Montag, 25. Februar 2013

Review: Blokpost Gorka (2006) (by Gruppa-L)

 
Here we go again! Another Gorka review – this time I have a Blokpost Gorka from 2006 for you guys. This particular Blokpost Gorka is somewhat special – it belonged to a member of ROSN Yekaterinburg, Russia!  ROSN is a department of FSB (former KGB). These soldiers respond to situations involving certain types of violent criminals and terrorists. Besides that, it is just a regular Blokpost Gorka from the year 2006 and it has the typical washed out and used look (which I personally dig a lot).
I bought the Gorka from Hoshinski (who runs steklovata.blogspot.de) for 90 Euro shipped only because I wanted to have any kind of “modern” Gorka. Not forgetting that it is also the perfect size for me. Strangely enough 99% of the Gorkas which you can buy second handed are too small for me (not only in width, but primarily in height).
I will not recap the origins of the Gorka (again), since I did it already in my SSO Gorka E review and in my Soviet Gorka review. However, I recommend you to read both, since this review will be somehow a comparison to the SSO Gorke E to unveil the main difference between both.
Lets start in the same manner as I did in the SSO Gorke E review: The first visible difference (beside the washed out look) are the non existing camouflage patches on it. Instead we have some kind of polyester’ish fabric, since it doesn’t soak so fast water as the non-patched areas made out of cotton. An other noticeable thing is, that the hood is not covered in such extra sheet of fabric, like it is on the Gorke E. Thats for me somehow a downside, but it is not a “gamebraker”. The rest of the Gorka is actually the same, or is it?
 
The Hood is quite the same: You got the little cool sun shield, throat/neck cover (also close-able with 3 Buttons), the lace to cord up the opening and the other lace in the back to fasten it to the size of your head (or when wearing a helmet underneath it). Except for the missing camouflage and/or extra polyester’ish fabric the same. Even the cut appears to be identically.
 
It also got on each arm an extra pocket which you can fit with clerical utensils (like a pen, notebook, etc.). The Velcro is not as tough as it is on the Gorka E, but thats about it. Instead of Camo, we have here again the polyester like fabric to give it an extra sheet of fabric and strength.
Extra elastic bands are also present here in the sleeve and wrist area, which should (and does) prevent the sleeve from rolling up or letting some nasty ants getting in the inside of your suit.
 
The Blokpost Gorka got 5 Main buttons to close the Jacket and the 3 extra buttons from the collar, just like the Gorka E got. Inside is the extra draft proff sheet, which you can close up with (again same as in the SSO Gorka E) 3 buttons. Difference here is, that first of all, all buttons have the same Size and are regular, classic style buttons, where as the Gorka E got 5 big buttons, which are very easy to open and close even with gloves. Also the extra draft proof sheet is loose on the left side, when not closed up, where as the Gorka E got 3 fixation buttons. Just to point out the details.
 
The lowest button got also its “twin” button on the other side, so you can double-lock the bottom of the Jacket. Again here is no difference (except for the button size and type itself) to the Gorka E from SSO.
 
Interestingly you got a fabrication etiquette which says БЛОКПОСТ (Blokpost – translation means “Checkpoint” and/or “Roadblock” – maybe some Russian viewers can clarify this in the comment section – thanks!), which is the name of the manufacturer and below the Telephone number of the Company (I guess, haven’t tried to call there, yet). The inside Pocket is (again) just a cotton sewn square bag with a single button to close. Nothing special, but good enough to carry something light like a printout.
 
For better body fitting and to prevent the suit to move in uncomfortable positions, there are elastic bands fitted above the kidney area and the lace to fasten the bottom opening from the jacket, to prevent for e.g. the “deadly” wind to steal your valuable body heat. The same can be found on the Gorka E.
 
The jacket pockets are just like the Gorka E ones. One on each side and additional flap to keep anything from getting in or out, when it is closed. With just one (1) button you can close the pocket.
Also on the Blokpost Gorka I couldn’t find any spare button like I got on my Soviet Gorka from Kondor. Maybe the former ROSN Member used it already? I don’t know and probably never will. But again, who cares anyways? I like this Gorka a lot – even without the button!
 
The Blolkost Gorka trousers got, identically to SSO’s variant, those tough elastic bands and the extra tightening lace around the waistline. Also the Loops for the Suspenders are on the trousers, just like the Gorka E has.
 
The Fly is also covered with an extra sheet of polyester like fabric for more longevity. In comparsion to the Gorka E it got only a (not so strong) velcro patch. There is beside the 3 buttons no other way to double secure velcro closing (like the metal clasp). Also there is no draftproof extra sheet of fabric like on the jacket and like the SSO Gorka E got on the trousers.
 
The pretended pockets are also just opening to reach into your pockets of possible underweared trousers. (I also heard recently from someone that this is intended to pee more comfortably in extrem cold conditions, so your hand doesn’t freeze off, when taking the gloves off – not sure how solid this information is, but it could somehow work like mentioned).
 
The classic Cargo pockets are also present on the trousers – one on each leg. In contrary, the pockets on the Blokpost Gorka does not have any overlapping flaps like the Gorka E got. Maybe due to the slightly older version (2006)?
 
Just like the Gorka E, the Blokpost got some overlapping and extra extended sheet of fabric, which got a lace worked in for tighting up. This should also prevent to get anything like dirt or insects inside your boots. The overlapping trouserleg part with the polyester fabric should also assist you from getting wet feet.
Something I really like in the Blokpost Gorka, what the Gorka E does not have, are those extra elastic bands in the height of the calves. This keeps the Trouser more in place. Love it!
 
The backside is totally covered in the gray/green polyester fabric. Difference here is that the back pockets have no buttons or anything to close them. So I wouldn’t recommend putting anything valuable there for rough outdoor activities.

Overall, there is no big difference to the SSO Gorka E, except those small minor thing mentioned all above. I use the Blokpost Gorka often when I need to do some handicraft activities or if I am in need of some tough trousers. What I especially like is not only the worn and “if-it-could-talk-it-would-tell-stories” used look, but also the fact that this Gorka was really used by a real member of an elite group, which probably used it day in day out without caring about it and it still is in perfect usable condition. I think this says more then thousand words about the toughness and ruggednessof a Blokpost Gorka and probably Gorkas in general. Definitely a “to buy” recommendation.
Here a moder variant of the Blokpost Gorka used by SOBR Speznas Units while Training in a hidden complex in the outskirts of Zauralskiy, Russia.
Here are some MVD Speznas wearing the Blokpost Gorka (probably also an older version like the one presented in this review).

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