FirstSpear Combat Anorak

Following up on the heels of their successful Wind Cheater, FirstSpear (@firstspear) has released the Combat Anorak. The CA is made in the USA from silicone-encapsulated nylon, making it windproof (unless you're in the middle of something at the top of the Saffir-Simpson scale) and pretty close to waterproof.  Anyone who has done serious time outside knows that nothing is honestly 100% waterproof, but things can get pretty close.

The FirstSpear Combat Anorak opens in the front for quick access to your plate carrier, hunting stuff, pogey bait (pogie bait?), blade or whatever. This also comes in handy if you are wearing a pack along with something on the front along the lines of a Hill People Gear Recon Kit Bag.  The front opens wide enough to access a small chest rig as shown below, or to allow complete access to a full sized plate carrier.  The back of the Anorak also unzips so your teammate, or girlfriend can access your pack.  The front and rear zippers have a generous overhang of fabric which shields the zipper from becoming a leak point.  The hood is adjustable, so whether you are wearing hearing protection, ball cap, or helmet, you won't have a problem.  A drawstring also aids in closing up the front of the hood in case you are wearing goggles or really need to hide from the paparazzi.  The front zipper is roughly 12″ and is taped to prevent leakage.  There are two cinch points instead of the typical single points found on most jackets.  The two draw strings mean you can access your 6002 (SLS Holster) while preventing heat loss or getting your waist soaked in rain.  The rear of the Combat Anorak comes down lower than the front so a ride on a quad, bike or snowmobile isn't going to have the back end riding up on you for a plumbers draft.  The shoulders are reinforced to avoid premature pack wear.

We have only had ours for a few days, but have worn it enough to give some quick thoughts and general feedback. First and foremost, it is sized very large/ generous. If you wear an XL, you are going to want a Large. Even scaling down our size thusly we found a large to have a good amount of room which allows for bulky layering.  We don't just mean layering in the way of clothing, think of items like an assault pack and/ or chest rig, plate carrier etc… If you are never going to wear a multitude of layers, and want this for something more like a traditional wind breaker with protection against the rain, going down two sizes is an option.  Most people think “Anorak” and think of a larger sized garment, but the choice is yours.

Total weight on the FirstSpear Combat Anorak is 1.2lbs for a size Large.  It is compact and fits into its own pocket, or rolls up small enough to fit in a cargo pocket or utility pouch.  Currently the CA is available in Coyote or Urban Discrete, which is similar to the light side of battleship grey.

Learn more here.