Hello! Do you like Smocks? Don‘t you like em? When and for what do you use them? How do you pack them? Which one do you prefer? Cheers, John
Yes, I have used a smock as my bush jacket since, well, since the late 80s I guess. I used a British RM "Arctic Smock" as my go to for the better part of 20 years (it is actually still perfectly workable I just updated). I now use an Aussie made Platatac SAS pattern in Multicam (it was a ADF overrun for the SAS/Commandos in Arsecrackestan) It is (like the RM Smock) 100% cotton so I also treat it in TX10. I have some pics of it but not accessible to me here just now. I must confess to haveing ummmmmm...."several" other smocks as well all the way back to 1960s Australian issue parachuting versions. I have one that I really like (but never gets used because I keep on using the Platatac one) that is made in Germany (in the Wüstentarn pattern). The maker is private but a really high quality piece of gear that is well thought out. Their name escapes me just now. When I was heading to Africa (because military camouflage patterns are a big no no in Mozambique) I got a plain tan Parachute smock made by SORD (Another great Aussie company) I really like it and it now lives in my truck permanently. Even here in the city it does not get to many second looks if i slip it on during "tactical urban maneuvering" (you know, grocery shopping, checking the mail, walking the dogs ).
So smock = some kind of (light?) jacket? Not being sarcastic, but I was thinking of some sort of apron type thing when I read the OP. When I worked retail decades ago the thing some employees wore were referred to as smocks.
The original/traditional Smock (the British and Germans used them during WW2) was generally a fairly light weight "shell" (to use the modern thinking/language) garment. The British versions (started with the Denison Smock = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denison_smock ) were made from gabradine cotton (it's a very tightly woven fabric) and as such were lightweight and windproof (add a cotton treatment as I do, and which the Brits traditionally did/do then they are well beyond just "shower proof" as well). From the 70s/80s the British "SAS Smock" kind of set the style/pace for these garments ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windproof_smock ). They are lighter than a traditional combat jacket so easier to carry. A good design will have well laid out large pockets (from a time before body armour and load carrying vest) that you can squirrel all manner of gear in, and a hood. When combined with a Howard Green, shirt and singlet you had a lovely set of layers that you can manage temperature with. From another era in my working career I also have an Arktis made "SAS Smock" in black, it remains one of my favourite things to throw on in cooler weather.
This is the one I got to take to Africa... https://www.sordaustralia.com/sord-smock No generally I don't have a regular list of gear, depending on what I am doing where. I can pick my normal bush one up however and know that there will be a headover, beenie, nomex gloves and shemagh packed around it. I will add my Garmin Etrex to a sleeve or chest pocket depending on my mood and the balance of my gear I add before setting out as dictated by my needs ie hunting, fishing or just roaming.
If you are interested in smocks, maybe check out the German Brand Leo Köhler. The quality is outstanding. I have 3 smocks, and the one by LK is the best I have followed by TacGear. Smocks are pretty popular here in Germany. http://www.leokoehler.com/ http://www.tacgear.de/endex.php
TacGear (thanks for the memory spark) is the maker of the Wüstentarn pattern smock (http://www.tacgear.de/produkte/commando-smock_v2.php ) I have. They were great people to deal with as well.
I have a CDN Forces pattern 82 smock. You can fit a whole ton of gear into the pockets if you needed to. The idea behind the smocks is they ACTUALLY breath when your rucking etc. 80% water tight, fairly fast to dry when exerting yourself too
Old school, https://www.keepshooting.com/british-army-dpm-windproof-smock.html New school, http://www.tyrtactical.com/products/details/featured-products/huron-cold-weather-combat-smock/
BULLDOG TACTICAL MK2 Evolved SAS Smock (i have one on order) JAYJAYBRECONUK SAS SMOCK ( I might order one too) and the SORD smock @Andy the Aussie posted has also piqued my interest.....
This is dead on.^^^^^^ I have the First Spear Squadron Smock, Internet Picture. And a Drop Zone Tactical recce Smock, Internet Picture. D.Z.Tactical is no longer in business......... Drop Zone is in O.D. Green and my First Spear is in Coyote. I really like them both and they can hold ton of gear, I think they have 16-18 pockets. The D.Z. has a beefy main zipper that I really like and the F.S. has Buttons that go thru the whole flap, that I really like. Good for gloves. I really like mine for cooler weather and have used them both for the 4-5 years I've had them. I pulled some of the Velcro off the D.Z. so I can wear it around people and not be stared at. There is a place in Canada [ Vancouver tactical] that sells some pretty good stuff out of the U.K. I love mine and think for the right application they can't be beat.