British SAS smock / fake budget bushcraft gear / waterproof test when waxed

[@robcrusoe]

I see lots of reviews on all types of windproof,ripstop US / Uk military field jackets and none so far have put them to the test in bad weather unlike you.I have a few of them and they are not waterproof and I wouldn't take them up any hills . Everything gets overwhelmed with water eventually and I often get soaked through,the important part is keep moving and stay warm . I get the shower experience sometimes too.I always take a change of gear and once back at the start its great to change into dry clothes. I wear Buffalo Special 6 with a hood, pretty much keeps me warm, been iced up on one side once and I was still cosy, just vent it if too warm. Thanks for testing and sharing .

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

Thanks rob, I don't bother with the cloth army jackets unless they are gortex though I do have faith in my country innovation lined ventile smock but hay, its lined. I have a buffalo belay jacket, same as yours but with a zip down the front. Really good kit. Think I'll stick to the gortex jackets and wool or buffalo when it comes to serious outings weather it be just for the day or overnighter trips.

[@johncrouch8988]

Hi 👋🏻. You can’t beat the Buffalo 🐃 clothing and sleep system in my opinion. Been using both now for 30 years and wouldn’t change. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@robcrusoe]

@@johncrouch8988 Cheers John, for the weather we in Scotland, even in the summer, Its the best kit I have. Atb Rob

[@trytheoutdoors]

​@@johncrouch8988 Sir How do uou use Buffalo in really wet weather during a multi day hike? Would you have a gortex layer to go over the buffalo?

[@ozdavemcgee2079]

In the Australian Army we had M65 jackets. Cotton outer useless in rain. However, that can be fix3d, as I suspect this could be. Use a can and a half to 2 cans of Scotchguard. Works pretty well. I also use it on a wide brimmed cotton hat I wrar in the rain. I pref hat in rain unless it too cold then I use the hood lol

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

I've heard of scotchguard being used before, will have to look into it. This cheap reproduction SAS smock was very cheap, a use and throw away jacket really, needs a good waterproof to go under it or it could be a very poor choice for the British hills and mountains, Could be good for an easy wildeness survival course or doing something smokey and dirty a few times then throw it out.

[@MichiganSilverBack]

I bought one a few months ago and sprayed it with camp dri, a silicon waterproofing. It works real swell.

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

@MichiganSilverBack I'm glad to hear this. This one was a complete disaster due to it being very cheap. £36. I'm sure yours was a better one. I put this one in the charity show where it belongs. To deal with bad weather means getting more expensive gear. That lesson was the best thing to come out of this video, I think.

[@kmichael2248]

Andy, instead of pulling the drawstring of the hood tight, and constantly having to pull the hood off your face and out of your eyes. Leave the hood loose and fold 3-4" of front back over your head. This forms a bill like on a cap and keeps the rain from dripping on your face and the hood out of your eyes. I learned this in the US Army in the 1960's (yes I'm that old)

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

@kmichael2248 Thanks. I'll remember that. Though I don't think I'll be wearing this smock again. I've still got it, but it is so cheap it's not worth wearing unless I use it as overalls.

[@WyeExplorer]

Good going Andy. You got a right drenching and over time a bit of a chill to. Yeah that wet, wind and rain can take its toll. The jacket? To be expected really. All the best for 2021. Mark

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

Cheers for that Mark, should of put my wool jumper on, my fault. Hope 2021 brings us all love and light with no viruses and problems 💯👍

[@irondog8250]

Great video, l just got a Gen'1 US Gortex jacket, because l always get wet and cold when l am out with my dog!

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

Yer, military gortex, can't go wrong on price and performance 👍

[@brianbeatens3518]

Good video! Wish i had seen this afew weeks ago as ive just purchased one of these smocks..

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

That is unfortunate. This particular one was dirt cheep. £36. I think. If yours cost a lot more, then maybe it's a better type. Anyway, good luck with what you got brian.

[@ashleystyles6888]

TBF I love the Arktis B110. Ive owned many. As a windproof garment they are amazing and them more they are washed, the more soft and comfortable they get. But theres the problem. Wash one 3 times and all the waterproofing disappears............

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

@ashleystyles6888 I wouldn't trust any army style jacket to be waterproof. They can be treated with a fabsil or other waterproofing, but it's going to come through eventually, I think. Did you get this video mixed up with another one I've created? This one is about a fake sas smock.

[@ashleystyles6888]

@@Andy-walkaboutnutty I know mate. I watched it as a comparison. Yes you're correct. 511 tactical and arktis are my 2 favourite brands being an ex contractor. They both lose waterproofing after minimal washing.

[@robc8892]

They need reporting. They are not magic

[@williamgrech930]

I have the same one its not as good for wet weather but its brilliant for windy days

[@billycan8852]

Thanks for this honest jacket review. I think I will try that walk one day ,But it will have to be a dry day for me I am afraid 😀

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

Its going to be a dry day for me next time as well. Never again in the wet, way to muddy.

[@johnsteele2986]

Can't beat a quality goretex I reckon. I love a good smock but my go to is either a Gen 1 US woodland wet weather parka or a Crossfire AWACS, both are excellent cold/wet weather jackets. Unfortunately they don't make the AWACS any more but it was truly excellent. As far as smocks go, our Australian issued AMCU GP Jacket (also made by Crossfire Australia) is superb. It's made of Nylon with Nextec waterproofing in the fibres and it sheds water for HOURS. You have to be careful with them though, if you put them in the dryer it rapidly ruins the water proofing.

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

Agreed. Army jackets on their own in the cold rain can be deadly, as much as I like them they just need something else with it, weather it be a wool jumper underneath or a waterproof under or over the top of it. Most of my time outdoors I've worn a gortex even though it doesn't seem like that in my videos. I wouldn't test a gortex on video because I know they work. Thanks for watching my crazy video, I hope you found it entertaining 😀

[@johnsteele2986]

@@Andy-walkaboutnutty I must say though that some of my best remembered walks were done in a smock! One in particular that stands out was a walk I did from Corowa NSW to Rutherglen VIC. I happened to be wearing a DPM Arctic Windproof Smock when it started to proper sideways rain and the temperature plummeted! If it wasn't for that smock I would have been in big trouble! It kept me warm enough and kept most of the rain off and I was very glad I had it! I enjoy seeing your beautiful, wet, miserable, lush green English countryside, I hope to one day walk it myself! And you can bet I'll be walking it in a Denison Smock or similar!!!

[@eastsaxon67]

None of these smocks were designed to do what you are doing. It was a layer system, in that weather, you are supposed to put the poncho over it, in the cold an insulated layer.

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

@eastsaxon67 I understand what you're saying. It was a test to see how a cheap jacket would perform with the fjallraven Greenland wax melted into it. I've tested various smocks, but this one was the worst. I never know what the outcome is on any waterproof test. I tend to use fabsil these days to waterproof things, though I'm just about done testing army and bushcraft type jackets in the rain. I hope you enjoyed the video eastsaxon67.

[@coffinman5007]

Do you know how the kitpimp sas smocks compare to the originals when treated?

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

I've never used kitpimp gear, so I couldn't answer that, sorry. I did look it up, and for £49.99 I wouldn't trust it, and there's no brand name on the zips by the looks. This one was about £26. And it was absolutely crap. And it was waxed, though not to the extent of a barbour jacket is. I've tested my gabardine material 1990s original sas smock in the rain when waxed, and it performed fantastic. There is a video on that. The only thing good about the cheep stuff is, if you come off your bike and it gets ripped, you can fix it or sling it. The best cheap army jacket I've got is the MTP genuine british army jacket. Only £40. New. It's a good price, it done OK in a waterproof test, it's high quality for what you pay. I hope this helps.👍

[@inky4763]

I had that jacket, it’s actually not bad and more wind proof than the regular army smocks, but clearly, not very water proof

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

Like a lot of these cloth made jackets, you've got to have a waterproof jacket or liner to go with it. I should of put a jumper on that day. I think I'll give in and wear a gortex like I used to.

[@ozdavemcgee2079]

Where did you purchase this from?. I seriously want one

[@weeg91]

I have theory why this jacket doesn't perform as good as the original gabardine. The original is issued with Mystolene MK9 already impregnated and this was likely in the jacket before you waxed it, whereas this jacket did not have the mystolene rather the wax alone. FYI Mystolene Mk9 is not available anymore but nikwax's own Cotton Proof or TX direct has identical ingredients to Mk9.

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

To be honest, I don't know. All I can say is it could be the quality, the weave, what it's made of??? Probably all 3, but one thing's for sure, it certainly looks like a tight weave, and price does make a difference.

[@solb101]

The smock is designed for cold dry climate. Perhaps you didn’t wax it enough. What boots are you wearing in that sludge? Looks like you need some wellies. 😂

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

@solb101 I've only just got rid of that cheap load of junk. It went into the charity shop. The lesson in this video is cheap clothes don't mix with bad weather or wax. I'm not teaching that twice. 😕 💯% I hope you enjoyed @solb101 🙂🤘

[@thomasmusso1147]

One must not confuse the terms 'windproof', 'water resistant' and 'waterproof' with each other. To confuse the issue even more, throw in 'breathable'. That jacket you tested (I don't see the brand mentioned) was taken way past it's Design Intent. 'Waxing' helps to improve water resistance .. but then, you lose 'breathability .. 'Wax On .. Breathability Off'. Eventually you WILL get wet .. from outside, inside or both. I have a couple of Smocks / Combat Jackets which perform very well in conditions that don't tax them beyond their limits. Anybody who goes out for an extended period into unpredictable weather with just a 'Smock' as their Primary Outer Weather Shell, is looking for trouble. You want a Waterproof Garment that will also breathe to an extent, then get get one of the TM Gortex-Branded / Similar Products. Otherwise a good quality Poncho or Rain Jacket.

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

Yer I agree with what you say, I've used a fair amount of gortex jackets from military to civvy and yep that's the way to go. That smock was a real cheap and nasty, though it did looked the part. Just got a revolution race, RVRC with a recco system built in. I'm not testing it but I might talk about it some day.

[@thomasmusso1147]

@@Andy-walkaboutnutty 👍 .. agreed, 'cheap and nasty' should be a red flag. Although, good quality kit does not have to cost an arm and a leg .. ie, Military Surplus .. the genuine stuff. 'Branding' does not always guarantee that the product is worth that paid for it. Often, much originates from under the same roof / industrial complex and will be priced according to the Label attached to it and the respective Seller's Marketing Budget. Or, if not sewn under the same roof .. then using material / cloth from one major supplier. The 'Rag Trade', inter alia, is (in)famous for this. Thanks for the feedback .. take care ..

[@swcblad]

and how about a shoe/boot review too?

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

I would never review boots because everybody's feet are different, and I don't mean in size.

[@JPOUTDOORS18]

Just curious how much was the jacket compared to the original mate?

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

The fake one was ( £36 ) give or take a couple of quid, and the original was ( £150 ) give or take a couple of quid. What I failed to mention with the fake is that my T shirt and shirt was completely saturated, I mean completely, I dont think I could of survived a night without a jumper, a meal and a shelter.

[@JPOUTDOORS18]

@@Andy-walkaboutnutty was worth a try though aye

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

@@JPOUTDOORS18 I originally bought it because it was cheap so I could do a review on it for the poorer members of society, then because the original had suprising results on the rain test I followed on with the other. What a difference, literally between life and death but yer, worth a try.

[@hampshireoutdoorsandsurviv9340]

but thats why your issued wet kit as well ,.its a windproof COMBAT JACKET its ment to be used as part of a system not a one answer to all conditions for use in temperate climates and under going heavy physical effort it is breathable and light if it rains put your gortex on and on ops well suck it up butter cup,,,,,, great video though and a good warning for civis get the right kit for what you are doing stay safe have fun all the best ,,,,,,,mick out,,,,,,,

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

Correct, this jacket was really cheap and nasty though. Definitely a good lesson 💯%

[@BoltonMaverickoutdoors]

It's just canvas

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

It's not that good. It's just cheaper cotton, and the price reflected that. £44. I think, it was a while back now. The lesson that came out in the end was, don't rely on cheaper stuff when against the elements. I was on the low land as well. It's an awful jacket. Anyway, thanks for watching and I hope you found it a bit amusing. I do now, but never again, not with cheaper stuff. 🙂👍

[@BoltonMaverickoutdoors]

@Andy-walkaboutnutty I have fjallraven gear that's just the same 450 quid anorak it's not meant to be waterproof to be fair even when waxed

[@Andy-walkaboutnutty]

@BoltonMaverickoutdoors I've got an expensive fjallraven jacket, it's the same material that the fjallraven trousers we all wear. The sarak jacket I think. Done a vid on that when waxed with fjallraven wax, and it wasn't too good in the british weather. It wasn't as bad as this one, but I've come to the conclusion that fjallraven stuff is made for the dry snow only. The trousers are great and popular in this country and worth having, I think.