HELIKON PILGRIM ANORAK REVIEW: COMPARISON TO BRITISH MILITARY SMOCK

The helikon Pilgrim Anorak is a lightweight jacket designed for bushcraft, but is it suitable for dog walking and good enough to replace my 'go-to' British military Issue smock? In this video, we review the Piligrim Anorak from Helikon-tex and compare it with the British Military issue smock, a jacket many will be familiar with.
If you are looking for a solid jacket for dog walking that is relatively cool, yet offers good protection from wind, rain and undergrowth then this could be the jacket for you. With pockets for all the balls and treats your dog could possibly want, its quite possibly the best lightweight jacket for dog walking.

[@rbivns]

Good review mate! Have the same one in taiga green, gone the other way, and waxed the fabric with fjallraven g-1000 wax. Makes it less breathable but mote weather resistant and gives it nice patina over time. Keep up the good work, thumbs up!

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Thank you!

[@ronaldroberts9556]

Following your review, and TGOR, I bought a tiga green one off Facebook market place. Worn once, cost £70!,Your review was spot on. Some three months later, it is still my go to. Is always pocketsful. Am considering another for waxing. Keep up the good work!

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Glad I could help. I still love mine too, great bit of kit.

[@davef5916]

waiting for this channel to blow up man, such good presentations on many great topics. Keep it up mate, budding for ya.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Thanks Dave appreciate it. Starting to get a bit of a feel for it now I think. Onwards and upwards!

[@silvafox8371]

Another excellent review - thank you

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Thanks again!

[@BoerChris]

Thanks, I needed a suggestion for a good outdoor smock for next winter. Like you, I tend to 'run hot'; have done ever since I spent a winter in Iceland.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I adore mine, great bit if kit.

[@lesdrinkwater490]

Great review. Thanks.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

You are welcome les.

[@axelthorn2263]

Nice jacket thanks and I love military 1st

[@terryreknaw6152]

I recently bought one these. A great jacket. The buttons are a bugger though so I cut a little bit of the stitching to make then easier to use .

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I made a point of opening and closing mine lots of times as I was out walking for the first week. They do loosen up, but I agree, they really are a bit 'stiff' at the beginning.

[@corleyoutdoors2887]

I have the same jacket and love it

[@rossg4788]

Solid review mate! Would like to see Helikon add 2 velcro squares to the upper sleeves. Greetings from Texas!

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Thank you. I would have liked some velcro patches there too. We have a few Ukrainian families who have moved to my town so when I go shopping in town I like to wear my Slava Ukrani morale patch to show support. I just wear my stratus fleece into town now to do just that.

[@user-yj9jl2ss6u]

Great review and worth a 'Like'. I have a green one on order and will likely wax it with a home made wax recipe. Take care from Ontario, Canada...

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Thank you.

[@marmadukegrimwig]

I’ve got one. Excellent bit of kit.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Agree, the more I wear it, the more I like it!

[@user-yj9jl2ss6u]

New sub and bell rung. All the best in '24 and beyond...

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Thank you.

[@GubbePaaTur]

Great review. My PILGRIM is my go to jacket and has been the last year. Backpacking in the mountians of Norway with its changing weather, this anorak has proved itself as perfect.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I think its ability to change with varying conditions is one of the reasons I like it so much. In milder conditions its cool enough to wear up to about 19C, or down to about 10c with just a t-shirt underneath, but when it gets colder you can layer it with the right mid-layer to reach the perfect level of comfort.

[@GubbePaaTur]

@@dogdadoutdoors I had a 5 day, 100km hike on Hardangervidda this summer in wind, 10-12 C and on/off rain. The Pilgrim was perfect, held out the wind and rain. Dried up in a matter of minutes. As you also noted, placing of pockets could not be better. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmTHYp-ViJqfkJo

[@thumperthumper5322]

I've been looking at this product for a year and wondering if I should buy it. After seeing your video I am definitely interested in wearing this.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Glad it was useful. I REALLY like mine, it is the lightweight shell I was looking for.

[@TheGhjgjgjgjgjg]

Helikon stuff is absolutely top notch but so is the price tag, especially here in canada. I just bucked up $250 for the swagman roll (shipping and taxes in) but man is it ever damn good, I can spend an entire day on the west coast shore in the pissing rain and STILL be bone dry and warm underneath

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Helikon definitely isn't the cheapest, but then I bought a Chinese lookalike off wish which looked brilliant and I was very happy with it, right up until the zip broke after about 4 months! On the swagman role, It's an interesting product that one, do you use it with the waterproof poncho?

[@TheGhjgjgjgjgjg]

@@dogdadoutdoors Haven't even had to use it a outer poncho, the water proofing is that good. I've experienced the same thing with buying cheap products that "look good" They simply don't last. It's the small things that break first on cheap gear, zippers pop, buckles snap, etc (that's where the price cutting is) Good gear is expensive, but you get what you pay for when it comes to this stuff. It's honestly cheaper to spend more the first time but cheap gear has it's time and place, like when you are first starting out and you determine what is worth the investment and what isn't

[@nothinglessness]

Helikon stuff is half the price of other manufacturers. If this smock had Fjallraven on it it would be £300, same for the Pilgrim trousers, unbelievable quality for half the price of Fjallraven.

[@Reggy9]

@@nothinglessness True!

[@TyrantTiger85]

@@nothinglessness fjallraven is quality... don't you bad mouth fjall....

[@Reggy9]

There is one anorak I even prefer over the Pilgrim. Its the Pinewood Tikaani. Price tag quite similar, but the quality omg, its insanely good.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I hadn't seen that one, a wax cotton right? I bet that withstands a downpour or two!

[@Reggy9]

@@dogdadoutdoors Yes, and its like Fjällräven. You wouldnt see or feel the difference, if you dont exactly know. Pinewood has awesome prices for great quality products. Got my Tikaani for around 85 quid over here in mainland Europe. Greetings from Munich!

[@trickiejohn]

It looks a great bit of kit, I prefer the linger zip, I have a shoulder injury and using a smock with less room to don it make it a no no for me 👍

[@harashigomari1690]

Like the size and synching of the hood

[@dogdadoutdoors]

The hood is really good.

[@laimonasrake8367]

When I'm not 100% sure which size would be best, I order them all at once M L XL, compare side by side, keep one I like most for my application, return the rest. That's the main advantage I see buiyng from large stores like military1st, no fuss return policy.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I used to do that with Debenhams, a big department store we had here in the UK. I would order a few sizes, try them on in the store and return any I didn't want there and then. To be fair the returns process is really simple at Military1st too, you don't even have to pay return postage.

[@MarcP5267]

That was a really good review. I’m in the USA and looking for a wind proof piece, doesn’t have to be rain resistant. I have a good layering system and looking for an out shell for the wind for temps in the low/mid 20’s F to low 30’s F. Do you think this jacket would work when it’s windy in the temps which makes “feel” colder? Thanks!

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I think it would cut the wind down, but it is only wind resistant rather than wind proof. I guess it depends on what you had underneath. If it was something like a softie jacket which had a degree of wind resistance itself it should be fine. While it does have a good high collar that goes up past my chin and decent hood, I would probably go for something like a softie rather than this unless you just want a tougher shell. The reason I say that is the material is quite thin, so whilst I gives you good coverage, any gaps in insulation between your mid layers and the pilgrim will leave a cool spot. With the right mid layer though it could work. I have worn mine a couple of degrees below freezing (celsius) but when we had a cold snap below that I switched to my expedition style parka instead which was a better fit.

[@herrmp5sd]

Inside pockets for telephone are great. My telephone are seperated from my keys. In sweden just about 110 £

[@hampshireoutdoorsandsurviv9340]

awsome i know what il ask for crimbo

[@albertoilg]

Nice review. Do you think that the interior mesh can hold with the stuff inside the pockets or it is a weak spot?. Once again, great video!.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I think it is fit for purpose. I was issued the newer PCS Britsh Smock and that has similar mesh behind the Napolean pockets and was never an issue. The PCS smocks are designed for combat, so they should be OK. I had the same fears regarding the mesh on the 45 litre Bergan which is on the shoulder straps and the side it connects to your back. Mine is over 10 years old, has had some pretty rough wear and doesn't have a scratch on it.

[@albertomiramontes1035]

@@dogdadoutdoors I suppose it will depend on what are you putting inside the pockets. For my needs its more than enough, for professional use (i.e. wearing body armor or backpack straps) chest pockets will be empty. Thank you for the quick response. Cheers

[@Celphtitled585]

It’s really thick gage mesh, I bought the taiga green pilgrim about a month ago, it’s a durable article

[@danielhughes4442]

I’ve been looking at these I have a 46 inch chest and 36 inch waist do you think an XL would be ok size wise? Thanks great review.

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I think so! I am a little bigger than you, but I was about there when I bought it and the large was just a bit too snug with a fleece underneath so went to the XL. It will be baggy, but it is meant to be.

[@nelistheron83]

Hi mate. Thanks for the review. How tall are you?

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Hobbit sized, a fraction under 5' 7".

[@WeldingForJesus]

Just ordered one of these. It all started with wifey buying a winter jacket in one of those women's fashion shops. It cost more than the Pilgrim, and lasted, well, ALMOST the whole winter... So, a couple of days ago I had this really grumpy ginger at home fuming over useless women's fashion and I told her that if she wants clothes that will last a long time she has three choices: 1) higher end outdoors gear, 2) buy the stuff that service personell buy to upgrade whatever rubbish us taxpayers provide for them, or 3) clothes marketed towards labourers (which in most cases provide the fashion statement of hi-viz in flourescent orange or yellow). She was not impressed yet by that speech, so I went online to show her, and stumbled across this one which we both agreed looked nice. Just hope the size fits. 😂

[@dogdadoutdoors]

how did you get on with it, does she like it?

[@WeldingForJesus]

@@dogdadoutdoors No, unfortunately she didn't like it at all. "Too military and the zipper needs to go all the way."... Fortunately, she and I have the same size on jackets, so I guess I have a new jacket now. 🤣👍

[@morrisjensen1959]

I would really like to know the full size of those two front pockets. Could I get a 12x09 inch sketch book into them?

[@dogdadoutdoors]

They are big, but not that big I think. I don't have exact measurements but i show all the pockets in detail on this one. Its the Helikon Pilgrim smock. The best pocket is actually the pass-through kangeroo pocket bottom front, love that thing, but the jacket in general is superb, highly recommend it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYHHqqqQfah2ZqMsi=3rOP8XUCcCQhYq0n

[@androna1919]

How Helikon Duracanvas compares to G-1000 in therms of robustness and wind resistence? I love Sarma (Varusteleka) polycotton fabric, more robust (and cheaper!) than G-1000, but a little bit noisy...

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Hi, I can't say I have any experience with G-1000 so I can't advise unfortunately.

[@requiscatinpace7392]

Did you find the buttons were too big for the button holes?

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I *think* thats what is. The holes are definitely loosening up, but it takes deliberate effort to use them in order to do that.

[@phililpb]

The pull over design is not for me. Is there anything like this with a full front zip?

[@dogdadoutdoors]

Nothing with that awesome Kangeroo pocket. Nearest I can think of is something like a PCS style smoke.

[@moocher7336]

Nikwax it as normal wax makes it go white

[@dogdadoutdoors]

I will probably use the Nikwax cotton proof when it comes to wash it to maintain breathability. If it hammers down I'll just throw my old DPM waterproof over the top.