Which Smock?

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Biathlonjimmy

Well-Known Member
Supporter
All,

I was just about to put an order in for a Ridgeline elite smock but I checked the cumulative knowledge/opinion/experience of the SD and after reading a few threads i.e. http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co....eline-Monsoon-Elite-Smock?highlight=ridgeline it appears that it is not a good option for the UK. I saw a recent video of Thomas Haugland (THLR) wearing one which looked practical + he was lying in melting snow and seemed comfortable. I digress.

What is a good option for a waterproof smock with good chest pockets that can be used well in a layering system?

Deerhunter seem sold out everywhere in M size.

Best,

J
 
Would you use it for woodland or hill - if you are not lying down in water, paramo is light waterproof and comfortable - forget it for hill stalking as it can't handle compression. Swazi seems fairly bombproof for the hill
 
Nomad quad rider smock a1 , if you are willing / able to spend that much !

Mind you their after service is slow to say the very least.

Had mine for 8 years and just showing its age , I'm fairly hard on my kit and it gets used a couple of times every week at least and not just sat for a couple hours in a high seat
 
I have got the Deerhunter one, I live in it and I layer up under it.
Try" All Weather Clothing". they appear to have all sizes.Wf1
 
I've read the other thread reference Ridgeline but I couldn't disagree more; I have the Ridgeline Pintail smock and trousers and the performance and quality has been first class. Granted you will always get a build up of moisture but that will happen with anything that has a waterproof liner, I wear a wicking top underneath when stalking or layer up if sitting in a high seat and it works well for me. Their Pintail gear is very quiet when on the move and washes up well after a day on the deer.
 
Don't buy the Ridgeline it's like a binliner, the rivers west field pro smock is well worth a look and if you don't mind camo, swillingtons are selling them for £80.
 
I love my Ridgeline Pintail more the longer I have it. It's a great smock. Very comfortable and really practical.

But yes, you do get bad condensation at times.
 
will you be moving or sitting still?

if moving Ridgeline is not for you
wear a bin liner as above, will be cheaper and still replicate the wet feeling you will have when you take it off
 
I have the swanndri smock designed and sold b uhh bushwear , I live in it dos exactly what I want it to do and reasonably price I thought.
 
Thank you for the input so far. To answer the questions: I stalk on foot more than sit in a highseat. All my stalking is lowland however after a fantasticly generous offer on SD I will be in Mull in October.

I expect this to be more arduous therefore it must have some degree of breathibility. I normally use a goretex dpm jacket if it is throwing it down but I don't like the impression it gives to joe public. Plus the pockets are crap and it's very noisy.

J
 
The Ridgeline Monsoon Elite smock is very good in my opinion, but you need to wear the right layers underneath it if you walking. I wear Skinz base layers with a polartec fleece if need be and don't have any problems with breathability when beating/hiking. As mentioned earlier, you need to wear base layers/fleeces with "wicking" properties to get the most out of any breathable/waterproof outer layer. You can have a super duper breathable/waterproof outer layer, but it's breathability is useless with the wrong base layers that hold sweat and stay wet.

One thing I would like on the Ridgeline is armpit zips, but you can't go wrong for the money. It's a genuinely waterproof smock, so far anyway.
 
Something a little left field:

Bison Bush Shirt
http://www.bisonbushcraft.co.uk/bison_bushcraft_outfitters.htm#bush
Biso_Bush_Shirt_2.jpg


K
 
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I have a country covers field smock which is excellent. Like all these things its a little warm if you are on the move all day but for highseat work or down on the marsh its great. Its very weatherproof, pretty breathable and when layered up underneath very warm and cozy. A good size front pocket and proper wired hood as well.

All I have done is got my wife to sew some fleece behind the zip at the top to stop it catching on my stubble.

Tom
 
Hi

If its peeing it down I have a country covers/arktis smock, as above it does get warm if your on the move and is noisy

I have a paramo smock for hill walking, very waterproof but does need yearly reproofing (which is just washing it in nikwax). It is a pump liner (moves water to the surface) unlike goretex which is a barrier so if you lay down in the wet stuff it does seep in.

What i use the most is a helicon tex multi cam smock that has been proofed with nikwax, is quite highly breathable and will hold the moisture back when its showers, if heavy rain is forecast I use the arktis smock. I am also a massive fan of the multi cam pattern, i seem to disappear to deer if I am down wind! I have bumped many when wearing it and just stood still for them to just stop and stare at me which has allowed me to take a shot…..

Ash
 
Love my Swazi Tahr, used it in the hills, in the lowland and walked like hell after goats in it and it breaths, does not build up moisture and is perfect for layering, especially with Swazi's other garments like the nahanni which I also have. Buy a ridgeline and I think you'll be buying twice. Swazi have some pretty good deals every so often and the tax is not as bad as some make out, just be prepared for an extra £12 charge from parcelfarce!

Swazi also guarantee fault free for the lifetime of the product, as long as its not caused by barbed wire etc, i.e. genuine stitching loose etc, not many other companies doing that!
 
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