A good winter jacket!

[Martin]

owing to my intense dislike of the whole "retail experience", I have limited myself to buying a Lavenir "Barbour Copy" every few years - along the way I've gained all sorts of different types, but none seem "perfect".......What I'd like is a relatively lightweight but warm jacket that is totally waterproof, that doesn't end up "clammy", preferably with some sort of rough weather hood built in - I'd like "fabric" rather than "nylon", especially as being a smoker, I'd prefer it to not go into holes at the tiniest spark, and be tough enough for barging through the woods with the dogs! - oh, and preferably not over £50! - and last of all, it mustn't "rustle"
Any bright ideas?, have I missed new technologies, does Goretex really require a mortgage?

[2steps]

I have an ex army knee length coat I got on ebay for £25 warm in the winter and the lining comes out to make a very lightweight summer coat

[Shirley]

ohh martin... I HATE coats that rustle!!!! I want a new winter coat myself... not worried about the smoking holes bit... but would prefer natural materials... want it to cope with rain, snow and mud and still look clean-ish!

[Martin]

and it mustn't have that "pungently oily" pong of waxed jackets!

[Stonehead]

You'll have to find someone to give you a good jacket as a present! I've found there are plenty of cheap and cheerful jackets, plenty of expensive but useless jackets, and lots of so-so jackets that cost just a little too much.

So far, the only jacket I've found that fits the bill is a Fieldcoat SL from Kammo - but the price is high. However, mine was a gift so every time I wear it, I'm bloody grateful!

I've had it for several years now and its weatherproofing is only just starting to go (and can be refreshed). It's very warm.

It's tough - I carry pliers, staples, scythe stones, knives and more in the huge pockets and none have given way. You can push through hawthorn and brambles without it ripping.

It doesn't rustle and the studs don't pop when you're taking ammo out of the pockets while going after rabbits, pigeons and the like.

I don't have a hood with mine, but there is one as an option. It even has a detachable "bum" flap to either sit on or use as a rifle rest.

I hope this doesn't sound like I'm getting paid for it, but I love mine. Best jacket I've ever had.

They are expensive though and I couldn't afford one, but I also have to admit they are worth every penny if you can get one.

[circlecross]

can you not look at ebay? That way you are re-using, and you can get a barbour which may have had someof the pong worn outof it, which seems to be the type of thing you are after. I'll swap you a barbour for a wind turbine...
Susan

[Stonehead]

can you not look at ebay? That way you are re-using, and you can get a barbour which may have had someof the pong worn outof it, which seems to be the type of thing you are after. I'll swap you a barbour for a wind turbine...
Susan

I was thinking the same thing about the Kammo jacket - but the only people with them on ebay have them at the same price as they are new from the manufacturer. Daft!

[Millymollymandy]

I have the perfect jacket bought from a sports store in France, and funnily enough on Googling it, the manufacturer is Scottish! (Keela).

Can't find my exact jacket although it is still sold in France - it's for horse riding, although I bought it for bird watching, because it is khaki coloured and DOESN'T RUSTLE!!! It has a winter inner jacket and outer waterproof jacket; each can be worn separately.

I only recently found out it is completely waterproof after constantly getting drenched in my pseudo waterproof cheapo nylon jacket I didn't even realise I had a fully waterproof jacket!!! It sat in the cupboard for years before I even wore it!!!

Anyway now I wear it in the garden and for horse riding. It gets filthy but the dirt doesn't show too much.

Glad I bought it back in the days when the OH earned a decent salary though!

[den_the_cat]

I know its hard to do on a budget but sometimes its worth spending money on something which will last you for years - coats, decent rucksacks, good walking boots and wellies you can wear in the snow without freezing are all worth the investment - I've had one pair of walking boots for 15 years and though I wear them a lot less now than I used to they still come out every winter. They were expensive when I got them but they've probably averaged about 2p a wear plus I haven't spent money on plasters for blisters!

if you're a woman check out the large child sizes - up to size 5 feet (normally generous) and up to about size 12 are normally available in kids sizes for no VAT :)

[Millymollymandy]

Wow! One of the benefits of obese Britain!