Ideal stalking jacket

[Shotgun572013]

Is there such a thing or as near to ? When leaving home you are cooked, arrive at your area and it's windy ,chilly etc. your permission is maybe difficult stalking ground especially when you have one or two in the roe sack. I doubt if there is any jacket that you won't feel like you are in a sauna when in this scenario. Any suggestions from experiences please

 

[nun_hunter]

I use one of these Mil-Tec Smock Lightweight Olive: Amazon.co.uk: Clothing it is wind proof so surprisingly warm with just a t-shirt underneath but thin so doesn't get hot in summer. I got it in a larger size than normal so I can layer clothes underneath in the winter. It has loads of pockets so I keep all my stalking bits in the jacket so don't needs bag of any kind. Being olive green it blends in nicely and doesn't look too military when teamed with some plain trousers.

 

[Vipa]

Is there such a thing or as near to ? When leaving home you are cooked, arrive at your area and it's windy ,chilly etc. your permission is maybe difficult stalking ground especially when you have one or two in the roe sack. I doubt if there is any jacket that you won't feel like you are in a sauna when in this scenario. Any suggestions from experiences please

Yes... Layer up and use lightweight gear... look at the American systems from the likes of Sitka and Kuiu.. My combined Kuiu merino base layer, merino mid layer, (soon to get) waterproof down insulation and wind/waterproof/breathable shell weighs half as much as a Harkila Pro Hunter jacket and I can remove or add layers as I need them.. I can also compress it down to almost nothing and fit it in pockets or small backpack! Modern fabrics from Torey are also much more breathable than Gore-Tex stuff and are just as waterproof.

I saw the light when out on the Hill in Scotland in Jan... ended up sweating so much in my harkila I was drenched on the inside.. took it off to try and lose some heat and almost ended up with hypothermia as I was so wet!... I had almost zero control over temperature and ended up wetter than I would have if I'd left it off... after 15 miles I was also knackered through carrying loads of weight and it struck my that the heaviest thing I was lugging was my jacket!

There is no such thing as a do-it-all jacket... you need to be looking at a system... now I don't get cold or wet or hot and I'm not lugging half a ton of Cordura round with me!

 

[caorach]

I keep saying this but...

British army Windproof smock. As a stalking jacket (and I've got quite a few jackets from everyone from Musto to Cabellas) it simply can't be beaten and because it doesn't have a waterproof membrane you stay much drier, and therefore warmer, when working hard as it breathes very well. However, with waterproofing washed into it then it is "showerproof" to a degree (2 - 4 hours in the rain depending on conditions) that means in most stalking situations you'll not get wet. With correct layers underneath the non-waterproof smock will keep you both drier and warmer than a completely waterproof jacket but it is light enough to wear on all but the warmest days and windproof for when there is a cool breeze. The pockets are great and you can get them in a range of colours with the most common, as you'd expect, being the DPM and MTP cammo patterns but green, black and even blue are available. The MTP has a more "sophisticated" design with hand warmer pockets, mesh liner, pit zips etc. but I prefer the simpler design of the DPM smocks as they do away with all this stuff.

In really wet weather then you put on a gore-tex liner (British army goretex jacket) UNDER the smock and so you keep all your pockets, are still silent but are now totally waterproof. Rain stops, smock dries out in a few minutes, gore-tex layer off and you are back to being breathable again. In terms of versatility you can't beat it.

It is necessary to remember that this is a clothing "system" which is flexible and suitable for nearly any weather you'll ever meet. However, the smocks and gore-tex jackets are pretty cheap to buy into and if you don't like them you can stick them back on ebay and get your money back so there is nothing to lose in giving it a try. If you use it as designed all the other jackets you own are redundant.

 

[timbrayford]

I use an old Seeland Keeper jacket, reasonably weatherproof, drab enough and doesn't make too much noise.

atb Tim

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

+1 on the seeland pants and coat,not the best when cold but then just add more layers,atb doug,

 

[Shotgun572013]

Thanks guys. As I thought , it's what suits the individual. I had a lightweight smock long time ago and would agree that it was excellent for most stalking trips except severe winter weather. Technology has'nt advanced too much in this area yet. Cheers all

 

[Shotgun572013]

I use one of these Mil-Tec Smock Lightweight Olive: Amazon.co.uk: Clothing it is wind proof so surprisingly warm with just a t-shirt underneath but thin so doesn't get hot in summer. I got it in a larger size than normal so I can layer clothes underneath in the winter. It has loads of pockets so I keep all my stalking bits in the jacket so don't needs bag of any kind. Being olive green it blends in nicely and doesn't look too military when teamed with some plain trousers.

Hi nun hunter. This may be an option if it is as thin and light as you say . It does'nt look it on their website!

 

[RED-DOT]

In answer to the question yes there is an all round coat and jacket for four seasons use but unfortuneately your dog is wearing it!

 

[David T]

Been said in many previous posts on this subject and also this one ! Ex military jackets are hard to fault especially when you take cost into consideration. I use a Dutch army DPM jacket ( waterproof, wind proof, plenty of pockets etc ) In the winter I put a British army cold weather jacket/liner under it. Then only need to wear t-shirt, under armour type of thing as a base layer. Total cost for both jackets is around £80. Incredable performance for not a lot of money.

 

[Tim.243]

Is there such a thing or as near to ? When leaving home you are cooked, arrive at your area and it's windy ,chilly etc. your permission is maybe difficult stalking ground especially when you have one or two in the roe sack. I doubt if there is any jacket that you won't feel like you are in a sauna when in this scenario. Any suggestions from experiences please

I use a few from a £2.00 boot sale cotton camo coat to a Harkila...They get put in the truck and I make a call when I get there.
I walk far more when out foxing so I have worked out not to put too much on as nothing worse than roasting on the way out let alone turning around with a mile and a half walk back.

Using minute cast weather helps as I have found it quite useful, what hat you wear can make a lot of difference as I have cooked when wearing my le chameau long peaked cap, so just a cheap thin cap for the summer.

This winter I will try out a rivers west smock for wildfowling...





Tim.243

 

[RED-DOT]

My parents were very poor and always bought my clothes from army surplus shops but i hated having to queue up for school dressed as a Japanese fighter pilot!

 

[David T]

My parents were very poor and always bought my clothes from army surplus shops but i hated having to queue up for school dressed as a Japanese fighter pilot!

 

[762Scot]

I would also recommend the British Military DPM windproof smock. Was out on the hill in one the other day and got caught in a downpour. Kept me warm and dry. Great price too.

 

[Mauser243]

I keep saying this but...

British army Windproof smock. As a stalking jacket (and I've got quite a few jackets from everyone from Musto to Cabellas) it simply can't be beaten and because it doesn't have a waterproof membrane you stay much drier, and therefore warmer, when working hard as it breathes very well. However, with waterproofing washed into it then it is "showerproof" to a degree (2 - 4 hours in the rain depending on conditions) that means in most stalking situations you'll not get wet. With correct layers underneath the non-waterproof smock will keep you both drier and warmer than a completely waterproof jacket but it is light enough to wear on all but the warmest days and windproof for when there is a cool breeze. The pockets are great and you can get them in a range of colours with the most common, as you'd expect, being the DPM and MTP cammo patterns but green, black and even blue are available. The MTP has a more "sophisticated" design with hand warmer pockets, mesh liner, pit zips etc. but I prefer the simpler design of the DPM smocks as they do away with all this stuff.

In really wet weather then you put on a gore-tex liner (British army goretex jacket) UNDER the smock and so you keep all your pockets, are still silent but are now totally waterproof. Rain stops, smock dries out in a few minutes, gore-tex layer off and you are back to being breathable again. In terms of versatility you can't beat it.

It is necessary to remember that this is a clothing "system" which is flexible and suitable for nearly any weather you'll ever meet. However, the smocks and gore-tex jackets are pretty cheap to buy into and if you don't like them you can stick them back on ebay and get your money back so there is nothing to lose in giving it a try. If you use it as designed all the other jackets you own are redundant.

And every time you say it in a thread I keep meaning to purchase. Lol

M

 

[caorach]

And every time you say it in a thread I keep meaning to purchase. Lol

Give it a try, cheapest jacket you'll ever buy and once you've worn it a few times and worked out how the "system" works you'll not have much use for the others!

 

[Brno2e]

My parents were very poor and always bought my clothes from army surplus shops but i hated having to queue up for school dressed as a Japanese fighter pilot!

Haha and I work for a Jap company !

Some of the German stuff is good too and is cheap.

 

[liongeorge]

+1 on mill surp stuff. The german fleck tarn smock is very good this jacket as well as an american goretex one I have has a brilliant idea which works really well at keeping you cool and dry if you have to work hard and it is zips under your armpits that let them and basicly the rest of your body breath. Are there any other jackets out there that have this feature?

 

[JockStalk]

+1 on mill surp stuff. The german fleck tarn smock is very good this jacket as well as an american goretex one I have has a brilliant idea which works really well at keeping you cool and dry if you have to work hard and it is zips under your armpits that let them and basicly the rest of your body breath. Are there any other jackets out there that have this feature?

Yep - British military goretex smock is the same. I use it under fleck tarn smock to keep dry if forecast is torrential. If just showers the fleck tarn is showerproof fine enough and breathes well. £35 for the goretex smock new delivered and £45 for a pack of two new fleck tarn jackets delivered.
Works pretty well.

 

[JTO]

At the CLA Game Fair in about 1984(I think) there were several stands selling Goretex stuff. The material was so tough, I decided I wanted one, having just ripped the back out of my Solway Zipper getting through a fence. I bought one the next year and it was marvelous, completely waterproof and so breathable I could have a soaking wet sweater underneath it and my body heat would dry it out through the jacket. Within 2 years, though, I might as well have had a net on my back to keep the rain out. Some people said it was because I had never washed it. Other people said theirs never leaking until they washed it. It's OK for people that get their stuff supplied, often for publicity(BBC presenters and montaineers come to mind), but the fancy stuff doesn't seem to live up to the price, in my experience. I've just got hold of some cheap army Goretex stuff, hoping it will last a season.