Excellent Kit - Hilltrek Cruachan DV Extreme Smock 6 month Review

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Guys and Girls, if you have bought anything from hilltrek after watching my video can you please leave a review on the hilltrek website and mention the channel, it would really help me out : hilltrek.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAjwsfuYBhAZEiwA5a6CDIG9xDAswuNExaZgUrspH993tokf3USyUyt4ChdWQeFIe5i--P5BDxoC_3UQAvD_BwE

[@hilltrekoutdoorclothing3588]

Thanks for the excellent review Wooly

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

No problem guys, keep up the great work

[@billyfibrox]

Love the smock and your GSP.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Cheers buddy, great dogs

[@billyfibrox]

@@RedBranchBushcraft Yeah, great personality's. I am on my 3rd one at the moment. Keep you active and always keep you entertained.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Class, I'd love another one to keep Bruno company

[@billyfibrox]

We had one called Charlie then rescued one called Tess, they both passed away a few weeks of each other June 2021. Great animals, Swore I would never get another, then ended up with a pup in April 2022, called Fred lol. His personality has all traits of the other two dogs, what a character he is. He has been sent to try us. Just go for it 👍

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Lol, sounds great , Bruno is a joy , we have two terriers here to , very very different dogs to the gsp

[@soggz4246]

I have an original German Parka,first issued in 1977. It’s still in great shape and works exactly like your ventile cotton smock there. I’m wondering if they are made from the same stuff. It does sound like it as it’s tough and I have never had rain come through it. I’ve worn it on building sites,for fishing,on motorbikes etc,it’s never failed me. I bought it in 1986 originally for lake fishing. I still wear it now. It cost me a fiver….in 1986…. All the best.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Some bargain , might be germandine not sure if that's how you spell it

[@soggz4246]

@@RedBranchBushcraft Gaberdine you mean? Like the newer British Army wind proof smocks. No,it’s not that. I have one of those issued this year. Completely different material. We are talking 1977…

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Yes that's what I mean, I think it used to be issued years ago to

[@soggz4246]

@@RedBranchBushcraft Your probably on about the older soldier 90 stuff. Terrible stuff and made on the cheap. The Falkland campaign stuff was even worse. All made in a hurry,by the cheapest company they found.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Ah, yes

[@iwfcallaghan]

I have bought two hiltrek jackets, because of you and you have cost me a fortune, still waiting on the second one to be delivered ( double ventile) not been disappointed with the first one which was single layer, but can't wait to test the double 😀

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Brilliant Ian, how do you find the single one? I've been thinking about a light one for summer wear. If your leaving a review on the website can you mention the channel please, might help me

[@iwfcallaghan]

@@RedBranchBushcraft I really like the single layer, it's not waterproof but it's pretty close,I have a very expensive jottnar waterproof jacket which I have zero faith in at all and I would say the single layer is alot better and rugged.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

cool, good to know, im thinking a 3 jacket system, single for summer , double for spring autumn and lined for winter

[@iwfcallaghan]

@@RedBranchBushcraft I have the hiltrek hybrid smock ,which has a double layer on the shoulders . I'm pleased with it and it's my go to smock until the double layer turns up.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

That sounds excellent

[@SergeLoslever]

Hi there Wooly. I am bout to order my Cruachan smock. I am just strungling a bit with the size. Yours seem to fit perfectly as I would like mine to fit myself. Did you take your measures like shown on Hilltrek site ? I did and following the measures taken I should order an XXS which is a size I never wear usualy. (I am 169 cm high). So I am a bit hesitant as no mistake is allowed regarding to the price of the smock. Any advice ? Thank you for your interresting videos. Serge from Belgium.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

@@SergeLoslever mine is a size small but I ordered an xs but found d it too small . It fitted but the sleeves weren't right , I followed the measurements and rang them. They were very very helpful

[@SergeLoslever]

@@RedBranchBushcraft I Emailed them and indeed they are very very helpful. It will be a Small with non standard sleeves and lenght. Thank you .

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

@@SergeLoslever perfect

[@RSLtreecare]

Hi, love your review. I am looking at this jacket. I through this was made as a year round use, bushcraft, outdoor garment. What's your other jacket?Also, what's your base layer system. I have used Helle Hanson for years, now's it's starting to get to old. I am selling lots of bit of kit. I have a chat with Hilltrek this week. Cheers, take care

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Yes, this is a year round jacket , might be a bit overkill in the hot week of the summer though, the other hilltrek jacket I have is a pile lined smock, great for winter. But this would be just as good with a few layers under it. I'm cheap when it comes to base layers, I had UA etc, never liked them, I perfer ex army stuff

[@tavishurn2585]

Would you recommend this as a four seasons waterproof? Or at least good for Spring and Autumn? I have a Frahm parka and it's still too warm to walk my dogs around the local streets. I was looking at Frahm for a thinner jacket, their waterproof is nylon though and I'd like to stay with cotton if possible.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

I've worn this every season so far , excellent kit,I just changed my layers underneath

[@tavishurn2585]

@@RedBranchBushcraft Great, many thanks for getting back to me!

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

My pleasure buddy

[@SuperVagabond]

What do you like more in a smock than a jacket? Thanks for the video

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

I'm not 100% sure actually! Lol I like that there is no big front zip , so less water if wind can get in, big chest pockets and hand warmer pockets

[@SuperVagabond]

@@RedBranchBushcraft thank you for your reply!

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

No problem

[@jamesbailand4311]

How have you found drying time for it? Both in the field and at home/by the fire?

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Not bad but I've never timed it

[@jamesbailand4311]

@@RedBranchBushcraft timed?! Not bad does me, marra. I've some old 100% cotton gaberdine and it drys quite quickly as well. Not quite as fast as a poly-cotton blend but close.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

I mean I haven't watched to see how long it takes,

[@haroldvonschwartzenstien3581]

Love a bit of ventile me like 😃

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Nice

[@haroldvonschwartzenstien3581]

Just had a delivery from Hebtroco, they do a reproduction of the British Antarctic Survey smock, kept me lovely and dry on the walk home from the pub last night 😉

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

@@haroldvonschwartzenstien3581 cool

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

@@haroldvonschwartzenstien3581 the smock or the sas one, on Google now

[@haroldvonschwartzenstien3581]

@@RedBranchBushcraft the (BRIGHT ORANGE!!!) smock, the sas one is based off an arktis jacket and is well too busy and complex for my simple tastes 😉

[@requiscatinpace7392]

You speak funny 😜! Where are you from? My wife is from Carrick Fergus. All the best from Scotland. Subbed!!

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Well, I'm in co Armagh , beside the border, thanks for the sub

[@jim-bob-outdoors]

Got to love a good smock, sadly way out of my price range. Looks good though. 👍

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

It's a buy once thing for me , hopefully it will last me 10+ years

[@joshuabourke3827]

Hold on a sec, did you say you sold your Buffalo 6 because of this smock?

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

not this one, the other one i have its like a buffalo but Ventile

[@inregionecaecorum]

Ventile is ventile, it is not magical. I have a Keela smock and it does what ventile does, becomes stiff as a board when it gets wet. It also wears out, frays at the cuffs and develops holes. It is not as tough as some would like to believe as it certainly is not leather or heaven forbid cordura. Never mind its downside give me Ventile worn on top of wool any day over Goretex and it's derivatives, they suck, they really do. Bet you can't remember the days of Belstaff and Bukta, it was your basic outdoor gear before all this so called synthetic breathable rubbish. What is really bonkers is the cost of Ventile as it never used to be anything like as exclusive as it has become in these latter days.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Yes , when it went out of style/fashion they sold off all the equipment to s factory in Sweden , now their the only ones who make it!