Helikon Defender & Liberty Fleece jackets

We’re now at the time of year when you’ll be requiring a thick fleece to wear while out and about. Helikon offers a comprehensive selection of quality clothing but here I’ve chosen to highlight two heavy-duty fleeces from their range; the Defender and the Liberty.

Protect & serve

First up is the Defender Fleece Jacket, which is only available in black. It has a straight design with a comfortable cut and doublelined super fine fleece for added warmth. This 330g/ m2 Polar Fleece has a 100% polyester outer shell, making it breathable and strong. It also provides outstanding user comfort. Soft-shell is used to reinforce the front upper body, including the neck, forearms, elbows and shoulders. The Defender also has a fully adjustable high collar with a 2-way YKK zipper and a chin guard.

Storage is catered for by a comprehensive and very well-designed pocket layout. There are 2x zipped slanted hand-warmer pockets with an inner mesh lining and 1x zipped chest pocket on the left. This contains a hidden ID panel for personalisation and there is an even larger one that can be pulled out at the rear of the fleece. There’s also a highly functional, vertically zipped chest pocket with mesh lining, rubberized wiring eyelet and an internal device sleeve slot. The upper left arm shows an additional zipped pocket for extra storage.

The Defender also features what is known as Quick Side Access (QSA) technology. This consists of side body zippers secured with press studs for quick access to concealed gear or anything stored in garments worn underneath the fleece. The cuffs are elasticated and Velcro adjustable.

Freedom for all

The Liberty shows a 100% polyester build and is a warm and sturdy heavy fleece jacket that’s manufactured using quality, double superfine 390g/m² fleece. It also has reinforced Cordura material on both the upper chest and the backs of the sleeves. It boasts a high collar and a strong, full-front 2-way YKK zipper with a chin guard.

Storage is catered for by 2x chest pockets, 2x upper pockets on each sleeve and 1x lower pocket on the left sleeve. There is also a large ‘unlined poacher-style’ pocket on the lower back.

The Liberty also features underarm zippers for temperature control, plus Velcro plates on each arm for ID patches. The waistband can be adjusted via toggles and the cuffs are Velcro adjustable.

Colour options include black, coyote, olive/black, jungle green, shadow grey and navy blue. Incidentally, both fleeces have pull assists, zip track runners and hanging loops.

Verdict

The Helikon Defender and Liberty Heavy Duty Fleece Jackets are of the highest quality and offer a host of features to keep you warm and protected from the elements. The Defender may well have the most storage options and unique features, but both are as stylish as they are practical for the hunter, hiker and outdoorsman alike.