what jacket and why?

[rustybigend]

i have used lots of different jackets and all have they're advantages and disadvantages. for long distance i use a rab down jacket and for packing away, warmth and weight it ticks all the boxes.
i use an ex army parka for bushcraft. its bulky, heavy, as waterproof as a spongue and i wont win any beauty contest wearing it but its rugged and i use it as a sitmat next to the fire and i'm not too precious if it gets burnt by an ember. my question is 'what the intermediate option. the middle weight in the equation' i'm thinking buffalo shirt kind of?

 

[0000]

i have used lots of different jackets and all have they're advantages and disadvantages. for long distance i use a rab down jacket and for packing away, warmth and weight it ticks all the boxes.
i use an ex army parka for bushcraft. its bulky, heavy, as waterproof as a spongue and i wont win any beauty contest wearing it but its rugged and i use it as a sitmat next to the fire and i'm not too precious if it gets burnt by an ember. my question is 'what the intermediate option. the middle weight in the equation' i'm thinking buffalo shirt kind of?

I like the Ridgeline monsoon smocks.

Sent from my SM-A705FN using Tapatalk

 

[lostplanet]

I think your parka is spot on for an outer layer, Polycotton?. But if you are thinking warm midlayer under the parka when static, Look at woolpower merino or a similar product. The wool is a great light warmth layer (even when wet), microbacterial and very breathable, Zero itch. For the price I think, although not cheap, they are fantastic kit and my 200 zip neck is my go to for anything that might get a bit chilly.

Check out https://www.varusteleka.com/en/search/search?q=wool merino They do some great kit.

For a cheap midlayer too these work pretty well I have found, the new version of the norgie. So layer polyester T shirt, midlayer, parka,

Pardon our interruption...

Also if you want serious warmth but cheap trashable(rather than the Rab) and pretty lightweight look at these: They are big so in my case a large fits like an XL.

BIVVY Reversible Thermal Jacket + Bag, Water Resistant, Army Standards. #66307c | eBay

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[rustybigend]

my base layer is a polyester tech t by rab i wear a pendleton shirt and walker and hawkes waistcoat as my mid layers and a wool jumper over that at night. my parka goes ontop of that but it weighs ten tons i probably layer way too much but comfort is parsmount. i use my fire for utility purposes so i can be economical about the fuel used.

 

[lostplanet]

sounds like you have it sorted. what parka are you using?

 

[rustybigend]

its a big green army parka. one of the classic fleece lined ones mine has french flags on the shoulders.

 

[Billy-o]

How about an M65 without a liner, get it slightly oversize and take another lighter wool layer in your pack ... like a Swannie zip jacket or one of these https://www.gostwear.com/bill-plaid-wool-jacket-p-811.html?currency=CAD.

 

[Erbswurst]

Such a light jacket

https://www.helikon-tex.com/en_eur/bl-bdu-pr-bdu-shirt-polycotton-ripstop.html

over such a fleece jacket

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/300-hunting-fleece/_/R-p-10618?mc=8281238&c=BLACK

And additional over both a moisture permeable rain proof jacket if needed is in my experiance the best combination in most conditions.

You have here several options:

1 just BDU
2 just fleece
3 just rain jacket
4 BDU over fleece
5 rain jacket over BDU
6 rain jacket over fleece
7 rain jacket over fleece and BDU

That's quiet versatile and still pretty light.
And if you need to wash one piece you still have the others to wear.

 

[rustybigend]

i'm not complaining about my base/mid layers its the old parka that i'm having a winge about. i would like a thermal layer. i have a few options anyway. i'm considering the swanndri bush shirt.

 

[Erbswurst]

As long as you don't get whet wool is more comfortable than polyester fleece.
But polyester fleece will dry faster.

The Swanndri shirts are made like WW2 field jackets isn't it?
We successfully lost two world wars in them. But the winners had them too...

 

[rustybigend]

i have an army poncho for when the weather turns. wool is surprisingly hydrophobic. ok if it comes down hard you need to be ready.

 

[Erbswurst]

I used a similar wool shirt and military poncho for many years. That is a very good combination in Spring and Autumn, with woolen pullover under it also good in winter times.
We used to wear cotton T-shirt and cotton field shirt under it.

That works very well as long as you aren't above the tree line where a poncho is often no good idea.

 

[Suffolkrafter]

I don't know if it would tick your boxes but I've owned a fjallraven skogso padded jacket for a year now and I really rate it. Previously I had always used a down jacket plus shell.
The skogso is fairly water resistant when waxed, resistant to sparks from a fire and warm. It also has the best hood of any jacket I've previously owned.
The only downside is that it isn't remotely packable. So once if you take it out you really don't want to have to take it off. This makes it not best suited to long hikes and strenuous activity (unless it's very cold). But for pottering around a camp, keeping warm at night, and general wandering, it is wonderful.

 

[Billy-o]

I like the Greenland and the Montt that Fjallraven do ... but that Skogso (the unpadded one) has had my attention for some time, Suffolkrafter.

I usually like to wear soemthing light and technical, but there is always twigs and branches waiting to pull at you, and you can't beat Fjallraven for that.

Also, the Varusteleka Sarma Outdoors Jacket. I like that one too and do keep wondering about buying it. Seems toughter built than Fjallraven

 

[lostplanet]

Sounds like "the search for the perfect bushcraft smock/jacket/anorak". Ive yet to find mine but im pretty close, for my needs anyway.

 

[Suffolkrafter]

I usually like to wear soemthing light and technical, but there is always twigs and branches waiting to pull at you, and you can't beat Fjallraven for that.

Yes a cotton based jacket is certainly robust. However I think on balance I would choose a goretex shell over an uninsulated cotton based jacket such as the skogso (unpadded). A simple goretex shell packs smaller and is far more water proof. I've never actually torn a hole in a gortex jacket although I have once put spark holes in one - and so I would put the performance as a higher priority. This is just my personal opinion - I'm sure many would disagree.

The main reason I got the skogso padded jacket was I got bored of wearing a down jacket when pottering about and then having to stick a shell over the top when it started raining. For long hikes and mountains etc I take down jacket and shell. There are times I've taken the skogso out on a cold morning, got too hot and ended up having to carry it in my hand.

I fear I'm falling down another equipment rabbit hole. In short, it has its place and is a very effective and well made garment.

 

[John Fenna]

Home made - so it has the features and fit I want, plus performance I can guarantee!
Or ex military for price and the knowledge that I do not have to baby it.... I have 2 ex-military jackets but a lot more home made

 

[lostplanet]

Home made - so it has the features and fit I want, plus performance I can guarantee!
Or ex military for price and the knowledge that I do not have to baby it.... I have 2 ex-military jackets but a lot more home made

do you do your own sewing john? bartacks and alike?

 

[John Fenna]

Yup
I did an OND in Fashion Design in my thirties and have designed (as a Freelance for the likes of Craghoppers

 

[Tiley]

I have been using a Helikon Tex Pilgrim Anorak Jacket almost exclusively over the last twelve or so months. It is utterly brilliant. Normally, I do not like the over-the-head kind of tops but the deep zipper and ventilation possibilities offered by this have exorcised that prejudice. The fabric, a textured poly-cotton with a little bit of stretch, is superb: very hard wearing and copes well with the spits and crackles from a fire. It is sized sensibly so that you don't feel as though you're wearing a giant's skin when you're just in a shirt underneath it but there is room for layers when it gets chillier. As with most poly-cotton stuff, you can improve the water resistance with Greenland wax or whatever is your chosen preparation. Best of all, it's a reasonable price, compared with some of the better known brands favoured by the bushcraft community. It may not be the insulated garment of choice as I reckon layering gives you a far more versatile set-up but I have been incredibly impressed with it so far and recommend it on the strength of that.

As ever, I've no association with Helikon Tex but I am one seriously impressed customer!