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British Smock Porn (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 10/23/2025 11:01:03 PM EDT
Youtube video - Prepared Pathfinder visiting Arktis's factory and sits down and does a breakdown of his smock. Classic British smock style loadout. Prepared Pathfinder's B211 Mountain Smock Loadout |
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Originally Posted By NotIssued: Wonder what that monocular is. Great vid, OP. Not certain, but likely a cheapy. Long story short, just search 'rubberized 8x mini monocular'. Re: smocks: I want to like the concept, but I also don't want to be that miserable in the summer. |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: Not certain, but likely a cheapy. Long story short, just search 'rubberized 8x mini monocular'. Re: smocks: I want to like the concept, but I also don't want to be that miserable in the summer. It's very location and tine of year dependent. Some of the modern ones are pretty lightweight and have good breathability options - they are basically alternatives to BDU tops. |
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Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: Not certain, but likely a cheapy. Long story short, just search 'rubberized 8x mini monocular'. Re: smocks: I want to like the concept, but I also don't want to be that miserable in the summer. Don't get any and don't ever use them!! Before you know it, you will have over $1000 worth of the fukers in 6 different camo patterns. 
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: It's very location and tine of year dependent. Some of the modern ones are pretty lightweight and have good breathability options - they are basically alternatives to BDU tops. Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Originally Posted By Ex_Sanguine_Nation: Not certain, but likely a cheapy. Long story short, just search 'rubberized 8x mini monocular'. Re: smocks: I want to like the concept, but I also don't want to be that miserable in the summer. It's very location and tine of year dependent. Some of the modern ones are pretty lightweight and have good breathability options - they are basically alternatives to BDU tops. Anyone making them in 100% cotton ripstop? |
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Originally Posted By gtsteve03: Anyone making them in 100% cotton ripstop? SORD used to, but only in solid colors. Whenever I get around to doing it, that'll be one of the options. I'm also going to have a lightweight smock that will directly be a BDU type top replacement, made out of the new NYCO Extreme hot weather uniform material that the army is using now in the hot weather uniforms. |
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Originally Posted By joeviterbo: Regarding Summer i wore many times a arktis One i bought when they liquidated some stock 15yrs ago. Rock bottom price, lower quality too, but it's thin and unlined. Also, no t shirt, no problems https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQtyLgcREnQxdNzsO_EUK1rV6F15zDYmuJFDq4Ts1_EEw&s=10 Unlined is the key. You can always add a wind jacket under it if you need absolute windproofing. Also pit zips go a LONG ways towards comfortable summer use. |
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Originally Posted By last_crusader: Please use that for the sleeveless smock Yup. This. My general thoughts is a traditional British smock, with a few small American mods (correct zipper side, etc.), in 3 main fabrics - NYCO, Cotton Ripstop, and some kind of modern this softshell type fabric. I'll also do them in something like Ventile if I can get it. Then a hot weather version, stripped down a bit for less layers and more ventilation. Otherwise similar to the British smock above. A sleeveless version of the above. And a simple pullover hot weather style smock - something like the WW2 german smocks and the Russian Partizan smocks, but Americanized. Those are the 4 versions I'd like to be able to eventually do. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Yup. This. My general thoughts is a traditional British smock, with a few small American mods (correct zipper side, etc.), in 3 main fabrics - NYCO, Cotton Ripstop, and some kind of modern this softshell type fabric. I'll also do them in something like Ventile if I can get it. Then a hot weather version, stripped down a bit for less layers and more ventilation. Otherwise similar to the British smock above. A sleeveless version of the above. And a simple pullover hot weather style smock - something like the WW2 german smocks and the Russian Partizan smocks, but Americanized. Those are the 4 versions I'd like to be able to eventually do. Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Originally Posted By last_crusader: Please use that for the sleeveless smock Yup. This. My general thoughts is a traditional British smock, with a few small American mods (correct zipper side, etc.), in 3 main fabrics - NYCO, Cotton Ripstop, and some kind of modern this softshell type fabric. I'll also do them in something like Ventile if I can get it. Then a hot weather version, stripped down a bit for less layers and more ventilation. Otherwise similar to the British smock above. A sleeveless version of the above. And a simple pullover hot weather style smock - something like the WW2 german smocks and the Russian Partizan smocks, but Americanized. Those are the 4 versions I'd like to be able to eventually do. Cough*mossyoak*cough  |
| I agree, a summer weight version with pit zips would be fantabulous. If Propper makes an M81 bdu style top in the new HW rip stop material, a close mod could be easily made. Just get some NYCO M81 material. Remove old pockets, use material to make over size pockets, and add zips and mesh on the inside for the Napoleon pockets. Obviously no hood, but given that it’s for summer, not that big a deal. |
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Originally Posted By cap6888: I agree, a summer weight version with pit zips would be fantabulous. If Propper makes an M81 bdu style top in the new HW rip stop material, a close mod could be easily made. Just get some NYCO M81 material. Remove old pockets, use material to make over size pockets, and add zips and mesh on the inside for the Napoleon pockets. Obviously no hood, but given that it’s for summer, not that big a deal. I'd want it a few inches longer than the normal BDU length. Maybe you could get a 'long' or 'XL' length BDU top and tailor the arms? |
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Originally Posted By parrisisland1978: Don't get any and don't ever use them!! Before you know it, you will have over $1000 worth of the fukers in 6 different camo patterns. LOL. I thought my 2 was getting extreme. Somebody should make one with an American zipper. |
I love a good double entendre.
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@marnsdorff If you’re going to make ones that will be warm weather specific, incorporate a full sized shoulder/back vent like the ones on fishing shirts. Besides the underarm zipper vents, one of my smocks has heavy duty mesh for the inside of the zippered chest pockets that are under the regular chest cargo pockets. They create a cross flow when they and the pit zippers are open. |
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Originally Posted By parrisisland1978: @marnsdorff If you’re going to make ones that will be warm weather specific, incorporate a full sized shoulder/back vent like the ones on fishing shirts. Besides the underarm zipper vents, one of my smocks has heavy duty mesh for the inside of the zippered chest pockets that are under the regular chest cargo pockets. They create a cross flow when they and the pit zippers are open. I've been thinking about that. I'm definitely going to maximize venting. I'm throwing around the idea of doing something like a hybrid design - I'm not sure if it'll be incorporated in the hot weather smock, or a standalone, additional option. Doing a smock with at least panels - maybe the whole side panel, under the underarm down to where the side pockets on the smock are - made of the same mesh fabric that WetWrx uses on their Summer Combat Hoody. (Here) Maybe doing something like that for a back panel piece, up where those vents you are talking about usually goes. And make the hood out of it too. |
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Helikon-Tex makes a couple of lightweight jackets/smocks, some are more pull over anorak style (bushcraft line), and they don't typically incorporate quite as many features as a proper smock since they're designed to be lightweight, but some do have pit zips. I've got an old canvas gas mask bag (I think that's what it is anyways) that I carry hunting in the warm weather but switch my gear to a British smock as it cools. Reminds me, I need to find my pilot's flasks (for water); I've got two of them somewhere that fit in the smock pockets or a cargo pocket and I must have misplaced them after last hunting season. |
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Originally Posted By marnsdorff: Youtube video - Prepared Pathfinder visiting Arktis's factory and sits down and does a breakdown of his smock. Classic British smock style loadout.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjQOW94kRG0Okay, I finally was able to just sit down for a few minutes and watched this. It's not bad. I've seen smock loadouts that were absolutely crazy; this isn't so bad. I've tried the whole "kit smock" thing and it does work until you need to layer on other kit and then it becomes a major pain in the ass. I love smocks, have a dozen or so, but you have to have some discipline to use it as part of your kit layering and not lose it's value as a layer of clothing. Like backpacking or rucking, just because there's a pocket or empty space doesn't mean you need to fill it. I would say there's a balance as well. Layering can add unnecessary redundancy and weight. If you have some of that kit already in your Line 2 rig, there's little reason to duplicate everything. Load planning is important as well. Some items you want accessible in your 2nd line, some are fine in your 1st line, if you can get to it without stripping off gear or layers. Some of the "survival" shit doesn't have to be immediately accessible, but hat/gloves, map, notebook/pen/pencil, spare compass, spoon, small LED, certain signal items, are okay. I prefer to keep a knife on my 1st line, but that's just me. I know we've all seen the "kit smock" layout before with about 30 pounds of kit and looking like a lumpy Michelin Man; doing anything other that standing or sitting would become a chore. The Brit's concept is fine, if done with discipline and purpose with a minimalist concept of essential utility. Your smock isn't a utility trailer of cool, "what-if" shit, it's an effective garment and layer with some strategically placed, useful, common-sense kit. I didn't hate his layout of kit, although some things I wouldn't duplicate. Now that the weather if finally here to where I can actually wear a smock, I may need to update the contents. Ironically, I have that same Dyneema (Hammockgear?) tarp, and it does fold extremely flat and is incredibly light weight...hmmmm, I might try that in the smocks with a game pocket like that. WINTER IS COMMING --- SMOCK DAYS ARE AHEAD! ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: Okay, I finally was able to just sit down for a few minutes and watched this. It's not bad. I've seen smock loadouts that were absolutely crazy; this isn't so bad. I've tried the whole "kit smock" thing and it does work until you need to layer on other kit and then it becomes a major pain in the ass. I love smocks, have a dozen or so, but you have to have some discipline to use it as part of your kit layering and not lose it's value as a layer of clothing. Like backpacking or rucking, just because there's a pocket or empty space doesn't mean you need to fill it. I would say there's a balance as well. Layering can add unnecessary redundancy and weight. If you have some of that kit already in your Line 2 rig, there's little reason to duplicate everything. Load planning is important as well. Some items you want accessible in your 2nd line, some are fine in your 1st line, if you can get to it without stripping off gear or layers. Some of the "survival" shit doesn't have to be immediately accessible, but hat/gloves, map, notebook/pen/pencil, spare compass, spoon, small LED, certain signal items, are okay. I prefer to keep a knife on my 1st line, but that's just me. I know we've all seen the "kit smock" layout before with about 30 pounds of kit and looking like a lumpy Michelin Man; doing anything other that standing or sitting would become a chore. The Brit's concept is fine, if done with discipline and purpose with a minimalist concept of essential utility. Your smock isn't a utility trailer of cool, "what-if" shit, it's an effective garment and layer with some strategically placed, useful, common-sense kit. I didn't hate his layout of kit, although some things I wouldn't duplicate. Now that the weather if finally here to where I can actually wear a smock, I may need to update the contents. Ironically, I have that same Dyneema (Hammockgear?) tarp, and it does fold extremely flat and is incredibly light weight...hmmmm, I might try that in the smocks with a game pocket like that. WINTER IS COMMING --- SMOCK DAYS ARE AHEAD! ROCK6 Yup. There's a time and place for a smock. And a balancing act for what to put in it. I also see the smock as a place to have some empty pocket space to stuff things into if you had to suddenly add more stuff to your fighting loadout. IE - 'I need to throw another MRE into my assault pack, but it's already full. Here, I can throw it in my smock pocket temporarily and eat it first.' or 'look at that sweet cap that that Chinese Paratrooper Colonel that I just smoked is wearing - I want to take that with me' |
Definitely a balancing issue. I'm not a Brit on patrol somewhere and I generally don't like much in my pockets so I'm not walking out the door looking like I'm wearing my backpack in my jacket or a hobo but it's a convenient way to carry basic hunting supplies and leave them there until the next hunt. 
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Originally Posted By caduckgunner: I have a Arktis problem..... I have a B211 Mountain in Arid Comb, a B110 in Swedish desert M90, and another B110 in French CE  I have zero need for another smock. But that Comb Arid camo is just so cool looking. I gotta get something in that pattern. |
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Originally Posted By cap6888: I have zero need for another smock. But that Comb Arid camo is just so cool looking. I gotta get something in that pattern. I couldn’t resist comb arid. Then I couldn’t resist the pants |
Not fly enough to be halal....
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Originally Posted By cap6888: I have zero need for another smock. But that Comb Arid camo is just so cool looking. I gotta get something in that pattern. That’s the way I feel about the “Pencott Greenzone” It looks like it will be invisible in my mountains woods. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By parrisisland1978: That’s the way I feel about the “Pencott Greenzone” It looks like it will be invisible in my mountains woods. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/132994/IMG_4421_jpeg-3650351.JPG Greenzone is legit. I have a pack in it, and it blends really well in the Appalachians. The color on it almost shifts from light green to dark greenish brown, depending on the light. Pencott is supposed to be doing a new run of Greenzone fabrics right now, we should be seeing some new stuff in it out there. I hope I can get ahold of some of the fabric. |
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Originally Posted By cap6888: I have zero need for another smock. But that Comb Arid camo is just so cool looking. I gotta get something in that pattern. Yeah, I broke down and got the B211 Mountain Smock in the Comb Arid. It's actually perfect for a late fall/winter smock down her in the Southeast as it blends well with the more visible browns of leafless foliage.  I need to do a smock inventory this weekend. Remember the old SASS (ventile like fabric, OD), and I have a Drop Zone Multicam smock, oh, and a Platatac Soft-Shell smock in Multicam...smock'olicious ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By ROCK6: Yeah, I broke down and got the B211 Mountain Smock in the Comb Arid. It's actually perfect for a late fall/winter smock down her in the Southeast as it blends well with the more visible browns of leafless foliage. https://store.arktis.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/B211-CMB.ARID-1.png?v=1740145780 I need to do a smock inventory this weekend. Remember the old SASS (ventile like fabric, OD), and I have a Drop Zone Multicam smock, oh, and a Platatac Soft-Shell smock in Multicam...smock'olicious ROCK6 The Platatac Badger Smock is tops, that one is nuts.. |
Remember Ty Louis Campbell
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That comb arido Is a Camo i Always loved. Arktis came up with a series of proprietary weird camouflages at some time 10 years ago, this one is still around. It Is somehow reminiscent of early British brushstroke. I remember another hexagon Camo that was cool too. Edit: It was called dispersion Pattern https://camogeek.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/arktis-experimental-camouflage-patterns/ There were more. |
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Originally Posted By joeviterbo: That comb arido Is a Camo i Always loved. Arktis came up with a series of proprietary weird camouflages at some time 10 years ago, this one is still around. It Is somehow reminiscent of early British brushstroke. I remember another hexagon Camo that was cool too. Edit: It was called dispersion Pattern https://camogeek.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/arktis-experimental-camouflage-patterns/ There were more. That almost reminds of the Dennison pattern. |
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Originally Posted By Harv24: Some one mentioned it, and it made me want to ask, Why do the Brits have there zippers ass backwards? I have my Brit MTP smock which I wear in the woods when Squirrel hunting. I never understood the reasoning behind it. So your mom can zip you up before you play with the others. ETA: sorry, technical thread derail I was told that Dainese motorcycle jackets have the zippers on the left side because it's not you who is zipping the jacket up. (It's your lady!) |
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Originally Posted By Harv24: Some one mentioned it, and it made me want to ask, Why do the Brits have there zippers ass backwards? I have my Brit MTP smock which I wear in the woods when Squirrel hunting. I never understood the reasoning behind it. Male clothing in Europe has a right sided zipper or buttons, while female clothing has left zipper and buttons. Right side zipper means the moving cursor is on the left. This however has mostly faded away. |
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Originally Posted By Harv24: Some one mentioned it, and it made me want to ask, Why do the Brits have there zippers ass backwards? I have my Brit MTP smock which I wear in the woods when Squirrel hunting. I never understood the reasoning behind it. Same reason that they drive on the wrong side of the road. They’re odd like that. |
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Originally Posted By Harv24: Some one mentioned it, and it made me want to ask, Why do the Brits have there zippers ass backwards? Your (right-handed) valet doesn't dress you (to include doing your buttons and zipper)? You actually pull up your own zipper tab? You must be the poors.  |
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Originally Posted By Sinister: Your (right-handed) valet doesn't dress you (to include doing your buttons and zipper)? You actually pull up your own zipper tab? You must be the poors. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fpS4B5oMhgo/maxresdefault.jpg Jeeves puts my smocks on for me even with the correct zipper side. I don't care about his feelings. |
British Smock Porn (Page 1 of 3)
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