Helikon-Tex Alpha Grid Fleece

Helikon-Tex are real masters when it comes to fleece products and I’ve had one of their heavy weight, hooded Patriot jackets in my gear locker for over six years now and it’s still going strong! They offer a fabulous selection of performance fleece products in various weights within their range, so you can custom-tailor your gear to your own performance level or task. I decided to try one of their new Alpha grid fleeces and I’m going to say immediately that it’s superb!

This 100% polyester fleece is warm, comfortable and lightweight and a part of Helikon’s Urban Tactical line. It features a high collar with chin-guard and a strong full-front YKK zipper which can be fastened to the neck. It also has one zip chest pocket with a comms’ port inside, two lower zip pockets and an elastic drawstring with cord locks on both sides sewn into the waistband. The cuffs are elasticated, tight enough to keep the arms from riding up, but not as tight as to be uncomfortable. The fleece itself is 100% nylon and is incredibly soft even when worn directly next to the skin, and as the majority of the sewn seams are flat-locked there are zero abrasion points.

The front face of the jacket is also meshlined, adding to the overall insulative properties and giving some degree of wind protection. The collar is double thickness to again keep the elements at bay.

Alpha dog

The fit of the Alpha is quite technical, fitting snugly to avoid creating cold ‘dead air spaces’ when you wear it as part of a layering system. I’m normally an XL in jackets and Helikon-Tex’s sizing is spot on. If however you are still carrying a few extra pounds you might consider going up one size!

This is a really top-notch bit of kit and comes with my thorough recommendation. The Alpha costs £35.00 and is available in sizes S to 3XL. It comes in Black, Coyote, Olive and Foliage Green; you can have it in Camogrom (which works well with Multicam and MTP) but this will set you back a little more as it comes in at £47.00, which I have to say is still tremendous value! You can check out the full range and download catalogues by visiting www. helikon-tex.com. All Helikon-Tex products are available in the UK from www.military1st. co.uk and most good tactical retailers.