seams.
  • Multi-panel construction - The Anoraks are cut to allow full range of motion and mobility. Extra length in the arms, room in the elbows and under the arms accomodate movement without restriction.
  • Fully factory seam taped

 


Combat Anorak deployed hood views

Pit zips

Over a Ranger Hoodie
  • Full length pit zips for maximum venting - at 21" long, these really allow ventilation under the arm. They extend all the way from the waist to past the elbow.
  • Water and wind-proof YKK 'covert' zippers - These are matte black and protected from the elements. They are slightly stiffer than a regular zipper, but the cool non-slip textured zipper pulls help. These are actually the same kind as the ones used on the Predator jacket and the best I've come across so far. I did have an issue with the Kangaroo pocket zippers on the Bug Out Anorak. On one side of the zipper on the inside, the inside pocket fabric is sewn very close to the teeth of the zipper and had a tendency to snag, as it's very lightweight fabric. This does not happen with the Combat Anorak as the fabric is stiff and thick enough not to get caught in a zipper. I've informed TAD about my Kangaroo pocket zipper issues on the Bug Out jacket. It has not happened on any of the other zippers. I did my own fix to prevent the zippers from snagging. Inside the jacket, I put a bead of 3M weatherstrip rubber cement at the back of the pocket lining material near the zipper and folded it on itself for about 1/4", which 'pulls' the pocket lining material away from the zipper. The cement glues the folded portion to itself, maintaining the fold.
  • Mid-waist cinch cords - Elastic shock cord around the waist with ends accessed from the inside of the Kangaroo pocket.

Bug Out Anorak, hood rolled up


Rear view

Bug Out Anorak hood views

Kangaroo Pocket

Rear Duck pocket
  • Hi-rise large main Kangaroo pocket - This is a classic double-entry Kangaroo pocket with two internal D-ring keepers on elastic webbing. It's designed for LBE and pack waist belt clearance. In the photo below, you can see that the FAST pack waist belt is below the pocket, allowing access to it. The elastic shock cord for waist adjustment enters into the Kangaroo pocket through grommets and the waist cord is adjusted by pulling on the ends.
  • Rear dual-entry 'Duck pocket' - Now becoming a standard feature on many of TAD's jackets, this is a large 14" x 8" pocket, sort of like a 'poachers pouch' on the lower back of the jacket for storing soft items like beanies, gloves etc. It's easily accessible from both sides. It's fully seam taped so wet stuff inside the Duck pocket won't soak through to the inside of the jacket.

Pit zips

Kangaroo pocket access

  • 3-panel mountaineering design hood - The Anorak hoods are essentially the same as the Predator hood. It's a 3-panel mountaineering design with low profile rain bill. It'll fit over most ballistic and climbing helmets. There are three shock cord adjustments. The front adjustments control the size of the front opening. The one in the middle of the back of the head adjusts the front-back distance of the hood, while the cord at the nape of the neck adjusts the height. I found all the adjustments easy to use and I could adjust the size and shape of the face opening to suit my needs. All adjustments are one-handed. I was able to adjust the hood so that it was snug enough around my head to move with it when I looked from side to side, or up and down. If the hood is too loose, my head will move inside it and I'd be looking at the inside of the hood. Even though the material is non-elastic, there's enough material at the base of the hood to provide some slack. There's a flap sewn to the inside of the collar which velcros inside the hood when not in use. When the hood is rolled up, the flap goes over the rolled-up hood and attaches to the two velcro patches on the outside of the collar. To unroll the hood, the flap is simply pulled off the velcro and the hood deployed. No zippers on the collar to contend with. There are 1" x 1" velcro squares sewn to the back of the hood for glint tape or Ranger eyes.
    When rolled up, the collar stands up. The chin is protected by a soft chin guard. The Combat Anorak hood is obviously quite stiff when rolled up and the front zipper zipped all the way to the top. If I need to zip it up completely, I'd sooner leave the hood unrolled. The Bug Out Anorak hood is much softer when rolled up and isn't stiff at all.

Hood rolled up


Zipper open

Hood retention flap

Details of flap

1" x 1" velcro squares on hood
  • Upper sleeve velcro swatches - These are sewn onto the upper sleeve pockets and measure 5" x 4".
  • Upper sleeve pockets - These are accessed via vertical zippers and also have the elastic-attached D-rings and media pass-through slots. The pass-through slots have little rubber grommets to keep moisture out. The upper sleeve pockets measure about 8" tall x 8" wide.
  • D-ring keepers in pockets - The upper sleeve pockets and Kangaroo pockets all have plastic D-ring keepers sewn to elastic at the back of the pocket, for dummy cording critical items from loss.
  • Media Pass-through slots in pockets - The sleeve pockets have media slots, and there are two in the Kangaroo pocket for headphone/iPod/cell phone cords. There's also a small loop on the inside of the left collar for wire retention (earphones etc).

Kangaroo pocket

Inside Kangaroo pocket

Velcro patch on upper sleeve

Inside sleeve pocket

ID pocket on fore arms

Rear Duck pocket
  • Die cut Tuff Grip Velcro adjustable cuff tabs - The same die cut rubberized tab as on the Predator is used, with colour-matched velcro instead of black. The cuff is also elasticized so you don't have to undo the tab when donning the Anorak.
  • Reinforced elbows - The elbow patches offer a lot of coverage, measuring about 13" long and extending almost all the way to the wrist.
  • Bias cut bottom hem with cord locked draw cord - The back of the jacket is cut longer in the back and there are one-handed elastic draw cord locks on both sides to seal out the wind.

Pit zips

Elastic on wrists with velcro tabs

Reinforced elbows

Bottom hem drawcords

Notes about fit - When you're considering one of these Anoraks vs. a regular full zip jacket like the Predator Hard Shell, the key questions I'd ask are 'what are you going to use it for?' and 'are you planning on wearing it over bulky layers?'. The trade-off for some weight savings and less of an opening to moisture or dirt is on/off convenience. If you're planning on taking it on and off frequently, then a full zip front jacket has the advantage. Wearing anything on your head won't help with the donning or doffing process. I'f you've got a helmet, that probably has to come off. Also, if you're planning on using it as a shell over bulky layers, bear in mind that an Anorak will be more difficult to don and doff. How easy it is to put on and take off depends on how you fit into the Anorak. I'm a medium build and wear a medium Anorak. If I were any bulkier or my shoulders much broader, I'd have some difficulty putting it on, and would probably have to go up a size. Just to try it out, I tried to put on the Combat Anorak over the Ranger Hoodie, which is quick fleece. Much to my wife's amusement, it took me a bit of struggling to get it over my head and shoulders, as the Anorak doesn't stretch. Once I got it on, there was ample room inside the Anorak to accomodate the Ranger Hoodie, but it wasn't easy to put on over it. I had no problems putting both Anoraks over a thinner layer like a sweatshirt. If you have a Predator or similar jacket, leave the front zipped up and see if you can easily put it on my slipping it over your head and shoulders, to get an idea of how the Anoraks might fit over insulative clothing. The Bug Out Anorak is a bit easier to don and doff as the material isn't as stiff as the Combat Anorak and it has a bit of 'give' to it.

General Notes - I've worn both in the rain, and they kept me dry, as expected. I was actually surprised how non-stuffy the Combat Anorak feels. Before putting it on, and based on how the material felt, I thought it'd get too hot and stuffy unless it was really chilly, but that wasn't the case. I felt comfortable wearing the Combat Anorak in temperatures where I'd be uncomfortable in my original Goretex Gen I ECWCS parka (upper 60's). The Bug Out Anorak can be used in warmer weather than the Combat Anorak; comfortable up through the mid-70's.

TAD designed the Combat Anorak to be "one of the toughest, most abrasion resistant jackets anywhere; a dedicated service hardshell specifically tasked for alpine and mountain environments". The Kevlar reinforced material sure feels tough and is substantial enough to provide some protection against scrapes and knocks, and makes it more comfortable on your elbows and front when in the prone position on uneven ground with stones or little rocks. If you're going to be scrambling around rocks or spending time on your belly in the prone position and you know you're going to be in inclement weather, the Combat Anorak would be the one to get.

If you don't need the extra abrasion resistance, and want a lighter weight specialized hardshell that's easier to compress and pack, then the Bug Out would be a good choice. It functions great as a wind or rain shirt over other clothing and it's light enough to carry in a pack, car or bag 'just in case', even if you're not sure it's going to rain.



 

 

 

 


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