Jacket/smock for around the fire

[Jjessup]

A quick question for the collective encyclopedia of knowledge that is Bushcraft UK.

I'm after a jacket/smock that can do as many of the following as possible.

Hard wearing
Windproof
Preferably waterproof, but if it was cotton I've got a big bottle of Nikwax cotton proof to play with.
Not too heavy, so probably not wool.
Woodland colours or woodland/desert camo
Less than £100, (that rules out ventile I would think)
And most importantly, won't melt when it comes into contact with sparks as I chill out around the fire

I have a paramo smock, which is great but already has a spark hole in it. It's also my main hillwalking coat and de-smoking it each time is a bind.

I like the ridgeline pintail smock, but as it has synthetics in it was told by TBS it would not be spark friendly.

Any ideas, suggestions, recommendations or steer well clears would be great.

Thanks in advance.

John

 

[janso]

What about a normal surplus jacket or smock? Even a specialist version from arktis etc? If you're happy to nikwax it, you'll get a huge choice up to £100


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[janso]

If you're especially good on your searches, you may just find a ventile item under £100 within Europe


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[Inky]

I agree, an army surplus smock sounds just what you're after, huge choice on eBay etc. they cover all your criteria. Now that the army have changed camo patern you can pick up an unissued woodland dpm one for £20 or something.

 

[Angry Pirate]

As said above, go surplus. An older type cotton gaberdine sas smock is relatively light, proofs well and dries quickly.
You can pick them up on the bay for twenty quid. Careful not to get the newer smock as it's very heavy and takes forever to dry.
That said, I bought a paramo windproof recently for bushcraft use, mooching about the fire. Not sparkproof admittedly but less than half the weight and bulk of the sas smock and a great windproof/showerproof layer. If i do get spark holes in it then they are easily patched and I accept that compromise compared to the comfort/weight/performance of the paramo. Only 45 quid too.

 

[demographic]

Current issue MTP pattern windproof jacket is a nice bit of kit. Enough pockets and the fleecy lined handwarmer pockets are toasty.
Rain beads up nicely on it also but as I also own a Gore Tex version I've not needed to use the windproof one in heavy rain to find out how good it is when its chucking it down.

In fact, I'd go as far as to say that I think most current issue kit is a lot better than the older stuff. Seems that people actually fighting instead of standing about and taking courses causes whoever chooses these things to up their game a lot.

 

[Big Stu 12]

Have a look at two dogs see if he will make you one in Cotton....

 

[woof]

Or Bilmo p5 of this forum, I've been wearing one of his for over a year now, excellent value & no where near a £100 !.

Rob

 

[garethw]

I too have the latest MTP Windproof... it is a fantastic jacket. I've worn it once in heavy rain for a good two or three hours and once the water ceases to perle up it does wetout. But I stayed pretty dry inside considering.
I had similar conditions with my goretex jacket recently and as I was active I did get wet inside as the sweat wicked off my fleece top and wetted the inside of the jacket and the fleece. Evaporation wasn't fast enough and I felt a lot more clammy than in the windproof.
So I guess other than avoiding heavy rain I'd opt for the windproof in most circumstances as its breathabilty makes it more comfortable to wear.

The fleece pockets are a nice extra and one of the reasons I got this as opposed to the earlier version. But they are a bit far back to be comfortable and I find most of the time I stick my hands in the button down pockets instead.

One thing I've mentioned before, that I got off a US forum, is I added a few buttons so I can now button in my Alpha quilted liner. Combined with the windproof cotton it makes a warm winter jacket.
I was never a DPM camo fan, but I quite like the MTP... Strikeforce surplus has them new and are a really good price too at under 50 quid. Very impressed with their service th etwice I've used them.
regards
Gareth

 

[ozzy1977]

John mine is from titantex, made from cotton, made in the uk and less than £30, had mine for 10 years now and its still going strong.

 

[Countryman]

Look up Flektarn Parka on the bay of evil. Great quality. Despite the name it's just a smock.


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[Jjessup]

Thanks for all the input and advice people. Top quality as always. The main thing was confirming that the surplus smocks were cotton based, as they leave that info off in most webpages I looked at.

Needing an xxl my choices were a bit limited, (I blame the broad shoulders and manly chest ) but a long trawl though the bay of much evilness, has found me a couple of new 2005 dpm desert camo smocks. For either £25 or a bit less, (i'll know in 45 mins). I checked the flecktarn parka, but they were a bit more expensive. i also tried finding a titantex, but couldn't find a big enough one. The one I've found looks good, although may make me look a bit Perry McGee...

Thanks again for the help, it's saved me spending more money than I needed to. Which means more to spend on other things!

John

 

[pauljm116]

How about one of these http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/sas-kit-carry-sniper-smock---coyote-brown-4100-p.asp

It is a poly cotton mix but should be fine for around a fire. I got one a couple of weeks ago and its great. The issue multicam windproof smock is superb too.

 

[Jjessup]

My new smock arrived today, looks good and is a tough old bit of kit. Cheers for the advice guys. 😃

 

[mountainm]

These look decent
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-Cotto...rg=20140407115239&rk=2&rkt=20&sd=171258504069

 

[boney gumbo mcgee]

These look decent
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-Cotto...rg=20140407115239&rk=2&rkt=20&sd=171258504069

Thanks mountainm, I like the look of these, just added to my watch list.

 

[Buckshot]

My new smock arrived today, looks good and is a tough old bit of kit. Cheers for the advice guys. 

I've dyed a desert DPM taking it down the brightness scale by a couple of notches which IMO makes a huge difference

 

[Erik1]

Which colour did you use to tone down the DPM pattern?