Waxed jackets
- Thread starter Tengu
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Come along to the amazing Summer Moot (21st July - 2nd August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
They are stylish, won't rip on a small spikey bush, are quiet, won't melt, can be picked up cheap at carboot sales and are stylish. To my mind, they suit bushwhacking better than goretex if you are doing the rough stuff and open fires, but no doubt people will disagree.
Did I mention they were stylish?
Did I mention they were stylish?
Well I love mine 
It's bombproof.
It's spark proof.
It keeps the wind and rain out.
It's lined with wool not cotton and it's warm.
It's easily re-proofed ( once in five years hard wear)
It's a good blend-inable colour, too.
It has big, load carrying pockets.
Mine only smells of pine trees, bog myrtle and fire smoke.
and it cost me all of £11.....the most expensive bits were the blasted studs.
I can source wax fabric in four different colours just now for less than £4 a metre at 54" wide. I'll post a link if folks want it.
cheers,
Toddy
It's bombproof.
It's spark proof.
It keeps the wind and rain out.
It's lined with wool not cotton and it's warm.
It's easily re-proofed ( once in five years hard wear)
It's a good blend-inable colour, too.
It has big, load carrying pockets.
Mine only smells of pine trees, bog myrtle and fire smoke.
and it cost me all of £11.....the most expensive bits were the blasted studs.
I can source wax fabric in four different colours just now for less than £4 a metre at 54" wide. I'll post a link if folks want it.
cheers,
Toddy
They are cold, so wear a woollen mid layer.
They are waterproof if you reproof them when they need it.
They are tough as hell.
They'll survive twigs and thorns and scuffs that'll leave your £200 goretex jacket about as waterproof as a paper doillie.
They are heavy bulky and not particularly breathable.
If I'm heading out and it's lashing it down then I'll take my waxed jacket. It's not the sort of thing I'd want to lug around in case it rains, I have a ventile jacket for that.
They are waterproof if you reproof them when they need it.
They are tough as hell.
They'll survive twigs and thorns and scuffs that'll leave your £200 goretex jacket about as waterproof as a paper doillie.
They are heavy bulky and not particularly breathable.
If I'm heading out and it's lashing it down then I'll take my waxed jacket. It's not the sort of thing I'd want to lug around in case it rains, I have a ventile jacket for that.
Well I love mine
It's bombproof.
It's spark proof.
It keeps the wind and rain out.
It's lined with wool not cotton and it's warm.
It's easily re-proofed ( once in five years hard wear)
It's a good blend-inable colour, too.
It has big, load carrying pockets.
Mine only smells of pine trees, bog myrtle and fire smoke.
and it cost me all of £11.....the most expensive bits were the blasted studs.
I can source wax fabric in four different colours just now for less than £4 a metre at 54" wide. I'll post a link if folks want it.
cheers,
Toddy
Please do post the link.
I had a few and I'm not sure how quiet they are....waterproofness (?) depends on quantity of greasy wax in my experience....and if you're active there's a fair build-up of condensation as well as sweat. Better off with ventile IMHO (notwithstanding the cost) with a military 2nd goretex over the top when it's hissing down....
My Barbour is waterproof, warm, wind proof, highly 'unreflective'. I like the smell too.. I like it alot!
Discount Fabrics also known as Fabric Bazaar.
171-177 London Rd
Glasgow, G1 5BX
0141 552 5085
I was in today and they have the wax fabric as well as beautiful, lightly felted, pure wool check in soft tan/ green and red. Both about £4 a metre and they will post if you can't visit the shop. They have the wool in a plain deep green colour too.
They also have OD ripstop (I think it was £3 a metre) lightweight green waterproof fabric and goretex (last time I asked it was £5)
Linen is pale blue, white or black just now.
Usual disclaimer. No connection just a very happy customer. If you mention bushcraft though they'll know who you've been speaking to, and will know the fabrics I mentioned.
atb,
Toddy
171-177 London Rd
Glasgow, G1 5BX
0141 552 5085
I was in today and they have the wax fabric as well as beautiful, lightly felted, pure wool check in soft tan/ green and red. Both about £4 a metre and they will post if you can't visit the shop. They have the wool in a plain deep green colour too.
They also have OD ripstop (I think it was £3 a metre) lightweight green waterproof fabric and goretex (last time I asked it was £5)
Linen is pale blue, white or black just now.
Usual disclaimer. No connection just a very happy customer. If you mention bushcraft though they'll know who you've been speaking to, and will know the fabrics I mentioned.
atb,
Toddy
Well I love mine
It's bombproof.
It's spark proof.
It keeps the wind and rain out.
It's lined with wool not cotton and it's warm.
It's easily re-proofed ( once in five years hard wear)
It's a good blend-inable colour, too.
It has big, load carrying pockets.
cheers,
Toddy
I'll go with this.
And this.
I have had my Barbour Border jacket for about 10 years now, its been use for one hell of a lot of forestry work, general wear and its still as good as new, I reproof it every other year and it has never leaked.
I give good quality waxed cotton 12/10. love it !!
I have a Barbour Northumbria and would recomend them every time. Have had it for five years now have worn it more than any outher jacket and i am only now having to reproof it. I dont know if they still do it but I took my brother in laws Beaufort jacket to the Barbour stand at the CLA game fair about 12 years ago when it was near Musslebourough they reproofed it, put leather around the frayed cuffs and carried out a repair to a tear and all was done for free.
The only good thing I remember form the one that I used to own was that it allowed me to climb over barberd wire fences without ripping my genitals off! (I threw it onto the fence)
Otherwise I think they are just a nostalgic image of British country wear
Otherwise I think they are just a nostalgic image of British country wear
I have a Barbour Northumbria and a Driz-a-bone stockman coat. The barbour is great, now that it has had the mandatory 7yr running-in period. The stockman coat is too long to have any real practical application other than riding (the idea being it covers your legs, to which it is attached.)
The Barbour smells at first and Tengu is right bout the yuppy image (though once it is truly beaten up that goes).
Good points:
Tough as boots.
Worse you treat it the better it looks.
Wool lined are warm, optional "fur" lining too warm.
Massive pockets and removable/washable poachers pockets (Northumbria)
Self repairable and reproofable (try that with your goretex!)
Seems to be acceptable wear in a variety of environments.
Comparitively cheap (see e-bay)
Mine is going strong despite utter abuse, but they aren't to everyone's taste (or smell!)
The Barbour smells at first and Tengu is right bout the yuppy image (though once it is truly beaten up that goes).
Good points:
Tough as boots.
Worse you treat it the better it looks.
Wool lined are warm, optional "fur" lining too warm.
Massive pockets and removable/washable poachers pockets (Northumbria)
Self repairable and reproofable (try that with your goretex!)
Seems to be acceptable wear in a variety of environments.
Comparitively cheap (see e-bay)
Mine is going strong despite utter abuse, but they aren't to everyone's taste (or smell!)
I use a waxed sleevless jacket;
windproof but not too hot when working
showerproof
spark/'ember' proof
thorn proof
You can sit on it and stay dry but not be worried about it getting holed.
I can carry grubby stuff around and the muck just wipes off (if I could be bothered)
Good pockets for 'stuff'
Cheap as chips in any farmers co-op
great for shooting
If I get pi55ed and leave in a pub it doesn't really matter !
Nobody is going to want to steal it.
windproof but not too hot when working
showerproof
spark/'ember' proof
thorn proof
You can sit on it and stay dry but not be worried about it getting holed.
I can carry grubby stuff around and the muck just wipes off (if I could be bothered)
Good pockets for 'stuff'
Cheap as chips in any farmers co-op
great for shooting
If I get pi55ed and leave in a pub it doesn't really matter !
Nobody is going to want to steal it.
When I worked in the countryside I lived in one, it cost me £20, it's 16 years old now.
You need to have baler twine and fencing staples in the pockets, mine has the addition of an old sock sewn into the lining as a flask pocket for those ad hoc tea stops ;-)
Marvellous for battling through overgrown hedges in need of laying and other abuse that would instantly destroy anything vaguely expensive.
Scoops
You need to have baler twine and fencing staples in the pockets, mine has the addition of an old sock sewn into the lining as a flask pocket for those ad hoc tea stops ;-)
Marvellous for battling through overgrown hedges in need of laying and other abuse that would instantly destroy anything vaguely expensive.
Scoops
A few sheepnuts or some beetflakes always find thier way in too. The sock idea made me spit my tea out
ATB
Ogri the trog
Horrid things IMO. But as others have mentioned they are great for working in conditions that would rip a GoreTex type jacket to shreds. Only problem is if you are working hard in one you'll overheat and sweat like a pig.
They're cheap (if you don't get a designer brand that is) and should last for a long time. When they are torn and battered they make you look like the Lord of the Manor if you carry a shotgun and talk posh.
They're cheap (if you don't get a designer brand that is) and should last for a long time. When they are torn and battered they make you look like the Lord of the Manor if you carry a shotgun and talk posh.
Mine is a Backhouse from New Zealand, and by god did it stink when it was new 
. I hung it up outside for a fortnight in all weathers and set it in the smoke from bonfires. Five years on it's still a bit niffy (or that might be me?). Good, solid bit of kit though.
. I hung it up outside for a fortnight in all weathers and set it in the smoke from bonfires. Five years on it's still a bit niffy (or that might be me?). Good, solid bit of kit though.
I have a Barbour "Cowen Commando" jacket and it's my bushcrafting jacket of choice and is yet to be beat !! Love it to bits.
The Cowen Commando Jacket has been developed from an original wartime design customised by Barbour on behalf of one if its favourite British Army customers. The original was returned many times to Barbours Customer Services department for re-waxing, adaptations and numerous pocket additions, and saw service in the Falklands and the Gulf before being retired to the Barbour archives. It was then that its potential was spotted. In medium weight wax cotton, with re-enforced shoulder pads and many pockets this contemporary wax jacket is finished with the ultimate badge of pride, the Union Jack.
The Cowen Commando Jacket has been developed from an original wartime design customised by Barbour on behalf of one if its favourite British Army customers. The original was returned many times to Barbours Customer Services department for re-waxing, adaptations and numerous pocket additions, and saw service in the Falklands and the Gulf before being retired to the Barbour archives. It was then that its potential was spotted. In medium weight wax cotton, with re-enforced shoulder pads and many pockets this contemporary wax jacket is finished with the ultimate badge of pride, the Union Jack.
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