Thread: What Jacket next?

Originally Posted by Dougie

Absolutely love my Bush Buck jacket, takes up half my pikau but it's long and waterproof and quiet still. Warm to a point but not too hot if wanting to walk with it still on. Pit zips do wonders.

I lived in that jacket when I was in Wellington.

Warm wise, that Bush Buck and my Mac PAC down hooded vest is unbeatable for cosey factor. It's New Zealand, layer up

Love my Bushbuck. Im a gear-queer and I've got too much hunting gear and softshells for everyday wear.
I havent used my Bushbuck in the pouring rain, but used it the other week the Cant. Foothills and was great.
I do have a NZDF Goretex jacket I "found" from an old army flatmate. Amazingly waterproof but need a insulation layer underneath.
I also have lighter weight wind layers too. I just love my jackets.

So my final set-up is a Stoney Creek Hybrid - Comfortable, looks well made, nice pockets etc. Have worn it on one trip so far and seemed to work well. I was a bit sweaty in it, but once it started raining and the temperature dropped I think I actually started to dry out, was plenty warm enough, so I'm happy so far.

To augment this jacket for really extreme conditions, I've purchased a Macpac E-vent Tempo jacket ($150 on clearance) to wear under the Hybrid, or in hot dry conditions maybe i'll just take the e-vent and leave the Hybrid at home, we'll see.

The E-vent jacket is super breathable and my mate raves about his. They're not that tough, but I don't think I'll be bush bashing in it, and most of the time It'll be under the Hybrid, which should protect it from wear.

Trying to learn to start off colder and not put too much on till it gets really cold to prevent sweat build up.

Cheers Campbell

Can't rate the mountain shirt, made by buffalo highly enough. Its basically a pile shirt with a shell. Super warm and wind resistant. Keeps you warm even when soaked and dries nice and quick. Just throw an el cheapo shell over the top if you feel the need, which creates a little oven with your body heat and dries it even quicker. Used extensively by military. Good bit of kit. Mountain Shirt - Buffalo

Looks cool mate.

Does the whole "waterproof and breathable" thing even really exist? I know a lot of people think it's a croc of shit and the few items I've tried sure trap the heat as well.

I have the XTR and its biggest issue is heat retention. Fuck me it's hot while moving even with just a singlet on under it and all heat dumps open.

Haven't had it for extended period in any real wet weather to rate it on that, just drizzle which it did fine in.

Issue with my XTR was exactly the same, massive heat build up, even with it completely open, front zipper and heat dumps. Then it got very wet from sweat, then it rained and the outer layer wetted out, it was windy and I just got chilled. I think fundamentally unless the breathability is wayyyyyyy beyond 20,000 it's probably a waste of time. I'm mostly disgusted with the prices, I saw a jacket for $1000 at Torpedo7 the other day. You would have to have more money than brains to buy something for that price. AND I bet its bugger all better than anything else, AND you'll still get salespeople giving ALL the usual excuses..."You didn't wash it!", "You washed it, but you washed it wrong." "You didn't use product X to wash it and product Y to recondition it." No matter what the issue is, it's always your fault.

Anyway rant over

Well, maybe i got a good one but i have a hunters element xtr jacket and i found its quite good. Dont wear it much as dont have the need but ive had it in pissing rain in murchison and it kept me nice and dry and warm. Winter just gone i hunted with it after some heavy snow. While in the bush the wind got up, sleet, cold as, then it started snowing hard out. Never considered coming out as the xtr jacket kept me nice and cosy and carried on hunting for the day in awful condiations. So its a past for me, and i did get it cheap so dont regret buying it.

just ordered a Core 4 Element Torrent jacket from ebay. $140 delivered. Packable 2 layer of breathable waterproof DWR. Will see how it goes.
Really after something I can take on the tops for warm weather but will protect me in the rain and wind if required.

Be interested to know what the quality is like, I had been looking at their vests. I reckon a Vest with exact same design, pockets, etc as my Stoney Creek Hybrid jacket would be sweet. Wish they'd make one.

Originally Posted by actstuntcam

Be interested to know what the quality is like, I had been looking at their vests. I reckon a Vest with exact same design, pockets, etc as my Stoney Creek Hybrid jacket would be sweet. Wish they'd make one.

Would be an odd vest. Fully seam sealed with waterproof fabric with no arms or hood?

Hybrid isn't fully seam sealed. Just on the sleeves (Which it wouldn't have as a vest) and it would still be good to have the DWR fabric to shed water. I was thinking of getting a cheap army surplus vest and treating it with Nik wax. The main thing is I really like the pockets on the hunting jackets, especially the chest pockets, and it would be awesome to have this feature on a vest. You could wear a vest like that over an E-vent jacket and be warm and comfortable and dry

I have abandoned the whole breathable quiet jacket myth and went and brought a techniflex jacket from CRT. It's made to work in day in and day out not look good. It doesn't pretend to be breathable but then the others aren't really either. My only complaint is that it's made to use with waterproof trousers so isn't quite long enough. I have shot deer wearing it so no dramas that it's dark blue not camo.

Originally Posted by MassiveAttack

I have abandoned the whole breathable quiet jacket myth and went and brought a techniflex jacket from CRT. It's made to work in day in and day out not look good. It doesn't pretend to be breathable but then the others aren't really either. My only complaint is that it's made to use with waterproof trousers so isn't quite long enough. I have shot deer wearing it so no dramas that it's dark blue not camo.

NICE

I like the kaiwaka ones over the techniflex they little bit longer & if you want it long they make them longer free of charge I think. I use a air mesh top over mine it keeps the noise away & breaks up the blue & they weigh bot 650grms don't hold any water dry in 5mins & weigh the same wet or dry

Have you got a link to the kaiwaka ones?

This is the info on techniflex, CRT sells them.

Betacraft Clothing - Shop - Techniflex Parka

I have a spare techniflex (wrong size) if anyone wants one. XXL, will sell cheap.