REVIEW: Helikon-Tex Level 7 Jacket Flecktarn

Winter is not coming! Winter is already here. And a good, sturdy winter jacket is an absolute must. In the layering system of the US Army - both PCU for Special Forces and ECWCS for regular forces - Level 7 is the thick bomber for the coldest season. Helikon-Tex has taken over Level 7 in its own production and turned it into a solid winter jacket.

The advantage of this model: German Flecktarn! The fine material in the jacket is Climashield Apex, a fiber that provides warmth. Distribution: 100g in the body, 67g in the hood. The choice of fiber for the filling of such a jacket should not be underestimated. HERE you can find the technical data for Climashield Apex.

We cheated a little. The jacket is naturally cut wide and large because it is designed to be worn with multiple layers underneath. We normally wear a size Large, but we didn't want a "bomber," so we chose Medium. It fits closer to the body, but still works in this case.

We only see Flecktarn. For German customers, this is obviously a significant factor. The piece fits perfectly with the uniform provided by the employer.

But let's start at the top. The collar is lined with waffle fleece and fits snugly.

Here are the tags in the jacket. With a loop for hanging the garment on a hook.

The jacket sits tightly when zipped up high. This is most noticeable in size M, especially since the turtleneck from the sweater underneath is also there - incidentally, a Naga by Arc'teryx LEAF.

The tightness is also due to the fact that it's not just a collar, but the hidden hood is rolled up there. Open to the right and left with the zipper and out into the open.

The hood is helmet-compatible and can be adjusted so that it fits really well.

We only have the cap underneath, 67 grams of Climashield is more than enough. The hood only goes over when it's extremely cold or snowing.

Of course, there's Velcro on the arms. You can never have enough Velcro for all those patches that belong there. We keep saying...

The sleeves can be cinched tightly at the end so no wind gets in. The viewer can also see the structure of the jacket here. It's a solid nylon ripstop fabric that's used.

Inside, it's olive-colored, with a comfortable fabric. At the bottom, there's a large mesh pocket for items to take along.

Inside on the left chest is a palm-sized pocket for items you want to carry inside on your chest.

On the outside, there are two large chest pockets that reach deep down. They are lined with fleece, so it's worth sticking your hands in there when it's cold. The design is minimalist, with a nylon pocket the size of a smartphone at the bottom.

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