I’ve been looking for a new jacket to wear while hunting. I wanted it to be warm without being bulky or binding. I also wanted plenty of pocket space for various odds and ends, especially if I’m not using a pack. Above all, I wanted quality. I have no use for a jacket that can’t handle pushing through underbrush or laurel thickets. I found that jacket in the Viktos Blodjeger Tactical Flannel Jacket.
Viktos is known for quality outdoor products, so my hopes were high when I discovered the Blodjeger. I’m pleased to report that the jacket exceeded my high expectations. The Blodjeger delivered what wanted, while also including features I hadn’t considered, making it more than just a hunting jacket. I also like that Viktos is a veteran-owned company and all their products are made in the USA.
Viktos Blodjeger Rugged Construction
Viktos describes the Blodjeger as lying “somewhere between an operator and an axeman.” That’s a solid description. It looks like an old-school hunting or lumberjack garment, which appeals to me. This is a tough flannel jacket with reinforced forearm/elbow and shoulder overlays, so it will stand up to the brush or whatever else you come in contact with, walking or crawling. That reinforcement also protects the flannel against the wear from packs or rifle slings.
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The Blodjeger is fully lined with the Viktos FiteLite poly insulation. It’s very warm, though the jacket is still light enough to be comfortable in merely chilly weather. I wore it on a recent hunting trip, where the temperature was around freezing before daylight, but rose to the low 60s by midday. I wore my Blodjeger the entire time and was comfortable from start to finish. The Blodjeger’s insulation rating is 120g for the body and 100g for the sleeves. So, it’s rated for temperatures into the low 30s Fahrenheit but can offer more protection with an extra layer underneath.
Interior stretch panels around the sleeve holes make sure the Blodjeger doesn’t bind when changing shooting positions, climbing into a tree stand, or drawing your sidearm. I did all three on my hunting trip, though the sidearm draws were just tests.
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Versatility
The tactical applications are well-thought out, though they aren’t apparent at first glance. I like the Blodjeger’s “Gray Man” aspect. The “Gunvent” zippers on each hip make it easy to access a concealed handgun on your hip. These zippers unzip from the bottom, so I’ve found that pre-staging them about a third of the way up allows for easy access, causing them to fully unzip as I reach for my sidearm. Pre-staging is a must, however, since you cannot unzip them one-handed when they are fully closed. But they still provide good concealment when pre-staged.
I noted that I wanted lots of pockets. Ask, and the Blodjeger delivers. The main pockets are huge. Not to mention deep. While hunting, I carried a small pair of binoculars, a rangefinder,gloves, a red bandana, extra shotgun shells, and a bottle of water in just those two pockets. Theydon’t zip or snap shut, but they’re so deep that all my stuff rode comfortably, and I didn’t feel overloaded. Each one also has a zippered interior pocket for deeper concealment or whatever else you might want to do.
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Those main pockets are also lined with loop panel to which I’ve hooked a pocket holster with a Mission First Tactical loop attachment for a small pistol. The loop doesn’t hold as tight as I’d like, but it does keep the holster in place, so I always know where the gun is. I’ve been running a Beretta Tomcat there, but my Walther PPS, Ruger Max 9, IWI Masada Slim, and Sig Sauer P365XL also fit well.
The generous chest pockets close with snaps, though the snaps are hidden to reduce possible snagging on a rifle sling. The snaps themselves are strong and tactile. Each chest pocket also has a small, zippered pocket behind it for carrying a wallet or anything else that might be sensitive. The zippers are hidden and almost unnoticeable. My Tomcat fits in those pockets, but I haven’t actually carried it there. But never say never.
Viktos Blodjeger Tactical Hunting Jacket
I mentioned the Blodjeger’s “Gray Man” aspect. Other than the quality, I think that’s the jacket’s great strength. I went through the “tacticool” phase, as many of us have. But I prefer a more low-key appearance these days. My clothing statements are far more nuanced than they were ten years ago. My bags and packs don’t scream “tactical,” though most have that capacity. I’ve lost the bold 2A political statements on my t-shirts. My views haven’t changed. I just prefer not to stand out quite so much. My one concession is a hat with “1791” emblazoned on it, along with an AR-15 inside a coiling snake. Most people don’t get the reference.
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The Blodjeger fits that theme for me. I look like an old-school hunter, though no one will mistake me for a lumberjack. No one needs to know that my hunting jacket conceals far more capability than is readily apparent, whether it be what I’m carrying or how tough that jacket really is. And on top of all that, the Blodjeger is super comfortable. I look forward to wearing it.
The Viktos website says the Blodjeger’s sizes run a bit small. They recommend getting a size larger than you normally wear. I did that, and while the jacket is a bit bigger than I need, it’s still comfortable and it allows for that extra layer should I want it.
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The Blodjeger is my new favorite jacket. I’ll continue to hunt in it, but I’ll also just wear it around when the weather’s chilly, or even cold. It’s been unseasonably warm here lately, but we’ll get there. There’s so much to like about this jacket that I think it can appeal to many folks apart from hunters. And we all know flannel looks and feels good. I like mine so much that I’ve already ordered a blue one for a family member’s Christmas gift. That’s really about the best endorsement I can give.
PS: In case you’re wondering, Blodjeger is Norwegian for “Blood Hunter.” Awesome.
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