Helikon-Tex
Helikon-Tex: Tactical Clothing and Gear from Poland
Polish brand Helikon-Tex makes clothing and gear for service, the shooting range, hiking and everyday wear in town. Its pieces are designed as a layering system: thermal underwear, fleece, windbreaker and insulated jacket work with each other and with a chest rig, so you can build a kit step by step.
How to Build Your Layers
The base layer is US Level 1 thermal underwear for active movement or the warmer US Level 2. Next come Helikon-Tex fleece jackets: Classic Army and Patriot are simple and dense, Patriot Pro uses 390 g/m² fleece, while Patriot Mk2 Hybrid and Alpha Tactical have a grid structure that moves moisture away better on the march.
The outer layer depends on the weather. The Tramontane WindPack windbreaker weighs about 120 g and packs into its own pocket, while the Gunfighter Shark Skin and Trooper StormStretch softshells block wind and drizzle. For the cold there are Helikon-Tex winter jackets: the light Wolfhound Hoodie with Climashield Apex insulation compresses into a small sack, the Yukon is made of waxed DuraCanvas, and the Level 7 models are built for long static hours outdoors.
Pants for Town and Field
The Urban Tactical (UTP) and Greyman from the Urban Line look like civilian trousers but have tactical pockets and dense canvas, so they stay low-key in the city. The Pilgrim in DuraCanvas with waist adjusters handles heavy gear better. For field uniform there is an MBDU shirt and pants in NyCo ripstop, Pixel (MM-14).
When trying on Helikon-Tex tactical pants for winter, wear thermal underwear underneath and squat: the fabric should not pull at the knees, and the waist should not dig in under a belt.
Backpacks and Range Gear
Among Helikon-Tex tactical backpacks, the Groundhog 10 L, Raider 20 L or Ratel Mk2 25 L are enough for a day. The Matilda 50 L with MOLLE and a hydration sleeve carries gear for several days, and the EDC Pack 21 L with a laptop compartment suits daily use.
For shooting, look at the Range combat shirt: VersaStretch side panels take the abrasion from a holster and pouches. The Range Tactical gloves were developed together with shooters, and the All Round Fit Tactical has microfiber on the thumb for wiping optics.