Dear friends,
after the quiet summer, which was terrible busy and eventful, we will again talk of his favorite topic – Outfit. This summer Five Elevent sent us a number of examples of high-quality gear one of which we’ll review today. We introduce you to 5.11 Tactical Series Sabre 2.0 Jacket. This is a second generation SABRE Jacket, which has been improved based on user comments, as well as some innovation was added. I use this jacket from mid-summer, but the summer was successful – the weather was perfect, so a good rain and chilly weather did not start until the fall. A couple games or a walk in the city certainly insufficient to test this jacket – I’ve tested more.
Thus, the second half of September I went to a wintry Finland and Sweden. During the trip, I had to spend a lot of time on the ferry, and a few days in the city on foot with all the belongings on my shoulders, and the weather forecasts was not encouraging – +11-14 ° C, rain and wind. I decided to take a risk and began this journey wearing SABRE and just a T-shirt with short sleeves and thin T-shirt with long sleeves. Still doubted, should I pick up the fleece, but the jacket seemed to be a reliable and warmer clothes neem. And I was right …
I always pays attention to detail. Usually great products have attention to detail. After all, it is not enough to tie the cord on the zip handle to say it is ritch in detail – everything must be thought out. And the Sabre 2.0 Jacket really has exceptional attention to detail. It could only be matched by the BLACKHAWK! or the KITANICA, but also at a substantial discount … I can feel that not only engineers worked on this product, but consumers’ recommendations was taken into consideration.
Below you will find pictures, which I tried to capture the level of detail of this product.
Jacket is made of 96% polyester and 4% elastane, lining (two types) of 100% polyester and 100% nylon.
10K and 10K water resistance and air permeability. It needs comment – 10K water resistance means that a piece of cloth can withstand water column of 10,000 mm height, until the water starts to seep through the material. And the 10K air permeability means that within 24h this material allows evaporation of 10,000 g of moisture vapor. Usually not recommend to choose a similar type of clothing lower than 10K and 5K.
Although the label allows, I do not recommend to wash clothes in washing machine it. I was already significantly soiled the jacket, but all the stains was easily removed with damp cloth.
There is 6 pockets in the front and 1 on each sleeve:
- Two quilted zipper pockets at the bottom. Zippers is not rubberized, but threaded and protected with the fabric fold;
- Two pockets on the chest. Rubberized zip and zip seal hidden by a cloth;
- Two chest pockets on top with detachable wide (holds with Velcro) fabric platforms for identification patches – flooded or sew. Velcro does not stick to this platform;
- On both hands to find the larger Velcro platforms and pockets with rubberized zipper, which, again when fastened is hidden by cloth.
Pockets is sewn on the outside of the jacket and sewn into the inside of the upper cut into the fabric. All the seams are not just machine sewed up, but sealed from the inside too. Zippers are moving a very fine. I was trying to torture one chest zipper by quickly closing and opening it for dozens of times, however, the protective rubber remained intact. The same tests I am planing to do outside in freezing temperatures, but I think it withstand…
Front of the jacket descends a little below the belt. My wife said that all the jacket might be a little longer too which three fingers. Strange, but do agree with the opinion of my wife. A shorter jacket is always handy, you feel more mobile, but if you want concealed carry while in service, part of the gun will be sticking out from under the jacket. 5.11 declares this jacket as Conceled Carry, but for that you need a higher gun holster attachment.
There is 2 pockets on the back:
- On the back of the Jackets, you will find one large pocket that is sewn to the inside and isolated with lining grid. Zipper is not rubberized but hidden under a fold of fabric. There is very large fabric platform for patches and identification signs concealed inside this pocket. Velcro will not stick to it as well, but its easy to sew velcro base on this platform;
- One vertical pockets at the bottom of the jacket, that starts right and goes over the left flank. Zipper is not rubberized but hidden under a fold of fabric. This pocket is to store your detached hood, or you can put a backup clothing for what I have done during my trip.
As you can see the back of the jacket is slightly longer – very convenient, because this way your lower back is protected better from the bad weather and the jacket will not rise when you sit or lean.
The interior of the jacket:
- One, quite spacious zip pocket on the left. It is right to keep documents and money while traveling – I doubt that even a very professional pickpocket will be able to open her unnoticed. Zipper is hidden under fabric;
- One very capacious pocket with mesh lining on the right. Fasten with a small velcro. Suitable for larger documents – flight tickets, maps and brochures. Velcro fastening is short, so it will be easy to open and close this pocket. I had a jacket with similar pocket, but it was fastened with what was 12cm long velcro strap. It was difficult to neatly fastened this pocket.
As you can see, jacket lining is different. The lower part of jacket lining is seamless and Breathable mesh at the top, and in som placces both.
This jacket is full of very comfortable and practical pockets. Now when I think about it, I was able to put all the items into the jacket.
You will find high quality pictures below. Click it in order to zoom. Conclusions of the review you will find at the end of the post.
“I am Five Eleven LINING!”
Exemplary seams.
Main zip.
“Aerodynamics” :)
The most painful part of any zipper. Works just fine at the moment.
Zipper does not stand anything, maybe has just a little lower profile.
Back pocket with large patch / identification platform hidden inside.
Internal seams of this pockets is reinforced that protects from moisture.
This is how platform looks from the inside – it can be unatached, but with it’s a little bit warmer.
Here you can see the inside right pocket. Very interesting design – made so that the pocket with heavy thing inside (in my case, it was heavy the camera lens) will not hang dawn.
Two front pockets.
Pay attention to how they are sewn into the jacket. Rounded corners protect against tear.
Attention to detail.
Two hidden patch / identification platforms.
They can be unattached for an easier way to sewn / glue / attach symbolism. This platform is made of double material.
Right inside pocket.
Left inside pocket.
When pocket is closed – zipper hides inside the material.
Shoulder velcro is very good, like the dense moss. Edges are cut close to the beard, and the velcro sewn and glued to the fabric.
Even largest patches shall fit this velcro patch.
Hood is attached by zipper and two hidden velcro. Very comfortable and assured.
The zipper is hidden after unattaching the hood.
Here are hiding velcro what hold the front part of the hood. Pay attention to the material that hides the main zipper. It is warm and metallic zipper does not irritate the skin.
This rubber cord helpts to fit hood perfectly.
Rubber tensioner. Attached to the jacket, you will not loose it. It pinches rubber cord very tightly.
This is how to produce rain resistant zippers!
This is perhaps the most interesting element of this jacket. This – QUIXIP ™ – Quick access zips for easy access to a gun. Same on the left and right side.
If necessary, you pull plastic cap cord forward, unhooking the whole system – and velcro and zipper. The zipper goes from the buckle, almost to the armpit. When you open your side, with your left hand holdolding the bare corner and pull your gun with right arm. For the first time quite strange to reach my gun, but after some practice it went smooth. This is a very convenient system, it is unlikely it can be improved more.
Quick release buckles.
Quick release buckles. Why not velcro, but such an object, you ask? For the lower part of the jacket would to be stronger, and it keeps this part closed even if you accidentally hook it to something.
Above you see three underarm zipper pictures. Little cliff closes underarm part, practically from the elbow, lower one – access to your sidearm. The size of this handle is bigger, this is for better handling.
Apparently this hook is used fot two things. It can be used to attach keys and keep in the worm pocket. In the second case, it is possible to attach a hook to the belt loops so when your jacket is bare – the gun will not be visible, but will remain easily accessible.
If one of the following uses are not planned, and I discovered it, I should win a prize :)
With bare sides, tightening the rubber cord will prepare the jacket for the fast sidearm extraction.
You can see a very wise decision in the above two pictures. Cuff closure is double. Everyone knows how poorly Velcro works when the snow falls on it, and the solution to this problem is solved by double clousure. The clip is seated at the right place, tightening the cuff well, unless your wrists are very, very thin.
During the trip I had to carry my backpack for few days. I thought that this might damage the underarm zips of the jacket but it remained intact. With some load on my back I was not sweating at all. Of course, there was time when I had to open zippers under the arms to keep me from sweating .
During the whole journey harsh wind blew,the temerature was from +14 to +7C. But I felt very comfortable wearing a T-shirt with short sleeves and thin T-shirt with long sleeves under my jacket. Sabre Jacket provides excellent protection against extremely high winds. We had to sit on the deck for a few hours at night (enjoying a drink …) and I didnt felt cold. Sometimes the wind blew after a short jacket. I can be wrong, but sometimes it seemed that the big back zipper lets wind in…
It was raining heavily, when ferry was entering the harbor of Stockholm. We did not want to miss a cityscape and had to stand in the rain ont the deck. All the water ran from Sabre as of the duck. Water drops on a hydrophobic material looked like pearls. In the future, I would like to try it during heavy rain and intensely moving. Wondering how will seam pockets, and a few insulated pockets and back zipper withstand the rain.
Admittedly, I am rarely cold, so blindly believe in my words maybe it would be wrong;)
I can not say to what the maximum minus temperature this jacket would feel more comfortable. I think if combined with Fleece sweater, it could be ~ -15, and maybe less. The most important thing that it is perfect wind protection, it is very protective of harsh (when the in the wind felt temperature is lower than it actually is).
In summer, when there was +24, I felt hot wearing this black jacket (also available in DE, and OD and BK and BL). But it was so cozy in the rain or late at night. For the perfect kit I still recommend purchasing shemagh, I have 5.11 – black one.
A few remarks, however, that I would like to mention:
- Underarm zipper could start a little higher, because now it opens too mutch;
- Jacket could be a little longer – this way sidearm would be completely hidden;
- Side QUIXIP buckles made of plastic, so hitting the sidearm holster and jeans buckles makes noise. They should be rubberized;
- The chest and shoulders pocket zips is very small, could be with a bit longer handle because whent it is cold it is hard grasp with bare hands.
The jacket price on 5.11 web pages is 250$. Yes, this is a significant price and affordable not for everyone. However, this product significantly exceed expectations for the everyday wear. In the photo above you can see how much work has gone into creating this product.
Once an item is produced with so much attention to detail, you start to feel elevated – you are appreciated. I was not a fan of 5.11brand, but this article makes me to change my mind :) I am still planning to travel this winter, and I know for sure that Sabre will be my travel friend again and again!
All photos in this article is the intellectual property and to use it without authors permission is strictly forbidden (214-10).
Wonderful.