A really encouraging video Neil, and truthful too. Fancy brand names on products, not just Bush Craft, don't always mean value for money, and adding personal touches to kit is well worth the time and effort. 👍
Excellent modifications. Especially the side zips. I've never liked anoraks because they are hard to put on and take off AND they have limited ventilation. You solved both problems while keeping the kangaroo pocket. Nice!
Great ideas and great videos. Putting some of these mods on a Särmä (Varusteleka) smock would go a very long way. For me that smock is unbeatable for the price, it already has most features I like (zipped/buttoned front, pit zips, great hood, great pockets) and I've modified a couple of mine (I have three of them, one of them setup as a complete "survival" kit) with various little mods which is very easy to do. The Canada style buttons are far superior to any press studs. I'm not a big fan of the anorak style where you have to pull it over your head/use side zips so that factors into it as well.
Very impressive, Neil. Just ordered the basic smock from Amazon. (Thought I'd better be quick as stuff like this tends to sell-out once it's mentioned on RU-vid!) 🙂🔥
I started buying from Point North on the recommendation of a friend who had been buying from them when they were in Anglesey, he had made a lot of outdoor items with their fabrics, hardware, cords etc and I have done the same over the years. Their service, advice, information, patterns, quality, extensive range, and catalogue online is superb. Their samples /swatches are so useful to get the colour, feel, thickness, quality is invaluable when making a decision to choose. If you get stuck just ask them and they will give great advice and alternates. I have never had a problem with anything whether it was service, cost, delivery, advice or materials etc I rate them above 100%. Totally happy to recommend them to anyone. Nice job on the smock, always enjoy your videos and find them inspiring. Stay safe, keep wise, and be healthy.
I've got a couple of these smocks and you,ve just given me some good ideas.cheers for that (you could have thought a bit more about the closing scene. It looked like you were releiving yourself against the tree).
I recently bought one of these and took it on a trip up the Pentland Hills. I fabsiled it before I went, and it did a superb job at keeping the wind and rain out. Top piece of kit, and a great recommendation. Thank you so much.
Brilliant thank you would love to see you do some thing simular with a wool jumper or your wool jacket I have just order a smock and sum press studs lol thank you
not smock related but a handy bit of kit, Glority 5.5inch blade double sided folding saw for under 7 quid, just got one on Amazon and for my light duty woodland needs its spot on.
Great stuff as always Neil, the mods you have made are the exact same mods that I myself would make to that smock. You have turned a good smock in to a great smock 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
That is brilliant. The wire for the front of the hood is especially good. I got one of those and it was far too wide, so I took the sides in by hand sewing, I wish I had the idea of turning the sides into side zips like you did. If I was going to modify in any way different to yours I would put oxford cloth fabric, or even better some old soft leather on the shoulders to help reduce wear from rucksack straps and to be more waterproof on the shoulders
Modifying gear, absolutely fun !! Paper catalogs, I got some info from a (little known then) company called Blackhawk, back when he was so small, it was 6 sheets of paper in a standard size envelope !! Excellent video, thank you for sharing !
I really enjoyed this video. Great to hear some common sense being spoken. Regarding waterproofing, I've found that ordinary fabric conditioner can work very well indeed.
As ever, top notch vid of truth and usefulness. I looked for many months for Austrian Smock that was big enough(2xl) that long enough sleeves. Success ten years ago for £28 and have really abused it since. It is patched but still my fave . Found a never worn pilgrim on facebook market for less than half price. Am scared of damaging it! Has 2% Elastane, great features and does feel different . Truly excellent piece of kit. Keep up good work! 👍🏴
Only snag is by the time you have bought the sewing machine and all the other kit to modify it you may as well have just bought a more expensive smock in the first place 😂. Have to say the Helikon Pilgrim is truly superb and when I bought mine it was
Those are some excellent adjustments! Now i feel like an idiot somehow, but in a good way., i should know better 😂 i got a jacket similar to this, i won't name the brand here.., but let's just say, i could have bought this jacket including the adjustments twice, and have some spare money for a pint or 3... Thanks for the tip and video Neil, ATB
3:26 I totally agree with most points you make but regarding the difference in weave, this could be the sticking point. To say I’m no expert is a massive under exaggeration, but my understanding of some weaves, like duck canvas for example (used on Carradice cycle bags and panniers) is they are very tightly woven, so when they get wet the fibres expand so much that further ingress by water becomes impossible. This also makes for a very durable canvas. I’m just wondering if the canvas used on the cheaper smocks has the same properties as the more expensive G100 canvas?🤔 Of course, as regards waterproofness, you can always use Fabsil etc. but then it won’t be anywhere as breathable.
Helikon tex is absolutely not quality. Their marketing has worked amd fooled most. It's just marketing. Quality doesn't exist in this brand. None of their wear should cost anove $10. Still, these tips are a great reminder of what now is a forgotten art. Good effort v👌
