Helikon Pilgrim Anorak Jacket - Taiga Green
Helikon have designed the Pilgrim® jacket for demanding outdoor activities in dynamically changing weather. Based on the zipped "kangaroo" construction proven for decades, it has been clearly refined to meet the expectations of modern travelers, while still hitting the aesthetics of the "old guard".
Numerous pockets will allow for convenient placement of equipment, while their characteristic arrangement will make them constantly available, even when working in a sitting position or kneeling. They have elongated the whole construction of the jacket, thanks to which it protects your body regardless of the equipment you carry. By lowering the "kangaroo" pocket, they were also able to extend the front zipper of the jacket, which allows the user to better ventilate your body during strenuous approaches or work
- Fire sparks resistant
- Dries faster than cotton
- Can be impregnated with wax
- Tapes inside the pocket for attaching equipment
- Hood is adjustable in 3 planes
- Canadian type buttons
- YKK® zipper
- The kangaroo pocket is additionally insulated
The anorak I have been looking for
I have had a few anoraks over the years -- an excellent, heavy old winter Bergan in cotton, a modern poly-cotton Bergan with a side zip. They are a great idea -- but sometimes fail in practice, requiring Houdini-like shoulder mobility or size-up to get them on or off. Poly-cotton may be breathable and hardwearing, but it does not always breath that well. So ventilation is critical if you are active and it's not freezing out.
The Pilgrim is the most practical and carefully designed one I have seen yet.
The centre zip does two really important things -- allows you to get in and out without a fight, and to ventilate easily. Add the pit zips and the way that all the may pockets open to a mesh lining and you have an incredibly well ventilated jacket. I am 188 cm, have a 112cm chest and weigh 98kg and the XL is a good fit all round with a base layer and hoody. Arms and body are long enough too.
The kangaroo pocket has insulation -- something I thought was unnecessary -- but in recent weather it has proven useful. Light rain beads well -- though I have yet to wear it in a downpour. The detail, fit and finish is excellent -- excellent value all round.
Excellent quality practical smock/jacket
I like Helikon stuff and I really like this. Well made, excellent quality and very practical. Fits perfectly plenty of useful pockets and lots of zip open ventilation areas for the coming long hot summer. It'll also be great in the winter layered with base and mid layers which I prefer to one big heavy coat/jacket. I like this smock so much I'm going to order a green one when they're back in stock in my size. Great customer service from Bushcraft it arrived the day after I ordered it.
Excellent Jacket - Highly Recommended
I spend a fair bit of time considering different jackets on the market, until finally deciding on the Pilgrim jacket. Could not have made a better choice. Quality, functional and comfortable. Simply don't see a reason for spending more money to buy a Fjall Raven. So impressed with this jacket, immediately ordered the Pilgrim pants.
The 'Arctic Fox' should be worried....
OMG! What a jacket! I've been out in the wilds for 30+ years as a hiker, mountaineer, climber, soldier, geologist and explorer. I never skimp on kit because my life depends on it. I'll pay whatever is necessary to get the best. Usually however, I nearly always find something on a piece of kit that I want to 'mod' or upgrade, a cord, a buckle a closure or something. Even my £400 anorak with the little fox on it was modified. But the Pilgrim Anorak? Wow! For the first time I've found something nearly perfect, a world beater in fact. (I say nearly perfect because I have got two little suggetions LOL). Make no mistake, in my opinion, the Pilgrim is way better than my more expensive one - someone in Scandinavia needs to seriously up their game if they're going to charge four times the price of the Pilgrim. This anorak has clearly been designed by someone who has spent a long time outdoors. Almost everything you can think of has been added and it all revolves around functionality. I can see this being my favourite until it literally falls apart - and I'll probably be exploring heaven way before then. The only two slight mods I would make are: a. The kit attachment tapes inside the main body and in the upper pockets are great, so they should be in the map pockets as well. b. The elbows are reinforced by double fabric - an opening should be left inside for elbow pads (The Pilgrim Pants have one for knee pads). Those are minor gripes though. Just think, you can buy this anorak, the Pilgrim Pants, the optional knee pads and a Helikon-Tex folding baseball cap for half the price of the little fox anorak.
