Good Kit

[DeV]

http://www.rvops.co.uk/brands/Rite-in-the-Rain.html

They do a A5 (think it is 2 per A4)

Takes a while to get it set up right

[apod]

Just a heads up. RVops sold up a few years back and were bought out by a seller who kept the name but not the high standards of customer care and attention(which you tend to get with a couple of ex-booties running the show).The current seller is trading on their name and reputation.
Let the buyer beware.

[trellheim]

Just a heads up. RVops sold up a few years back and were bought out by a seller who kept the name but not the high standards of customer care and attention(which you tend to get with a couple of ex-booties running the show).The current seller is trading on their name and reputation.
Let the buyer beware.

I had heard that as well, that is a huge pity as they were superb, by far the best suppliers of on-the-ground-kit in terms of quality if not price.

[morpheus]

Anyone out there even close to RVOPS guys? Im just in off the ground from instructing on a career course and realise that im shy some kit which isnt standard issue to me.

[ODIN]

What are you looking for Morpheus?

[apod]

What are you looking for Morpheus?

+1.i have spare stuff up in the attic I don't use anymore.

[The real Jack]

eBay was always cheaper than rvops, sort by price including shipping and consider using parcel motel.

[trellheim]

eBay was always cheaper than rvops, sort by price including shipping and consider using parcel motel.

Yep. RVOps was not about the price though but about quality and service , its a customer triangle and I preferred the last two over what was essentially not a large jump in price

[X-RayOne]

Picked one of these up just before Christmas and have been using extensively over last month or so. Lots of walking the dog and a bit of pre-lockdown hill work in all the cold, windy wet and sometimes wet weather we've had over the period.

Have to say I've found it an excellent piece of kit. Well worth the €50-60 it might cost online. No shortage of 2nd hand or surplus available for some reason. Definitely a budget Buffalo Smock at a fraction of the price.

I used it in a variety of different ways; with a wicking base-layer underneath, with a cotton t-shirt underneath, with norgie style micro fleece underneath and with a hard-shell over it.

The Positives:
Decent wind-proofing
Warm down to 5 degrees C outside
Bearable between 5 and 0 degrees outside when active
Pit zips (Buffalo sorely misses these) and easy side ventilation
Good size pouch pocket at front
Excellent collar with built in shower proof hood

The Negatives:
Build quality not as bombproof as buffalo.
Fleece inner sticks a little putting on but good when worn
Sleeve length a fraction short

Overall, a reasonably priced, solid bit of kit suitable for Irish autumn, winter, spring weather if you don't want to be putting on / off layers as wind, cold and showers constantly change. Would definitely have a place in a rucksack for PDF or AR. Just don't expect Buffalo levels of performance for near / below 0 degrees or really heavy rain.

[Buck]

I got one off a board member and haven’t regretted it once. Apart from that time it nearly stripped me topless in a shop in Germany. The fleece stuck to whatever I was wearing below (cotton T-shirt probably) and just came with the jacket.

[DeV]

Is the inside like a Buffalo?

Aren’t they designed to be worn directly against the skin?

[apod]

Nope. Microfleece instead. I bought one a few years back after freezing my nuts off DS'ing a night time RECCE patrol in November.I was too active to wear a Snugpak under my smock (I would have died from overheating) but not as active as the students(a lot of standing back observing while they CTR'd) so was frozen when halted.

PCS Thermal smock is my go to now for such tasks. My snugpak is only for when static. PCS TS packs very small into it's own chest pocket and is very light to carry in a daysack.

I have to agree though.A nause to put on over a long sleeve base layer.

[X-RayOne]

Is the inside like a Buffalo?

Aren’t they designed to be worn directly against the skin?

As Apod said, microfleece inner. Not fur pile like the buffalo, which goes on /off much smoother than the fleece.

Buffalo is supposed to be worn next to skin, perfect if is all you are wearing for a long period. But doesn't really go well with military applications where there are lots of highly active periods and changes to static, different dress states, etc.

I used a Buffalo as my go to insulation layer when I was in DF but never next to skin for the reasons above.

[DeV]

Anyone got one of these?
https://store.arktis.co.uk/collectio...hirt-irish-dpm

They aren’t issue but available in Irish Pattern

[Hobo hunter]

Anyone got one of these?
https://store.arktis.co.uk/collectio...hirt-irish-dpm

They aren’t issue but available in Irish Pattern

Great bit of kit, very light. Ideal outer layer for wet wether whilst on the move or wetsuit jacket is too heavy. Don’t size up for layering as this is already taken into consideration.

[ODIN]

Anyone got one of these?
https://store.arktis.co.uk/collectio...hirt-irish-dpm

They aren’t issue but available in Irish Pattern

Lucky RDFRA have sorted out some back pay, and you've given me something pretty to buy :D

[Captain Edmund Blackadder]

Have one for the last few years. Highly recommended. It won't keep you fully dry in an absolute downpour (absolute worst day in the mountains weather), but it'll keep you as dry as a jacket that fits in your front pocket can. Worn under a soaked smock, it'll provide a water resistant layer that'll keep you in the game. It's good enough to wear over a snugpak to have as part of a slimmed down OP kit to keep you alive in the most common exercise wearher situations. Look up Military Kit Reviews on Instagram for a discount code on the A192.

[apod]

Nah. If you are going to go private purchase go the whole hog.

http://www.arktisltd.co.uk/index.php/products/a310/

Available from them in Irish DPM and forms part of the new Sniper kit.(Us RECCE Heads NEVER get cold and wet in an OP)

[ODIN]

Nah. If you are going to go private purchase go the whole hog.

http://www.arktisltd.co.uk/index.php/products/a310/

Available from them in Irish DPM and forms part of the new Sniper kit.(Us RECCE Heads NEVER get cold and wet in an OP)

How's the fit on this? I'd be somewhere between M and L depending on the brand.

[Sluggie]

Make sure that you are not being charged UK VAT at the point of sale as you will be charged Irish VAT when your Item is delivered. You are not required to pay both.

The UK retailers should leave out VAT for deliveries outside the UK but may not have got around to recoding their websites yet. I would ring them and point it out if they charge you VAT.

Customs fees will only apply if the value of the goods is in excess of €150 euros. This means that it might be worth splitting orders if the customs would be more than the additional postage fee.

[ropebag]

Arktis Large in a smock is about 180/104 - so thats (roughly) a 42/45 inch chest, with a baselayer, buffalo and then smock.

I've got a stowaway shirt in large that is a bit smaller than that - it's 62 cm from pit-to-pit, 58cm from cuff-to-pit, and 72cm from collar to hem. so, 42-44 inch chest with a baselayer. You could put a thin fleece top under it as well, but it would feel a bit less loose than the smock.

That said, my smock is relatively new (5 years),while the stowaway shirt is about 17 years old, do you might want to check with Arktis on the current sizing.

[spider pig]

Or just do the course and earn it

[ropebag]

I've just been for a walk - 2 hours or so, dog +kids - in my Arktis Stowaway shirt: sunshine and showers, 8c or so, bit of a breeze, over a t-shirt.

Comfortable/silky next to the skin, kept the rain of my t-shirt, and it was dry within a few minutes of the end of each shower. Rolls up to the size of a can of coke..

Would recommend.

[Truck Driver]

Anyone got one of these?
https://store.arktis.co.uk/collectio...hirt-irish-dpm

They aren’t issue but available in Irish Pattern

Yep spotted that a couple of weeks ago on their FB page
Interesting....