What is/was the best waterproof jacket you have ever owned/own?

[Hammock Hamster]

My oilskin Drover's coat,................thanks to which I really love the rain now
Not for the faint hearted though, 3Kg dry & makes you look an extra from 'the man from Snowy River ' .....you get used to people smirking behind your back though..

I second that, my first choice every time for wet weather and as goatboy says its amazing what you can hide underneath it!

 

[widu13]

Arctis Dancam coat with matching trousers bought from Endicotts for £85 for the 2

I don't have a favourite- I've several got windproof smocks, ex mil gortex(s) for the price (I find the jackets go at the jointed seams) and my dancam. I like my dancam but it's not perfect. I'm just back from a 1.5 hr walk on the downs in the driving rain and I'm damp, the DWR has expired but it wasn't the drop liner failing- in fact it did a good job, it's just I find the damned thing so warm. It's just too warm for it at 12c. If ever a jacket needed pit zips this is it! DWR now renewed so looking forward to a new testing.

The wife has a drover's coat that I got her and she loves it for keeping her dry but she's very concious of what others think when she's wearing it!

 

[Limaed]

My Snowsled Classic smock; great for the woods and low level stuff had it 7 years and still going strong. Not found my perfect hill jacket yet...

Copper Head,

I'm thinking about buying a Classic Smock in the future, according to their sizing guide I could take either a small or med so i was wondering how yours came up size wise? I read somewhere their over-sized is that correct? Cheers

 

[copper_head]

Yeah they are on the big side, I can get mine on with several layers underneath and there's still room to spare.

 

[Dave]

For the hills, no matter what the season, I rely on my Klattermusen Allgron. In the woods, it's either my single Ventile jacket or its slightly heavier Ventile cousin. The first is a Bison number, the second a half-custom Empire Canvas Works jacket.

A ventile custom empire canvas works jacket? Sounds nice.

 

[mountainm]

Ok, assembled experts...given the above. This is what I want (or as near to it as possible)

Waterproof (sat all day in rain fishing)
Wired hood.
Breathable
Long (to cover my bum)
Subdued. (Prefer not cam, but not too fussed)
Good pockets suitable for lazy/cold hands
Light as possible
Hardwearing
Quick drying (ie not ventile)
Around £100 if possible

The Dutch army ones with Helly Hansen fleece look good? Ridgeline, monsoon or grizzly maybe?

Thanks

Mike

 

[Chiseller]

Ok, assembled experts...given the above. This is what I want (or as near to it as possible)

Waterproof (sat all day in rain fishing)
Wired hood.
Breathable
Long (to cover my bum)
Subdued. (Prefer not cam, but not too fussed)
Good pockets suitable for lazy/cold hands
Light as possible
Hardwearing
Quick drying (ie not ventile)
Around £100 if possible

The Dutch army ones with Helly Hansen fleece look good? Ridgeline, monsoon or grizzly maybe?

Thanks

Mike

Dont forget rivers west......ticks all the boxes.....just fifteen squid over budget .....

If Woden Wills It , then it will be so

 

[Man of Tanith]

I had a ridgeline.
Far too hot for anything bar sitting still....
Just a warning before you take a punt on it

 

[Teepee]

So far, my favourite "Waterproof" has been my Paramo Quito multi activity jacket.

Longer arms and back for my gorilla gait, exceptional ventilation and the ability to use it as a base/mid/top layer makes it a winner for me.

 

[Shewie]

The Dutch army ones with Helly Hansen fleece look good? Ridgeline, monsoon or grizzly maybe?

Thanks

Mike

I'd be tempted to look at the new Monsoon, it's got the added hand warmer pockets which the original Tahr etc didn't have. The only complaint I've heard about them is they get warm if you're very active, so for fishing it could be just the ticket. I have the Grizzly which is great for cold days but I've not tested it's waterproofness to any extent, a single layer waterproof fleece just doesn't compute for me.

 

[Ronnie]

Horses for courses - but a 66˚ North oilskin jacket will keep out a storm force 10, spindrift n all. Good in subzero with a boiler suit underneath:

 

[Uilleachan]

Horses for courses - but a 66˚ North oilskin jacket will keep out a storm force 10, spindrift n all. Good in subzero with a boiler suit underneath:

Thats the stuff Ronnie. A little up market for my tastes though. The cheap set from NE Farmers is good enough in my opinion, plus they come in green. When I was at the fishing I used guy cotton smock with bib and brace, that was as close we got to designer duds in my day, Yon were designed for the catwalk rather than the pier

I understand people consider pvc oil skins as sweaty stiff inferior etc preferring modern synthetics, but for HAVING TO BE (rather than wanting to be) out side in the wind and rain (sleet/snow), all day and perhaps all night, and perhaps all the next day too, plastic/pvc etc oil skins are unbeatable especially the more up market brands such as those shown above. If one doesn't think so, then one hasn't been there. Nothing else cuts it.

For me, the best "water proof" jacket jacket I've owned was the Hoggs farmer jacket, 100% water proof pvc outer with a full nylon liner.

 

[BlueTrain]

The best waterproof jacket that I've ever owned and used is a US Army jacket. It's not perfect, however, but it is the best as far as being watherproof goes. It's heavy and has awful pockets that close with velcro. The hood is nice and my son even found me a fur ruff that snaps onto the hood opening. I only wear it when it's freezing rain. Otherwise I prefer a poncho and (don't tell!) an umbrella for ordinary rain. I have others.

My most worn jacket is a Filson Field Jacket, which is waxed/oiled cotton like a Barbour. I wear it all winter long. It's best for what I call "raw weather," like they have in San Francisco in July. But otherwise, I wear an old Fjällräven jacket that I've had for 20 years. Still fits, too (mostly).

 

[tom32]

Berghaus Benvane, I brought it last Christmas and i can't get over how good it is compared to anything i have previously owned!

 

[Ronnie]

Thats the stuff Ronnie. A little up market for my tastes though. The cheap set from NE Farmers is good enough in my opinion, plus they come in green. When I was at the fishing I used guy cotton smock with bib and brace, that was as close we got to designer duds in my day, Yon were designed for the catwalk rather than the pier

I understand people consider pvc oil skins as sweaty stiff inferior etc preferring modern synthetics, but for HAVING TO BE (rather than wanting to be) out side in the wind and rain (sleet/snow), all day and perhaps all night, and perhaps all the next day too, plastic/pvc etc oil skins are unbeatable especially the more up market brands such as those shown above. If one doesn't think so, then one hasn't been there. Nothing else cuts it.

For me, the best "water proof" jacket jacket I've owned was the Hoggs farmer jacket, 100% water proof pvc outer with a full nylon liner.

Only 50 quid for the jacket so not that posh! Standard issue for West coast fisherman from Cape Wrath to Mull. Just don't go anywhere near the 66˚ North designer clothes - £50 for a t-shirt. it's no wonder the Icelandic economy went bust paying those prices!

http://www.66north.com/

 

[Uilleachan]

Only 50 quid for the jacket so not that posh! Standard issue for West coast fisherman from Cape Wrath to Mull. Just don't go anywhere near the 66˚ North designer clothes - £50 for a t-shirt. it's no wonder the Icelandic economy went bust paying those prices!

http://www.66north.com/

Someone needs to tell the kyle men

I'm over on lewis next week so I'll take a look when I visit the coop, and i'll check out the cut

 

[Johnnyboy1971]

Mine was a NomadUK smock, a bit like ventile. It came with a full zip around realtree face veil.
Unfortunatley I have outgrown it around the middle, it is fully waterproof and exceptionally lightweight but not the most breathable.

 

[Ronnie]

Someone needs to tell the kyle men

I'm over on lewis next week so I'll take a look when I visit the coop, and i'll check out the cut

Come to think of it I always bought mine in Mallaig

 

[Uilleachan]

Come to think of it I always bought mine in Mallaig

I was in Mallaig a couple of times last year, but the daughter is old enough to take the ferry herself these days so only made it as far as Armadale to drop her off, pick her up. Johnston's is a good chandler but Marine Stores in kyle is much less a chandler these days, most of the local guys here buy from the Stornoway Coop via a local rep.