New jacket/smock ideas

[SimpleSimon]

Hi all,
Looking at buying a new jacket/smock for my stalking, shooting, beating, dog walking, lamping, gardening, etc, etc. I fancied the Seeland marsh jacket, as I wanted something with a bit of durability to it, but even the smallest size is too big for me so that idea went out the window.
Must haves are: Durable, waterproof, properly breathable, not insulated or padded. Needs to be cut sensibly and/or come in smaller sizes. Needs to not be cammo.
I had a nice Laksen jacket that I bought second hand off here a while ago, but the outer was a tricot type fabric and used to attract thorns, burrs, etc awfully which annoyed me. I now have a Fjallraven Keb jacket which I like, but it isn't perfect. It's not waterproof (by design, not fault) and has stretch panels which catch and snag on thorns and twigs when beating or brushing past bramble, etc.
I like the look of the Nomad tweed quadrider smock, but hear mixed reviews about them.
I also like the look of the Beretta Kodiak jacket, but few places seem to have the plain green colour and cammo won't do.
If anyone has any thoughts on the above or other ideas I'd love to hear them. I don't really want to spend a total fortune but I don't mind investing in something that will last a while and take some abuse.
Cheers folks

 

[Wyre Forester]

i'm wondering if a decent wax jacket ticks your boxes?

you'll get a new Barbour Beaufort for about £200, or a decent/refurbished one on fleabay at the £100 mark.

i realise they aren't fantastically technical, but two things leap out - firstly that not only are they pretty robust which looks high on your list, but that unlike most shooting clothing, they can be repaired at home almost infinately, and secondly the 'non-camo' thing suggests a degree of smartness is required, which the wax jackets do quite well...

 

[Fifehunts]

I have a Swazi Tahr XP and a Nomad Jacket, I go to the Swazi every time over the Nomad. Very Waterproof/durable and breathable

 

[SDM]

Bushwear have a swedteam jacket arktis on offer at the moment £99 would make a nice all round jacket for the money. SDM

 

[vizslamad]

Hi Simon,
I really hope you find a jacket that will suit your needs. For what it's worth these are a few of the jackets I have used over the years. Deerstalker Ram jacket ( leaked like a sieve after 1 year ) JHatijakt, cannot remember the type but did much the same as the Deerstalker, Shooter King ( very nicely put together jacket but again cannot remember the type. However the inner sleeves linings are very poorly designed and water just wicked up and drenched your shoulders. Not a coat to be used in any moderate rain that will last all day) SwedTeam Axton jacket
( will stand light rain all day but the zip configuration seems to be fairly poorly designed and I am in the process of sending one back after only 8 months because it just splits asunder when you Zip it up. This has had very light use only worn when hosting on a friends pheasant shoot and Quaffing port in. To be fair Bushwear seem to be offering very good service in resolving the issue) Riverswest Smock ( does exactly what it states and keeps you warm and dry, however any exertion and you sweat up) last but not least the good old Barber and has been stated at least you can get them repaired.
In conclusion the only brand I would ever consider buying another product from would be the Riverswest, just like Ronseal and does what's on the can. In my opinion the rest of them offered very poor value for money and My wife's cheap and cheerful Jack Pyke beats them all. In the last four years since she has had it she has been warm and dry, believe me if this was not the case I would be the first to know. My advise would be to save for a really renowned brand or just get a JP and forget all this mid priced stuff it really is not worth your hard earned cash.

 

[Thetownie]

Hello,

have a look at decathlon hunting range.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/waterproof-warm-500-parka-green-id_8367336.html

hope this helps

 

[Wyre Forester]

Hello,

have a look at decathlon hunting range.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/waterproof-warm-500-parka-green-id_8367336.html

hope this helps

i'm afraid i've found Decathlons waterproof stuff to be as sweaty as a big fat swaety thing.

its very simple, the only membrane you could put in a sub-£200 jacket is a cheap one, and cheap membranes are far less breathable than expensive ones. rather like Ridgeline, and others, fine for sitting on a high seat in February, absolutely awfull for walking the dog, or stalking, or indeed anything that involves moving a muscle...

 

[JTO]

http://www.freewebs.com/weariteclothing/jackets.htm
But no snob value!

 

[Long drag]

River West, will fill all your needs i have had 2 over the last 10 years and never looked back,

 

[SimpleSimon]

Thanks for the input folks. The Swazi looks good, but it's even more of a credit card punisher than the Nomad! I also quite like the Nomad's less skirt like appearance and binocular pocket. But if the product isn't as good then maybe neither is worth the outlay...
I visited a couple of shops today and saw little of interest, I might have to get myself to the shooting show or bigger game fair and see if I can find something, or at least see some variety.
Has anyone seen/used the Beretta Kodiak? Looks like it could be an option but I'm not keen to order without seeing it up close.

 

[Heym SR20]

For many years I have had a Ventile smock made by Snowsled - it's a russet brown colour and has been on many adventures and is an old friend. But its now 20+ years old, very shabby, been repaired many times and is moving into gracious retirement. Sadly Snowsled are no longer making clothing. I really liked that it had a zip that opened down to below your sternum so you can easily get to inside pockets or open to just allow more ventilation. I may well get somebody to add a couple of zips under the armpits to add extra ventilation.

I bought about three years two replacements, one a very similar smock from Bergans - the Bergans Morgedal, in Red and its great for use in the hills skiing etc. Recently used it on a driven shoot in Germany, but not a lot of use stalking. It breaths well and keeps the wind out. Not particularly warm per se, but that doesn't matter as warmth can from a down jacket or fleece - and often in winter when skiing I carry a down jacket and put this on when you stop.

For stalking I bought a Deerhunter bonded fleece smock - its bonded fleece so keeps everything out, but a bit like wearing a bin bag. If ****ing down with rain and cold I would rather wear my Musto. If its on the hill my old Snowsled,

But I have just spent £128 on a Bergans Morgedal in khaki - https://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/869-Bergans-Morgedal-Backcountry-Anorak-Dark-Khaki/ which should be good for all round use.

 

[SimpleSimon]

But I have just spent £128 on a Bergans Morgedal in khaki - https://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/869-Bergans-Morgedal-Backcountry-Anorak-Dark-Khaki/ which should be good for all round use.

That does look good, and cheap (comparatively!) my only concern would be that it's not waterproof. My Fjallraven jacket is mainly a type of cotton canvas, which I wax periodically, but it can't keep out heavy rain or the car wash effect you get when beating through kale after it's rained all night... Although if the whole thing was made of the cotton material I'd probably put up with it. It's the stretch panels I like least.

 

[Wyre Forester]

That does look good, and cheap (comparatively!) my only concern would be that it's not waterproof. My Fjallraven jacket is mainly a type of cotton canvas, which I wax periodically, but it can't keep out heavy rain or the car wash effect you get when beating through kale after it's rained all night... Although if the whole thing was made of the cotton material I'd probably put up with it. It's the stretch panels I like least.

i think the problem you're going to have, which a laws of physics thing, is that anything that is really, really waterproof isn't going to be very breathable.

you just have to decide for yourself whether your priorities are its ability to keep you dry in either endless driving rain on a hilltop or rummaging through wet undergrowth, or your ability to go for a hours walk without losing 15lb in sweat...

personally i now only rarely wear a full waterproof - for me its buffalo pertex and pile, paramo windproof, cotton windproof smock, primaloft insulating jacket and combinations thereof. i very rarely get wet, even after a full day in the mountains, and even then i'm warm, but what i don't get is sweaty, clammy and stinking.

 

[mike270]

I think you need at least 2 jackets - Deerhunter Montana in green for me for everything except beating - very versatile - you can even remove the waterproof liner and stitch it up if it snags - have not found anything to repel briars better than a wax cotton

 

[Heym SR20]

That does look good, and cheap (comparatively!) my only concern would be that it's not waterproof. My Fjallraven jacket is mainly a type of cotton canvas, which I wax periodically, but it can't keep out heavy rain or the car wash effect you get when beating through kale after it's rained all night... Although if the whole thing was made of the cotton material I'd probably put up with it. It's the stretch panels I like least.

those Fjallraven smocks are a) very expensive, b) not well made and c) they are a ploycotton mix. Friend has one and it's not good. Ventile is tightly woven cotton and works by the cotton fibres swelling and thus blocking the pores. Synthetics don't soak up moisture and swell, hence doesn't keep rain out. I use fjallraven trousers, but they do get wet but dry v quickly. Rather than waxing I do use nick wax waterproofer and it works somewhat.

with Ventile in the wet, I do like to have a fleece underneath as it just keeps the fabric - which is slightly damp away from the skin and it feels slightly cold.

 

[SimpleSimon]

i think the problem you're going to have, which a laws of physics thing, is that anything that is really, really waterproof isn't going to be very breathable.

you just have to decide for yourself whether your priorities are its ability to keep you dry in either endless driving rain on a hilltop or rummaging through wet undergrowth, or your ability to go for a hours walk without losing 15lb in sweat...

personally i now only rarely wear a full waterproof - for me its buffalo pertex and pile, paramo windproof, cotton windproof smock, primaloft insulating jacket and combinations thereof. i very rarely get wet, even after a full day in the mountains, and even then i'm warm, but what i don't get is sweaty, clammy and stinking.

You're right, of course. I formerly made a living selling (and regularly used) mountaineering clothing, and having used various membrane technologies I found most to be awful and some to be acceptable, but none to be fantastic! My favourite fabric would be Goretex Pro, best combination of reliable waterproofness and acceptable breathability that I found (and I trialled a lot!) However, once you laminate that membrane to a face fabric suitable for use in shooting/stalking/beating conditions it can only get worse!
But do I really need it to be fully waterproof in this context? That's an interesting question...

 

[JTO]

River West, will fill all your needs i have had 2 over the last 10 years and never looked back,

I'm on my second one, because the first one leaked like a sieve the first time I wore it in the rain. No quibbles about replacing it, even gave me two free hats.

 

[SimpleSimon]

those Fjallraven smocks are a) very expensive, b) not well made and c) they are a ploycotton mix. Friend has one and it's not good. Ventile is tightly woven cotton and works by the cotton fibres swelling and thus blocking the pores. Synthetics don't soak up moisture and swell, hence doesn't keep rain out. I use fjallraven trousers, but they do get wet but dry v quickly. Rather than waxing I do use nick wax waterproofer and it works somewhat.

with Ventile in the wet, I do like to have a fleece underneath as it just keeps the fabric - which is slightly damp away from the skin and it feels slightly cold.

I've always been happy with my Fjallraven stuff in terms of quality, they do various weights and types of their cotton/polycotton stuff though so maybe your friend's is a "lesser" one... Of course if I'm totally honest I used to have access to a good discount on Fjallraven which made the cost less important. I wouldn't buy the same jacket again, but I'd consider others from the range now that I know it's flaws.

I do like the look of that Bergans one though. How is it for windproofness?

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

I use a Rivers West Field Pro for beating...and I'm often on walkabout bringing in outlying hedges etc etc so I'm not hanging around....... and just about everything else shooting including all high seat work throughout the year - including the last 2 nights around the zero mark for 3 n half hours with plenty of layers on, I just layer accordingly. Big pockets and a decent hood this one (smaller on the Hill Pro)

I've found the drab olive(?) colour to be very neutral from deer and foxes point of view.... and I've had more than my share of jackets over the years but this has been the go-to for the last 3 years.

Waterproofing is good.... out all day on Mull after hinds in the rain with mate wearing a HillPro and we were leaving puddles at the end of it but still dry underneath.

Would I buy another... yep - and the Shooting Show is coming up.

Cheers

Fizz

 

[tozzybum]

I,l say it surprised no 1 else has on the marsh i use an ex army parka ,its ripstop fabric washable ,waterproof as much as anything can be and under £60.My mate has the goretex Army smock £30 from the war n peace show and swears by it.They,re cheap hardwearing and u dont cry so much if you barb wire fence them atb