Today my jacket and waistcoat combo came with the post.
My first impressions:
- Great cloth: soft, thick, tightly woven and a beautiful forest green colour.
- Well done and careful sewing.
- Great pockets. However, I will have zippers sewn into the upper ones, as the slanted openings may be a bit risky - the content can fall out and be lost.
- The waistcoat is generous cut, and there is room for a thick woolen sweater under it. Sadly, it is far too wide at the waist. The cut would fit a considerably fatter belly than mine - and I'm not as slim as I would prefer! I think I will take it to a modification taylor and have it sewn in two or three inches tighter.
- With the waistcoat zipped into the jacket, the fit of the combo isn't quite comfortable and the cloth on the left side of the breast wrinkles to somr extent. With the waistcoat free from the jacket, the combo is much more comfortable to wear and the jacket looks much better.
- I'm a bit suspicious about the quality of the zippers. The coat and waistcoat will surely survive them with years.
- There isn't any velcro or other plastic stuff in the jacket. Buttons and zipper make a safe combination. A great plus!
- The jacket fits good and looks great. However, it too is a bit wide at the waist and beneath. I would have preferred less bell cut. Supposedly a strap in the side seams about the height of the lower front pockets with buttons in the back to tighten the the waist would be an improvement.
- I tested the jacket during a fast two miles walk with the dog tonight in -8C and some wind. The jacket combo is warm and comfortable. Conferred with my Fjällräven and Didriksson parkas, it wentilated much better and I didn't get sweaty as I use to. This is rather important, as I will used cold days in the woods when I have som hours with hard trekking and others with just sitting with the camera or the binocular, waiting for birds and animals to appear. Wool beats any synthetic!
- Despite the critical remarks above, I think I'll be content with the jacket combo.
Last Thursday I ordered and payed the jacket combo. Making business with Gavin at Bushgearco.uk has been a pleasure. He was very helpful with my questions about measures other things.
Pete
