ANOTHER request for advice on jackets please?

[Lemoneyewash]

I know this has almost been done to death :roll: but thought you are the peeps who'd know...
Been looking for a jacket for some weeks, needs to be pretty 'bombproof' as it'll be used year round on days hillwalking, gundog working/training in the wilds, beating on the shoot, the odd woodland excursion to cut sticks etc. Got the old Barbour and but I sweat like a pig in it (!) and I want something very breathable but not a £250 job.
I've been looking at the SASS SAS Smock (with seperate G'tex liner£135'ish), Arktis Waterproof (Fixed liner - not keen £150 - 185'ish) or Windproof (buy seperate liner from SASS? £130'ish) or...an M65 with that liner again (£75'ish).
Are the SASS/Arktis worth the extra over the M65? Just how 'showerproof' are they in practice? Are the M65's heavy compared to the other 2? Any recommendations or advice please chaps?

 

[Gary]

M65 (£75?) take a look at my site you might be surprised.

But thats by the by for all the things your prescribing I would say dont think type think Material - for beating ect where your pushing through brairs and gorse and brambles ect the rip stop of Arctic would be better than the cotton of SASS however 65/45 polycotton would be better yet (its the same mix as army lightweight trousers) - but the price of both would mean M65 is better still.

However M65 needs to be treated to be waterproof. But if I read your entry your thinking waterproof liner for the other two anyway.

M65 is probably heavier than the other two - remove the liner and it'll be light enough.

For storage space both the others are better - sass will even add pockets to your spec.

One last thought you could buy 2 M65 for the price of one of the others.

Another material you never mentioned was Ventile - very costly but tough as old boots and long lasting single skin isnt waterproof contry to what some people would say so if you want waterproof you need a double layer and that is serious pennies but you'll likely get a jacket that lasts a far old while..

So theres your choices - rip stop, cotton gaberdine, 65/45 poly/cotton or ventile.

Hope that helped.

 

[Adi007]

If storage is a priority then the Arktis Sniper Smock is hard to beat! I don't even know how many pockets are on mine! I's not waterproof (I have treated it and it's pretty goos though) and dries fast. The ripstop polycotton mix is also excellent!

 

[Lemoneyewash]

It has, thanks very much!