Fjallraven Smock No.1 - Dark Olive

  1 of 5

  As usual, Woodlore delivered the Smock very promptly. Unfortunately I soon discovered a fault in the construction. A few days later, after several email messages and telephone conversations, the replacement was in my hands, and appeared to be faultless. Since then I have taken opportunities to wear it on several walks, including locations in the Scottish Highlands in the second week of October. The Smock is similar in several respects to the Anorak no.8, also by Fjallraven. The materials are essentially the same, and the hood adjustment is very similar. The hood offers a great deal of room and is very comfortable in use. The difference between the Smock and the Anorak is essentially that the former has many more pockets and is relatively easy to don and to remove. The Smock has a good quality zip running down the chest. The closure is protected with flaps and buttons. At first the zip was difficult to operate. I cured that problem by rubbing its teeth with a bar of Greenland wax. The Anorak, of course, has no front opening. Unlike the Anorak, the Smock does not have a crotch strap. It is possible that the Anorak provides better protection from wind and rain in severe conditions. However in warmer conditions the Smock has the advantage of being much easier than the Anorak to ventilate, just by opening the front zip. The buttons on six of the Smock's pockets are secured with tape instead of thread. This may enable them to stand more opening and closing operations than would otherwise be the case. There are four additional pockets which have zip closure. Whilst in the Highlands the toughest test for the Smock was, surprisingly enough, a trip to the Highland Wildlife Park. We were there from 10.30am until nearly 5pm, and there were strong winds and persistent rain for most of that time. Some dampness appeared inside the hood, next to the seam in the crown. Despite the fact that my boots were letting water in by the end of the day, the clothing underneath the Smock was still dry, and I was basically warm. I did not need a rucksack as the pockets sufficed for everything I wanted to carry. I was happy wearing the Smock on all the Highland outings on foot, both with and without a rucksack, and never felt that I should have been wearing the Anorak instead.  

  Steve Smith

  2 of 5

  Good jacket, well made and delivered promptly.  

  Lawrence Davis

  3 of 5

  Yes, it is expensive - certainly the most I have ever paid for a jacket - but what you get is a superbly functional and beautifully made garment that will undoubtedly stand the test of time in the woods and in the wider outdoors. Everything about it has been carefully thought through, from the little pockets on the sleeves to the strategic use of heavier weight fabric on the shoulders. It is generously sized to accommodate a number of layers underneath and yet still does not feel huge or voluminous when just in a shirt. The pockets are numerous and large enough to hold pretty much all you might want on a long day or lightweight overnight trip; the video made by Fjallraven gives you some idea about how much 'stuff' you can store in it, though I reckon it might compromise your freedom of movement a bit! In use, the fabric cuts the wind really well and, fresh on, will turn a shower effectively. To increase/improve its water repellence, one can obviously use the Greenland wax; for more temperate use, washing the jacket will take out the wax and make it more 'breathable'. Although still relatively new, I have used it a lot and will continue to do so, in all weathers and seasons. In short, this is a superbly versatile, well-made jacket which I can fully and unreservedly recommend. As ever, Woodlore provided exemplary service!  

  Richard Tiley

  4 of 5

  Amazing quality. Zips, buttons, pockets, draw cords the lot. The thicker material is placed in the right place for hard use. The sewing throughout the jacket is flawless apart from around button holes but this is minor and easily fixed with a flick of a lighter. The hood is awesome and can be adjusted in many ways. Oh and if you forget your shopping bag and if you’ve got it on watch the bystanders, as it all disappears into your pockets! Massive thumbs up. Worth the price tag! ??  

  Matthew Pomfret

  5 of 5

  I thought long and hard about whether I would make this purchase or not given the price of the jacket, the YouTube video started my juices flowing as it is exactly the sort of jacket I had been looking for. I am so glad I took the plunge as it is an absolute classic. The smock is truly built to last and is in a fantastic shade of olive colour. The item is reinforced in all the right places to minimise prevent wear and tear and has oodles of pocket space for any combination of a smock coat load out. The amount the jacket can carry is formidable. The jacket is sized to allow for ample insulative layers so bear this in mind if you order. The jacket is not waterproof and despite my having used tons of Greenland wax on other same material construction Fjallraven clothing items I have yet to find waxing the item makes them other than light shower proof. What I have discovered is Fabsil Gold (a tent proofing silicon liquid) which when applied to your G1000 clothing makes them totally waterproof if applied correctly, my Anorak no.8 was treated previously with fantastic results and this Smock no.1 will be on my list too. This saves on having an additional waterproofing layer in addition to this smock. I could not be happier with this coat and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone in a position to purchase it.  

  Remeavi Thanatos