Review of the Drop Zone Recce Smock (Multicam)

[CDN_Stalker]

Feel free to rate this review for me. Thanks!

I was lucky enough to be able to purchase this from Farmboy at One Shot Tactical (great service!) back in February, and what a piece of gear it is! Even though there are other reviews out there on this, Darren had asked me to write up a review for ASC, so after much wear and enjoyment, and having read the other reviews, I decided the best way to approach this without repeating what other reviews have said. I will try to outline the best features, things I’ve found good and needs improvement (very few, just some useful ideas).

First Impressions:

Very good, very light, very BIG!!! Since I’m 6ft tall and 170lbs, I told Farmboy this, he recommended the medium size for me. Once I received and tried it on, it looked and felt huge! Seemed kinda long, and very wide. Went a couple days thinking even medium was too big, so I asked Farmboy about it being this big, he said his smocks fit the same way, he thought the same initially, but after a while you realize they are meant to be big and you forget about it. Great for wearing sweaters, fleece……… hey, even your webbing, underneath and still being able to zip it up. Not only is the smock made large, the hood is massive!!! Since I bought mine, I’ve worn it almost every day out & about, and that included wearing it under my parka waiting for the bus on cold windy days, and the hood was a life saver for protecting me from the wind. Even listening to the radio and wearing my big honking headphones was no match for this hood! Hey, if it’s made to fit over a helmet, it’ll fit over anything. Hood size is adjustable with a Velcro strap linked to a plastic link to adjust the size. Hood rolls up and a cloth strap holds it in place by hooking onto a button at the rear of the smock. I prefer the hood down always, when rolled up it feels like a stiff pillow sitting on the back of your neck. Also had to make a mod, sewed a button on the inside of the back to attach the cloth hood retaining strap in place. Got annoying to put the smock on, to find that cloth strap was sitting right up the backside of my head.

Pockets:

Obviously one of the best features of this smock, but it has more than just that. Other reviews and descriptions outline this just fine, but I’ll do something different. I’ll state measurements (to give an idea there aren’t any pussy pockets on this thing), but also neat things I’ve discovered about some of them (with useful additions I think would be cool).

• Chest Pockets: 6” wide x 9” long x 1” deep. Very useful pockets, nice & roomy, button closure. Underneath each one is a (center) side access pocket, zippered, and each contains a dual pen pocket sewn inside. Since the smock is made by hand, some of the pen slot pockets are slightly different sizes. I found that in one, I can put my AA Mini Maglight, another I can put spare CR123a batteries for my Streamlight Scorpion taclight, another holds a lightstick nicely and one that is a bit smaller that I hold a pen in. Each contains a D ring for lanyard attachment

• Lower Pockets: 9” wide x 11” long x 1 ¼” deep. The everything pockets, button closure, for gloves, hat, rented movies, empty mags…………. heck, am sure you could put a full six pack of golden joy in each one. Each contains a D ring for lanyard attachment. Underneath these pockets are zippered hand warmer pockets (had a team mate ask if they were fleece lined, unfortunately not but damn fine idea if they were!) They close by zipper.

• Sleeve Pockets: Now THESE are pockets!!!! 5” wide, 9” long, 1” deep, side zipper closure. I haven’t seen any sleeve pockets that are this big and roomy anywhere. Be nice to have a pair of elasticized loops inside to hold lightsticks, flashlight, pens, etc. Played a night game the other evening, put my Scorpion flashlight in my left sleeve pocket, was a bit of an annoyance in that it had to lie down perpendicular to my arm, made it awkward to keep there. In the side closure chest pocket was better, but had to undo my vest a bit to access the light and lightsticks inside. At least I didn’t have to do this while dodging BBs!

• Inside chest pockets: 8” wide x 9” deep. These are flat pockets meant for flat things, like maps, game rules and other papers, pepperoni sticks, long lightsticks, etc. Zipper closure.

• “Poachers Pockets”: Each one 9” wide x 9” long, flat, velcro closure, located on the lower backside of the smock, inside. Used for flat soft items from what I read, makes sense to me if you ever decide to sit down in a vehicle. During the course of cold weather since I got it (two months), I put one wool glove in each outer pocket and my fleece toque flattened out in the middle one. Never really noticed they were there.

• Forearm/Elbow Pockets: Not really so much of pockets, but they were designed to put thin flexible foam inside to offer comfort when lying prone in sharp shit. Not really meant to be elbow pads, but a great idea overall. I cut 6 pieces of that shelf liner foam and put three in each sleeve pocket. Nice padding, you don’t notice it til it starts to bunch up. Note to self: Remove foam next washings, bunches up and a royal pain to dry then reinsert. Will try other types of foam and get back to you on it.

Other features:

Well, I’ve covered it pretty damn good so far, haven’t missed much. Interesting thing, that chest located epaulette holder. About a week after I got the smock, I slipped on ice and royally screwed up my right shoulder. Pain was so much, I had to lift my right hand and move it, with my left hand, between the mouse and keyboard, for at LEAST a week. Point being, I found comfort with not a lot of pain by placing my right hand in the epaulet holder, acting like a sling, hence my even bringing it up! Also, since I went a good week being primarily left handed (ya, ok, laugh some of you, I KNOW what you are thinking……..pigs!) everything I needed I could carry in the smock for easy access, smokes, lighter, odds & ends.
Pit zips, can’t forget those! Full 12” long, dual pull zippers under each arm to allow ventilation. Also, an 8 “ zipper beside the front main zipper to help ventilate, but also to allow limited access to inside the smock while it’s fully zipped up.

Workmanship:

Outstanding!!!!! Quality seams, stitching everywhere. Case in point, read a review on the Crye Precision pants not long ago, complaint was workmanship, especially in not usually noticed areas like inside seams that weren’t properly done and have a habit of unravelling after wear and washings. Made me look into the hidden seams of the DZ smock, perfectly stitched with that loopy style (hey, a seamstress I am not!) of sewing to keep material from unravelling.

Finale:

Like I said, I’m in love with this thing, the detailed eye to design and features, material, workmanship, everything. Heck, so much so that I’m buying the Drop Zone Ops BDUs in Multicam as soon as I am able to because I know I can trust them to be as impressive as this Recce Smock they designed.

Very solid 10 out of 10.

Excellent review and great pics (User: mm Password: mm to see pics larger) from Military Morons.

http://www.militarymorons.com/gear/gear.1.html#recce

[bruce]

Something to add is that the Recce now comes with tan velcro and zippers instead of OD. It doesn't stick out as much when you look at it.

Also, the vertical zippers on the pockets open from bottom to top. I have to try and remember to zip it down all the time. The idea behind this is if you were crawling, the zippers would not accidentally unzip.

This peice of clothing is amazing. So many pockets that it gets hard to remember which pocket you used to store something like your smokes and lighter. It's on the pricey side but well worth every dollar.

Thanks for the nice review.

[CDN_Stalker]

Good points.

Funny thing about multicam, it looks more tan in direct sunlight, so the OD velcro stands out more, but under low light, tan velcro would stand out just as much since the colours change to more a greenish-grey colour. Just can't win I guess (unless multicam velcro? How about medium grey?)

Should add that ALL the pocket zippers zip down to close. Recall your saying that you asked why and the reply was that, then you said "Pfft! Like I'LL ever be caught crawling!!" So caution when crawling backwards, the zippers might open up.

Pockets galore, no kidding! After the game Saturday night, riding with Ches, I started digging through my pockets (BDUs and smock) looking for one of the two packs of gum I had on me, going through everything. Didn't find the gum until after I got home, in one of the pockets I checked. Sheesh, spacious or what? Pocket had folder over in the car and I only checked the top half.

[mark23]

Hi! I do have a CADPAT, TW RECCE Smock from Brian and I'll second your opinion about the smock's quality. I am 6'4" and have it in size L. It is huge on me. I think the fabric is rather thin, but it is very tough nevertheless.

Prolonged wear and use of the smock did lead to the the following modifications:

I have had my elbow/forearm padding pockets replaced with larger ones made from heavy cordura, though. Now they really do cover my elbows. Brian knows about this issue and AFAIK he is thinking of redesigning the elbow/forearm padding pockets.

I would recommend to replace the hem draw cord with shock cord and tonkas, to sew up the pull toggles so they won't catch up on anything when crawling and to have a full velcro to close the front flap, especially in the lower part between the waist and hem.

Regarding the velcro issue - there is coyote brown velcro available on eBay, maybe this would be an option you could talk Brian into if you supplied it ... ?

Cheers
mark23