New jacket - opinions please

[electro]

I have narrowed down a new jacket to the following options. I understand the Harkila is great, if expensive and a tad heavy. How have people found these?

Breathability / waterproofing / movement / fit (I am 6'2" and have long arms) - I am keen to hear your thoughts.

I would also be interested if anyone says anything here is better value in the long term than the Harkila - buy once cry once I know! In particular I can't find much written about the Beretta Tri-Active EVO.

~£140 Verney Carron Falcon
~£280 Swazi Wapiti
~£235 Beretta Tri-Active EVO Jacket
~£590 Harkila Pro Hunter Shooting GTX Jacket

Thanks in advance!

 

[Shaun Goss]

Stoney creek are always worth looking at!

 

[electro]

Stoney creek

They look great (Tundra in particular) - but as I also shotgun shoot the others can be used as a bit of a crossover (I think). The stoney creek pockets and design are a little bit too casual for crossover to some shotgun shoots probably. This isn't my primary consideration, but it's a secondary one that for the price has crossed my mind haha. Clearly an epic jacket and well reviewed technically too. Great recco!

 

[HallyButt]

Musto, Philip morris have the keeper jacket reduced to £160

 

[Shaun Goss]

They look great (Tundra in particular) - but as I also shotgun shoot the others can be used as a bit of a crossover (I think). The stoney creek pockets and design are a little bit too casual for crossover to some shotgun shoots probably. This isn't my primary consideration, but it's a secondary one that for the price has crossed my mind haha. Clearly an epic jacket and well reviewed technically too. Great recco!

I have the suppressor jacket, used it stalking and loading on hundreds of shoots over the last 6 years. Smart, comfortable and 100% waterproof. Only you can decide on the pockets though.

 

[Antikka]

I have an older Verney Carron, the Ibex.
It's heavy with the fleece in, but it's warm, never ever leaked and has more pockets than ever required.

Great coat...even bought the trousers to match

 

[electro]

I have the suppressor jacket, used it stalking and loading on hundreds of shoots over the last 6 years. Smart, comfortable and 100% waterproof. Only you can decide on the pockets though.

Oh yes I missed that one. That can definitely work. How true to size is it for you? I am a 42 inch chest, broad shoulders, usually an L in t-shirts, with lanky long arms haha.

 

[Shaun Goss]

Oh yes I missed that one. That can definitely work. How true to size is it for you? I am a 42 inch waist, broad shoulders, usually an L in t-shirts, with lanky long arms haha.

I’ve broad shoulders also, true to size. iam usually a large and that’s what my suppressor is.

 

[Jon69]

I managed to pick up a previous model Harkila Pro Hunter second hand great condition for ~£150 and often see similar for sale on here/ebay etc. which is super value. They’re certainly warm and waterproof and real heavy duty.

 

[pablo.222]

Swedteam are worth a look. Often bushwear have a deal on.

 

[PhilSN12]

I have been using Deerhunter for years and I am really happy with their kit and customer support.

 

[lochty]

#1 for Musto.

 

[Mungo]

Harkila pro hunter is heavy and absorbs an astonishing amount of water. Really designed for shooting from a peg on driven hunts, and not good for successive wet days. But warm, waterproof and very resistant to thorns etc. Great pockets. if you’re doing a lot of sitting, and unlikely to be out multiple days in a row, a good choice. Not good for active stalking, especially if you’re on the hill.

Swazi quality control is very erratic, and there’s a high risk that newer stuff will leak within a few outings. Lack of pockets is a real pain. Not worth the price.

Beretta, as far as I can tell, is just something generic rebadged. From those I’ve seen using, entirely mediocre and not really a stalking jacket.

I would think about Stoney Creek, Ridgeline or Fortis.

 

[ChesterP]

Deerhunter Recon jacket. Best jacket I've owned. Their updated version is the Recon Pro jacket.

 

[caorach]

The Harkila stuff is really heavy and you'll sweat like a pig. There have been some discussions about Harkila quality in more recent times and certainly their Pro Hunter trousers that I have leak and have a few design flaws.

Depending on your use you really want to consider if you need a waterproof jacket for most of your days out - I wear a jacket that isn't waterproof, though it will shed a shower or light rain, and in really wet conditions I put a waterproof shell on under it. This makes for a lot more comfort and most people don't stalk in very wet weather most days so it works a lot better on average.

I see Arktis have a sale on smocks at present - most of these won't be waterproof but are excellent and well made smocks that make excellent stalking gear. Some are waterproof but you are back to the problem that you'll get wet from the inside no matter how fancy the waterproof membrane is.

// End of Line

When its gone its gone, these are the last pieces in these styles or colourways! Grab them now

store.arktis.co.uk

 

[electro]

Harkila pro hunter is heavy and absorbs an astonishing amount of water. Really designed for shooting from a peg on driven hunts, and not good for successive wet days. But warm, waterproof and very resistant to thorns etc. Great pockets. if you’re doing a lot of sitting, and unlikely to be out multiple days in a row, a good choice. Not good for active stalking, especially if you’re on the hill.

Swazi quality control is very erratic, and there’s a high risk that newer stuff will leak within a few outings. Lack of pockets is a real pain. Not worth the price.

Beretta, as far as I can tell, is just something generic rebadged. From those I’ve seen using, entirely mediocre and not really a stalking jacket.

I would think about Stoney Creek, Ridgeline or Fortis.

Thanks Mungo this was really helpful. It sounds like Stoney Creek is worth me seriously considering as others have mentioned it as well! I will have a look at Ridgeline and Fortis too. Thanks

 

[electro]

The Harkila stuff is really heavy and you'll sweat like a pig. There have been some discussions about Harkila quality in more recent times and certainly their Pro Hunter trousers that I have leak and have a few design flaws.

Depending on your use you really want to consider if you need a waterproof jacket for most of your days out - I wear a jacket that isn't waterproof, though it will shed a shower or light rain, and in really wet conditions I put a waterproof shell on under it. This makes for a lot more comfort and most people don't stalk in very wet weather most days so it works a lot better on average.

I see Arktis have a sale on smocks at present - most of these won't be waterproof but are excellent and well made smocks that make excellent stalking gear. Some are waterproof but you are back to the problem that you'll get wet from the inside no matter how fancy the waterproof membrane is.

// End of Line

When its gone its gone, these are the last pieces in these styles or colourways! Grab them now

store.arktis.co.uk

Very handy perspective on waterproof v water resistant! One to think about…!

 

[caorach]

Very handy perspective on waterproof v water resistant! One to think about…!

I've had just about everything including Musto, Harkila etc. but in the end if you are out for long days you eventually conclude that on many days the key to being dry, warm, and comfortable is to wear stuff that is fast drying and not waterproof. I appreciate that there are days when it is just miserable all day and a waterproof layer is going to be the best of a bad range of options but on the vast majority of days wearing waterproofs is just going to result in your being more uncomfortable. In part I think a lot of the problem is marketing - people are programmed by marketing to "know" that you must have a waterproof jacket for going outside and so everyone, me included, gets a good quality waterproof jacket and assumes that it will work well for them in all conditions. Such marketing also does away with any requirement for the user to think because they have just spent £1k on waterproofs and so they are good to go, no need for thinking or planning. However, if you start thinking about it then you see that on the majority of days you are out something shower proof will do your job, in fact on quite a few days you won't see rain at all, and on those days automatically putting on your expensive waterproof jacket/trousers actually puts you at a disadvantage in terms of warmth and comfort. Equally most people have a good feel in advance for when they are going to encounter a wet day and if you are wearing something like a windproof smock then you can simply throw a waterproof shell in your pocket or bag on such a day. If necessary the waterproof layer can go on under the smock - so it doesn't need to be robust, or quiet, or any particular colour, and you keep all your pockets in the smock right where they always are. Many windproof smocks, including the surplus ones, are fast drying and so if the rain stops then the smock will dry in a short while and you can remove the waterproof layer allowing your inner layers to dry out should they have got damp with sweat. The only downside with this scheme is that it does require a small amount of thought on the part of the users - when to put the waterproof layer on, when to take it off, whether to take it with you on a given day etc.

 

[sy247]

Swedteam are worth a look. Often bushwear have a deal on.

I've got a nice Swedteam jacket. Rate it.

 

[sy247]

I've had just about everything including Musto, Harkila etc. but in the end if you are out for long days you eventually conclude that on many days the key to being dry, warm, and comfortable is to wear stuff that is fast drying and not waterproof. I appreciate that there are days when it is just miserable all day and a waterproof layer is going to be the best of a bad range of options but on the vast majority of days wearing waterproofs is just going to result in your being more uncomfortable. In part I think a lot of the problem is marketing - people are programmed by marketing to "know" that you must have a waterproof jacket for going outside and so everyone, me included, gets a good quality waterproof jacket and assumes that it will work well for them in all conditions. Such marketing also does away with any requirement for the user to think because they have just spent £1k on waterproofs and so they are good to go, no need for thinking or planning. However, if you start thinking about it then you see that on the majority of days you are out something shower proof will do your job, in fact on quite a few days you won't see rain at all, and on those days automatically putting on your expensive waterproof jacket/trousers actually puts you at a disadvantage in terms of warmth and comfort. Equally most people have a good feel in advance for when they are going to encounter a wet day and if you are wearing something like a windproof smock then you can simply throw a windproof shell in your pocket or bag on such a day. If necessary the waterproof layer can go on under the smock - so it doesn't need to be robust, or quiet, or any particular colour, and you keep all your pockets in the smock right where they always are. Many windproof smocks, including the surplus ones, are fast drying and so if the rain stops then the smock will dry in a short while and you can remove the waterproof layer allowing your inner layers to dry out should they have got damp with sweat. The only downside with this scheme is that it does require a small amount of thought on the part of the users - when to put the waterproof layer on, when to take it off, whether to take it with you on a given day etc.

Very good advice