REVIEW: Ripperkon Wolf Bolero

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“Verily, I say unto you, if you are good, there will be a whole jacket for Christmas!” - And what if we don't want that? Then you can see the alternative in the picture, because the good man is wearing the Ripperkon Wolf Bolero, which is why the attached plate carrier is so nicely visible. This exposure is also the purpose of the jacket, which is available at HCS Soldatenausrüstung. The main advantage is that the wearer can change his sweaty shirt or wear other tops underneath. It is, so to speak, a part-combat shirt, which can be cleverly combined from t-shirt to fleece jacket.

Here is again the overall view (and an apology for the shallow Christmas joke at the beginning of the article: Honestly, the jacket and maybe a S&S Precision Plate Frame for the bolero are not available if you trust in Santa Claus, only if you gift them to yourself. The editor). The name Bolero refers to the ladies' jackets of the same name, which elicit a slight smile from every man and the joke: "Well, did it shrink in the wash?" Ripperkon's jacket here has not shrunk, but is sensibly cut. We have chosen to wear it in a way that is not entirely in line with the inventor's intention, namely over the armor. The plate carrier is also visible, the magazines are always within easy reach, an admin panel on the chest would also be possible. And pockets on the back would also be readily available. The upper body is covered and additionally protected. In contrast to the feminine bolero, one could even say with this masculine edition: it makes sense.

So we put on the Ripperkon Bolero and treat ourselves to close-up views: The first contact is the sleeve, because the wearer enters through it. It is relatively wide. Not so important for a t-shirt, but if you have a combat shirt, a fleece or softshell jacket underneath, it is.

The sleeves are reinforced at the elbows (left). Utility pockets are attached to the upper arms, which have a concealed zip for easy access (top right). A large Velcro area holds the necessary patches, a small strip of Velcro underneath can also carry a name tag or blood type. The sleeve end is Velcroed with a strap (bottom right) and can be left wide or closed very tightly.

When you have both sleeves on, it is worth connecting them in the front center, in other words, closing the jacket: there is a light zipper that is then covered with a flap and Velcro when its job is done.

This is what it looks like when the wearer closes and seals it. The collar is spacious and goes up to the chin (right). Here the zipper is at the stop. At the back (left) there is a cord with a closure, with which the upper edge of the collar can be tightened. Very good, because this way the owner can close it nicely at the top, protecting the neck against wind and weather.

Whether you use deodorant or not is fundamentally none of our business. The construction uses ventilating mesh in the armpits so that the wearer does not sweat. Here you can also see the elastic closure of the bolero, which pulls the jacket tightly around the upper body.

If Multicam is not your thing, the bolero is also available in Flecktarn for Bundeswehr fans. And in Olive for people who like green without camouflage. It is made of a solid NYCO Ripstop fabric.

The bolero on Mister Ripperkon himself: on the left you can see how it combines with a t-shirt to form a combat shirt. On the right, the Multicam bolero is worn under the gear. It is not noticeable that it is a bolero, it could also be a complete combat shirt.

CONCLUSION: Normally we don't like half measures. Here, however, the halfness is the point: the bolero can be used as a replacement for a combat shirt. Then you put on a t-shirt (easy to change if sweaty) and add the bolero to create a "modular combat shirt," with the bolero always in use. The plate carrier is worn over the jacket. The base layer can always be changed, but badges and documents are on the bolero, so you don't have to rearrange everything. But you can also wear the bolero over it, as we see in the picture. The bolero is then a half jacket that covers the arms, shoulders, and neck and should be at hand when an additional layer is needed. Ultimately, another advantage is naturally the packing size. Instead of a whole field blouse, only a half one, about the size of two magazines. The bolero - by the way, started with a successful crowdfunding project - is a successful debut for the label Ripperkon Wolf. It is manufactured - in known quality - at Leo Köhler.

You can get the Ripperkon Wolf Bolero directly at HCS Soldatenausrüstung starting at 69,99 Euros (excluding shipping).

Just by the way: We had a friend from a special unit visiting, who quickly grabbed the new piece of gear, unfolded it, and in the first moment simply couldn't figure out what to do with it. Bewilderment was followed by a knowing smile: "Chaps?" (We don't want to know what he was thinking.) - No, bolero plus explanation. And he thought the idea and execution were great... (Name and unit will not be revealed.)