Rocky Grizzly & Rocky Mountain Clothing

This has got to be a first, not only for me but for most reviewers. Testing two different versions of jacket and trousers from the same company but in the same review! However, it’s not as strange as it first appears, as it gives me the ability to not only detail them, but you the reader can directly assess the differences between the two sets of clothing, so will know which is suitable for your requirements.

Though the jackets do share some similar features common to these types of garment, there’s a definite difference in both the build and the weather you’d choose to wear them in. Both sets of clothing use the latest Realtree APG HD camo pattern.

Grizzly - Great For When It’s Drizzly…

First up is the less expensive and lighter of the duo, that being the Rocky Grizzly Jacket and Trousers, the successor to the best selling Mad-Dog Growler Jacket. Manufactured from 100% Polyester/Polyurethane the Grizzly is waterproof, windproof and breathable. To save on repetition, all garments share these attributes. Total waterproofing is achieved by constructing a waterproof inner layer integrated into the design of all garments that covers the entire length and height, thereby ensuring complete protection.

The inner of both jacket and trousers has the black mesh lining familiar to what I’d term lighter inclement weather wear – it also helps keep the Grizzly suit lighter in weight. There’s no padding so don’t expect too much in the warmth department apart from what you choose to wear underneath. The jacket features an integral hood with relatively small but adequate peak and side toggle fastening drawcord. The peak isn’t an issue for me, as I mostly wear peaked baseball style hunting caps during warmer weather.

The front of the jacket has a full length single zip fastener with overflap. This has a generous amount of press stud fasteners albeit on the relatively small side but large enough to keep the ‘flap’ closed when required. The cuffs are elasticated and the jacket - though of a generous cut for ease of movement - is relatively short to the point of being a bomber jacket. This in itself indicates it isn’t built for the harshest of weather. For stowage there are two cargo pockets with handwarmer pockets behind. The cargo pockets simply fasten with one press stud on the overflap. A nice touch is all have a light fleece lining.

The trousers are slip on overtrousers with the familiar elasticated waistband and toggle fastening drawcord while the leg bottoms have press stud fastening ankle adjustment. Now I noticed when in the ‘extended’ position or open, the bottom of the legs (which uses material with the look of brown suede hence my using the term ‘extended’) it isn’t as wide as most, so if wearing high leg hunting boots or if you’ve just got big feet you’ll most likely have to remove your footwear to put the trousers on. To many hunters that’s no great hardship but come a sudden downpour it might not be ideal. However, the bonus of the Grizzly ‘set’ is it’s so light it will easily pack down for transportation and will be of most use in inclement warmer weather and especially if your exerting yourself stalking or walking to a far off shooting position.

Rocky Mountain High (high spec that is!)

The Rocky Mountain Jacket and Trousers are more substantial in build and manufactured from a unique and very clever material that Rocky Clothing has designed. It’s termed ‘PU’ and is a ‘stretchy’ Ripstop - the first time this has been achieved using a Ripstop type of material.

The black lining is 100% Polyester while there is a reasonable amount of Neoprene positioned at the inner collar and at the outer and inner cuffs. Again the jacket has an integral hood with peak but longer and therefore more useful than the Grizzly. Also, for a more snug fit should the rain come, it uses a 3-way toggle adjustable drawcord to cinch it around the head and sides of the face. As expected the front fastens with heavy duty double zip and stormflap with press stud fasteners. All are weatherproofed with the press studs having finger friendly rubberised outer coverings as well.

The cuffs can be adjusted by a wide Velcro wrist strap and the ‘stretch’ Neoprene at this point really does help to prevent water ingress while at the collar the generous strip of inner Neoprene adds more protection, comfort and warmth at this area.

For external stowage there are two generously sized cargo pockets with double press stud fastening overflaps, whilst behind these are discreet handwarmer pockets. On the upper breast are two zip fastening diagonal handwarmer pockets that can be used for smaller items you’d want to access without opening the jacket. All pockets are lined. Inside there’s one flat zip fastening pocket on the inner left for the all-important FAC, written shoot permission or to keep the car keys safe.

Interestingly the Rocky Mountain is of a Parka style design with a slight fish tail at the bottom rear. The lower hem has a drawcord that can be adjusted by two easy to access toggle style fasteners. A similar design is found at the waist so the jacket is easily tailored to suit your build and for optimum wearer comfort.

The Mountain Trousers are (as expected) more substantial and manufactured from the same stretch Ripstop fabric. These though aren’t padded but instead use a black mesh lining. Though of an overtrouser design these are very well featured, offering a quite broad elasticated waist band with belt loops, zip fly and press stud fastening. The pocket layout is designed to be worn over regular combats as you have a zip fasten pocket to the right rear and two zip fasten handwarmer pockets at the front. All are lined and like the jacket all zips have Nylon strips attached to them for ease of operation.

For ease of putting on over boots the bottom of the trousers have ¾ length zip openings that fasten at the ankle with a heavy duty press stud fasteners. Only one ‘setting’ but personally I found due to the stretch nature of the fabric they’ll suit almost any footwear.

Summing Up

Both of these suits are very high quality in build and are suitable for the situations they’re designed for.

I took a shine to the Mountain Jacket and Trousers as we’d had some awful weather while I was testing it. Also, the cut of both sets of garments is generous and they are amongst the most comfortable I’ve experienced. However, though the Grizzly has waterproof, windproof and breathable attributes, you must be aware that the level of warmth is very much up to what you decide to wear underneath. Are these winners? Well, put it this way ‘Rocky’ was!

The Rocky Grizzly Jacket costs £59.95 while the Rocky Grizzly Trousers are £44.95 Both are available in M – XXL. The Rocky Mountain Jacket is £89.95 and the Rocky Mountain Trousers are £69.95, available in S – XXL.