Reply With QuoteBase layers, fleeces, tops, etc I use Montane. Same as you, I like to layer up instead of a big padded jacket.
For a lightweight over jacket I've got one of these and it's been superb.
https://www.thenorthface.co.uk/shop/...to-jacket-4ahm
The time is coming when decent outdoor gear will be required, I'm well overdue new gear, generally just for walking in the woods, ( I'm doing quite a bit lately whilst recovering my fitness after covid ), trousers and jacket needed, I'm sorted for boots at the moment.
I'd like something that I can wear generally but will suffice for the above as well, jacket wise, as long as it's rain and wind proof then there's no need for loads of padding etc, I'd much rather wear a sweatshirt etc underneath.
Who makes decent gear these days?
Base layers, fleeces, tops, etc I use Montane. Same as you, I like to layer up instead of a big padded jacket.
For a lightweight over jacket I've got one of these and it's been superb.
https://www.thenorthface.co.uk/shop/...to-jacket-4ahm
Which? have just published a test on outdoor brands and I’ve not actually heard of the top ranked Paramo:
https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/outd...d-aHyYU6i622mM
The table is far larger but here are the best (according to their tests):
Paramo are well known in the outdoor scene, I own several of there items, and it’s a toss up between a new paramo jacket or a Rab one when I going shopping tomorrow. Being a larger gent my options are limited, but after losing a bit of weight Rab is now an option which wasn’t six months ago.
Different materials act in different ways so I would suggest reading up on the materials and making a decision based on that, Paramo use Nikwax Analogy, then you have Goretex in several different types, eVent, and a whole plethora of other makes, a lot of manufacturers are now creating there own and some of these such as The North Face and Helly Hanson are worth considering.
Nice pair of Fjallraven trousers with a decent saving here, no affiliation with the shop.
https://www.nordicoutdoor.co.uk/fjal...rousers-short/
There is a set of XL Galvin Green waterproofs on SC, I have a similar set and can’t fault them. Very good price as well.
There are many decent makes and I’d go to Cotswolds Outdoor or similiar to try stuff on and see which fits and suits best. Everyone will have their favourites.
Re Paramo above they are very much marmite and I personally wouldn’t use their jackets but many would- have a look at the online reviews.
Rab, Mountain Equipment, Mountain Hardwear, Ffalraven, Montain etc etc. They are all good. At budget end Craghoppers are very good value for money.
I have lots of Craghoppers. Good value and they do the job brilliantly.
You can either waste a fortune on fancy brands or just buy an army surplus gore-tex jacket and trousers and sprey the hell out of it with Nikwax and wear warm clother underneath. Just dont get it snagged on anything.
Loads of jackets out there to choose from, re the trousers, you might like to consider Rohan Dry requisite, they look very 'normal' but are fully waterproof and have a "Barricade" lining which keeps them warm too, (perhaps a little too warm for summer use) but a one stop solution that doesn't require carrying overtrousers and struggling to put them on once you are already wet! DAMHIK! Cheers, John B4
I think the question is a bit expansive.
If you want warmth, wind proof, water proof etc you can’t compare brands as much as items.
An industrial use thermal high viz jacket from Dickies would outperform many outdoor brands if you won’t mind looking like your off to run a BT cable.
I’ve worn Rab stuff for years and love it, I dabbled with North Face and wouldn’t buy again.
Also for base layers, Finisterre make excellent quality stuff.
I work 40 hours per week outdoors in all weather conditions Finland has to offer. I’ve tried all kinds of stuff and the best base layers I have ever had come from Devold. A set will last about ten years in my use.
I have one Paramo Nikwax Analogy jacket. It’s really good until it starts raining. Anything more than a drizzle and my shirt will be wet in a couple of minutes. Pretty much useless. For waterproof I will choose Arc’teryx every day of the week. I have had plenty of their gear over the last fifteen years and I have no complaints. The perfect all round hard shell jacket would be the Beta AR in my opinion. Alpha AR if you wear a backpack more often than not.
I tend to default to Rab for every-day wear. I have some waterproof trousers and a few jackets and fleeces and they’re consistently very good. Their sizing is consistent too, so you can order online with confidence once you know your size.
I have a few Montane base and mid layers and they’re nice, but definitely made for slimmer folk then me.
Musto is another favourite for jackets, but not much else.
Craghoppers and Rohan have served me well over many years.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
I now use Decathlon’s cheap Solognac branded jacket and trousers for shooting and they are the best bang for buck I have found. (<£150 a pair)
Another maker I like is Jötnar, they are owned by a mate of a mate of a mate and are very good quality. Their hard shells are probably the best I have tried.
A more mainstream brand would be Craghoppers, I wore my CH hard shell and fleece liner throughout Uni and for sometime after in some pretty rough places such as the Canadian north. It never let me down.
Lastly I also have the generic Northface hard shell and it’s still going strong 10+ years later. Not sure modern quality is the same but the older stuff is good.
I have far too many bits of all weather kit, but I have spent lots of my life outdoors.
Last edited by Sinnlover; 27th October 2021 at 22:22.
There's always one Money Saving Expert. Not everyone wants to walk around their local woods looking like Walter Mitty.Originally Posted by xellos99
I've got a Paramo coat which I bought off their outlet store to save a few quid. I've been very pleased with it but it's very much a function first form second so doesn't look as stylish as some of the walking brands for town use. Currently for dog walking I bought a pair of Percussion shooting trousers. Windproof, waterproof (yet to be fully tested in a deluge) lots of pockets and easily pub standard wear
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I am starting my third winter using a ventile jacket (made by ebbelsen, the fabric is actually Duuton3, whihc is a ventile variant).
Ventile is a waterproof cotton (made waterproof by using very long fibres woven very tightly, rather than by waxing it)
This stuff is epic, much more breathable than the man-made fabrics, very waterproof and super strong (in terms of resisting tears and rips).
However, it is heavier than man-made waterproofs (albeit lighter than a waxed jacket, as it has no wax).
Apkit are always worth a look, especially when they're having a sale.
No hassle free returns are a bonus.
I've found recently though that their sizing doesn't always agree with me. I think it's ok if you're slim. I'm not slim, and have just sent a jacket back because it was too long and too narrow. Had a similar problem with a pair of running tights too.
For the use you are describing, I’d be looking at Rohan. Both jacket and trousers. Just don’t ever pay full price, as their marketing model appears to involve full price for about a month, then mid-season sale, rapidly followed by end of season sale!
All the other brands mentioned produce good gear. I’d add in Mountain Equipment too, although they tend to size a bit smaller than others. I’m a small in pretty much everything except ME, where I often need a medium.
Just to back up the Paramo opinions, I tend to get on well with it but it really is a bit of a love/hate thing with the outdoors community. I like it as I’ve found their jackets warmer than other waterproofs and I run very cold.
My next general purpose jacket is actually going to be made of Ventile. I’m eagerly awaiting its delivery, hopefully next week.
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Regarding the table further up, I would replace Jack Wolfskin with Berghaus. In my limited experience Berghaus make much better quality clothing for the price, especially their more premium goretex offerings.
The modern Walt wears black cargos and a slimfit black technical fleece AKA - SAS: Who Dares Wins..
Best stop wearing my 5.11 Apex cargos and a mountain equipment fleece then ?. I’m my day it was Desert wellies and flares with the porn tash that was fashionable around Hereford.
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I recently bought a second pair of Rohan Bags. The first pair hadn't worn out but were getting a little tight around the middle. Not bad considering I bought them in 1990.
Helly Hansen base layer
Mid layer - whatever you fancy
Montane for trousers
I have an Arcteryx pro Goretex jacket which is excellent but my sons Mountain Equipment pro Goretex jacket is 90% as well designed but 50% of the price.
Cold and dry - Buffalo mountain shirt or if really cold, Montane mountain extreme smock.
I swear by Paramo gear, got shirts, fleeces and jackets. Need proofing to maintain waterproof properties. My fleece is 22years old now. Still functioning fantastic.
https://youtu.be/6tu3phCtAc4
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There's a big difference between "walking in the woods" and amateur mountaineering.
If you are wading through bramble and tree branches, most of the "mountain" stuff like Paramo and Rab will be torn to sheds pretty quickly.
For shooting I wear Seeland, like this https://gb.seeland.com/en-gb/shop/hu...cket-100215404
But I dream of a Musto like this https://www.musto.com/en_GB/lightwei...000.00&start=1
Each season you sponge it down, and then dump most of this on it and let it dry. https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/1589343...300ml-15893437
For skiing, where I'm going to be minus 5C and times wet, I have a NorthFace jacket.
Last edited by The Doc; 30th October 2021 at 07:45.
Decathlon is your best best, they produce some own brand quality stuff.
Sprayway Gore-Tex jacket and Craghoppers pants. Boots are Scarpa Terra IIs.
Their solognac range is very good.
When walking in the lakes last year both berghaus and north face gear decided to
disintegrate so went in a place called Gaynors. There were so many different types of jackets from the above and looked and felt cheap and nasty, to be fair my jacket and boots I had for 5-6 years, but not cheap on the wallet.
So I have a bit of Jack wolfskin which had been alright so went to their shop and fully loaded up on boots,jacket and fleeces, I looked like a walking advertising board for them lol but it was an emergency and have performed perfectly fine. I know they aren't proper professional gear, but I wouldn't call Berghaus or North Face that any more, but I trust them more now.
Not all military surplus clothing is army camo, although army gear does seem to be the toughest. RAF waterproof jackets and trousers are plain in colour and almost civilian in appearance.
I wear RAF waterproof pants for wet weather working and at £25 they provide excellent value. NATO trouser sizing also offers a multitude of waist/leg length/seat options to ensure correct fit.
Workwear is another option. I have a Fristads goretex jacket which is tough and effective even in torrential rain and at £150 I don't mind if it gets muddy.
Walter Mitty? I'm not so sure, but certainly more dignified than out of condition middle aged men wearing unflattering, lightweight, high performance branded clothing.
In many ways you are totally correct. I think it depends on what is most important to the OP. Form or function. A good analogy imo is why are so many divers watches sold. There can't be that many scuba fanatics...or perhaps there might
For your use surplus gear is ideal. If you want to wear it out for a bit of a town stroll followed by lunch form may be more important. Similarly there are dog walks and dog walks. If I was hacking through bushes and brambles I certainly wouldn't risk labelled gear. One area where more designed stuff can be better is hoods. The one on my Paramo is excellent and even on wet and gusty days like today keeps me dry.
For the vast majority of people they will never fully test the gear so if you want to buy a waterproof coat just choose one that falls in your budget and you like the look of
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Just out of curiosity I had a quick look and there's some nice smart looking RAF surplus goretex jackets in blue for about 25 quid, looks totally innocuous, could be any brand but for the fact there isn't naff branding plastered all over it. Might treat myself. Thanks.
Though actually given a moments thought my old Lowe Alpine coats good for a few more years yet... maybe when I've the need though.
What does the TZer want to look like when tramping the wild woods is a question.
Last edited by Passenger; 31st October 2021 at 13:24.
I have a military surplus (possibly Royal Navy) Goretex "short coat" in green which I keep in reserve in the car. For me, it works as a smart overcoat, almost formal (I think it is a Officers coat) and entirely suitable for a leisurely walk in the park. The build quality is robust and I bought it in as new condition from a local outlet. Buying online is less certain with some stock patch repaired before sale.
In moderate weather an overcoat sheds water to the ground, missing the legs and so avoiding the need for waterproof trousers.
Most outdoor shops sell waterproof jackets, which are useless without waterproof trousers. Understandably, a jacket coupled with trousers allow a greater range of movement.
Ventile - I had one of these coats for about 20years. Mine was very versatile, comfortable and quiet until wet, when it became stiff and took an age to dry out, dripping water all over the floor until it did so.
I have just bought some Montane Super Terra trousers from Blacks for £76 (RRP £150) and some kick ass Haix Commander GTX A++ grade surplus German Army/police boots for £80 (RRP £200ish). I then have a Montane Prism Jacket for Autumn and a ultra warm/waterproof Craghoppers Pember jacket £100 (RRP £200) for Winter. I would recommend any of this 100%.
Are there any good online Army and Navy Suplus stores? The ones I’ve found seem to sell military ’style’ clothes, which to me sounds like cheap crap. Where is the good stuff sold?
My last 3 waterproofs have been Rab, Sprayway and Paramo. If I could only keep one it would be the Paramo. I wear a pair of berghaus gore-tex trousers with them, and they are the weak point, leaking regularly. The Paramo Pajaro is really odd as it seems to be wetting out in no time of the deluge starting, but the pump liner just pushes all the water away from you. I have never been wet in it yet. I wanted the matching trousers, but Paramo have stopped making them as they were reportedly too warm. The jacket has pit zips, arm zips and a 2-way zip up the front, so ventilation isn't a problem.
https://www.ebay.co.uk › str › gsar...
Web results
GS Army Surplus | eBay Stores
This is where I got my boots. They do clothing/gear too.
GS Army Surplus | eBay Stores
This is where I got my boots. They do clothing/gear too.
https://www.varusteleka.com/en
Amazing service, brutally honest in their description and really bad humour. All in all a great business.
Their stuff is supposed to be very good. I have heard nothing but good things.
If I didn’t have lots of kit already I would love to try it.
I have some of their own stuff, mainly merino wool kit. I’d summarize their kit by saying that they are lacking in finesse but make up for it in durability. Lots of military surplus from all over the world for sale too.
What a great site. I've found the perfect outdoor shirt. https://www.varusteleka.com/en/produ...-surplus/63138
I bought one of their own branded (Sarma) thick Merino hoodies a few week back (having lusted after a TAD gear Praetorian merino hoodie, and realised that £400+ for a hoodie wasn't even a funny joke).
It is excellent, and has been my most worn item since.
I recommend them (and their stupid descriptions - see French indecent shorts)
Fantastic trousers,
I’ve been on Dartmoor all weekend with a group from my SAR team, I think everybody had something from Rab, most people had something by Paramo and the other brand that was popular, partially as our team kit is made by them, although most of it wasn’t team kit is Keela.
Paramo Cascada trousers might be suitable? But they’re warm too. Lots of venting options though.
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Another vote for wacky Varusteleka
In the uk there is
MilitaryMart Ormskirk
https://beckettsstore.com/ Norwich
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Last edited by Yorkshiremadmick; 2nd November 2021 at 10:19.
UKMCPRO.co.uk
Got my Carinthia Defence 4 sleeping bag brand new from here. In a sale £124
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