Smock
- Thread starter pjm099
- Start date
caorach
Well-Known Member
Smocks with no front zip seem to have been a bit of a recent trend but what I will say is that it is worth considering if you actually need a 1/4 zip type smock for a good reason, it may be that you do have a good reason so what I'm saying may not be relevant to you. A full zip smock/coat has more flexibility especially when it comes to walking and ventilation and so you can generally be more comfortable and have more options. If you need a front pocket for binos then if you have a full zip and, hence, no front pocket then you can simply pull the zip down a bit, drop the binos down the inside of the coat, and pull the zip up a few inches. Problem solved and this is what I do if I have to crawl about especially on stony ground.
I'm a big fan of the army surplus windproof smocks (if you want to go up a level in quality and money then arktis do them as well: B110 Combat Smock ) as they are extremely versatile and because they aren't waterproof they are extremely breathable and so you are comfortable if you walk a bit. I've had all the "big money" breathable jackets and they always leave you damp on the inside from exertion and then you get uncomfortable and cold whereas the non-waterproof smocks are actually warmer. It seems like a contradiction but they work well. In very wet weather then I put a waterproof layer on under the smock and because the smock is so fast drying the waterproof layer can come off pretty soon after the rain stops but you keep all your pockets etc. on the smock. My advice is to get a simply smock with the minimum of features as this will dry faster, the ones with features are designed to look well in the shop rather than on the hill. This system does require a little bit of thought as you have to decide when to put the waterproof layer on, or take it off, but you will be much more comfortable and because the hard wearing smock protects the waterproof layer it doesn't need to be robust, or to have any pockets, so you can get something really lightweight that will fit in a pocket of the smock, or as I do you can go for something a bit more heavy duty.
This is the old DPM smock in action with a Sitka waterproof layer under it in typical Hebridean fishing weather:
The trousers are Harkila and they leak, I've never really solved "The Great Trouser Problem" and have gone back to non-waterproof quick drying trousers as with them you are dry in an hour once the rain stops but with things like the Harkila you are wet all day. The mil surplus trousers are good but I've recently spend 5 weeks fishing in the Arktis Combat Trousers ( C111 Combat Trousers ) and they are very comfortable and dry faster than anything else I've tried plus the trousers lasted the whole 5 weeks whereas normally I'd destroy a pair in a couple of weeks.
I'm a big fan of the army surplus windproof smocks (if you want to go up a level in quality and money then arktis do them as well: B110 Combat Smock ) as they are extremely versatile and because they aren't waterproof they are extremely breathable and so you are comfortable if you walk a bit. I've had all the "big money" breathable jackets and they always leave you damp on the inside from exertion and then you get uncomfortable and cold whereas the non-waterproof smocks are actually warmer. It seems like a contradiction but they work well. In very wet weather then I put a waterproof layer on under the smock and because the smock is so fast drying the waterproof layer can come off pretty soon after the rain stops but you keep all your pockets etc. on the smock. My advice is to get a simply smock with the minimum of features as this will dry faster, the ones with features are designed to look well in the shop rather than on the hill. This system does require a little bit of thought as you have to decide when to put the waterproof layer on, or take it off, but you will be much more comfortable and because the hard wearing smock protects the waterproof layer it doesn't need to be robust, or to have any pockets, so you can get something really lightweight that will fit in a pocket of the smock, or as I do you can go for something a bit more heavy duty.
This is the old DPM smock in action with a Sitka waterproof layer under it in typical Hebridean fishing weather:
The trousers are Harkila and they leak, I've never really solved "The Great Trouser Problem" and have gone back to non-waterproof quick drying trousers as with them you are dry in an hour once the rain stops but with things like the Harkila you are wet all day. The mil surplus trousers are good but I've recently spend 5 weeks fishing in the Arktis Combat Trousers ( C111 Combat Trousers ) and they are very comfortable and dry faster than anything else I've tried plus the trousers lasted the whole 5 weeks whereas normally I'd destroy a pair in a couple of weeks.
Tom102938
Well-Known Member
Hoggs of Fife.
Was out on Saturday up here in Scotland with rain all day and it kept me warm and dry. Its not thick either which i usually struggle with smocks as i get to hot. Fantastic bit of kit and a company I will be buying more from.
www.hoggs.co.uk
Was out on Saturday up here in Scotland with rain all day and it kept me warm and dry. Its not thick either which i usually struggle with smocks as i get to hot. Fantastic bit of kit and a company I will be buying more from.
Struther Trilaminate Long Smock by Field Pro | Hoggs of Fife
Struther Trilaminate Long Smock by Field Pro | Hoggs of Fife
tim@tcs
Well-Known Member
On Saturday it was grim, I wore my £20 decathlon coat which kept all but the rain around my collar out, simply because I won’t use the hood. At lunch I popped my Nomad coat on but the quad died due to being too wet! That meant that I sat in the barn clicking the shots on the counter as the last two drives were very close by. Maybe next week it wont rain so much.
Irishyorkie
Well-Known Member
I recently bought a swedteam titan smock for stalking in wet forests with christmas trees. I'm impressed and it's very hard wearing, has a big kangaroo pouch on the front, a radio pocket and and inner pocket.
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