Best waterproof jacket?

[Sam&Maverick]

Ridgeline Pintail Smock, bloody hot though.

[EssGrouse]

Hi All,

Thanks for the advise, I have a couple high tech goretex stuff, fantastic for mountains but not very durable! Mine has more repair tape on it than gore tex now..

Essgrouse - interested to hear why the seeland was crap?

RM

I bought the Seeland Lingfield Jacket and Pants, light weight summer outfit, more for light showers, could even handle light showers and then the seams split in a few places, including inside the pants pockets.

I've had the Seeland keeper gear which was supposed to be a bit more durable, i sent the first set of pants back and got another which in turn split in the crutch and inside the pockets, seems its very common too so its not just me.....for the price of it you would think its pretty ok gear.....it isnt.

[EssGrouse]

Also had the Ridgeline stuff, bought the Euro Suit, crap again, pants leak at the knee's and the coat gets way to heavy and the pockets are stitched crap.

[Judy]

Is that when you kneel on the ground, Liam? No breathable waterproof is fully waterproof if you kneel or sit on it, the increased pressure forces water through the pores.

[EssGrouse]

Yes when i kneel......my mistake then but still the berghouse £8 pants or however your spell it dont do it lol

[PERCE]

Seeland gear is utter crap, it isn't waterproof & the seams split, I'd 100% agree with Liam on this. The last stuff I had from Norris went back after 4 months for refund, I'll buy no more.
I've a Ridgeline coat that I usually only wear in winter when roost shooting, it's not breathable & far too hot to beat or pick up in. I did use this Saturday though as I was that wet at lunch time I had to use my reserve coat. Saturday afternoon was very very wet, I'd have seen less water sat in an electric shower, the Ridgeline leaked at the shoulders & I rung 1/2 a bucket of water out of it. The Pinewood grouse trousers I had on kept me dry despite either kneeling down or sitting on my game bag during 2 drives.
I've not had any very expensive Harkila gear but what I've had has been good, both coats & trousers with goretex, hard wearing gear.
I've a Fjallraven Brenner suit which is it's 4th season that's been very good but as it's waxed cotton I can't seem to get it waterproof any more at home, I'm looking for a professional service to wax treat it.
Dario that's been undercutting everyone on the Dioto boots has a new line of Swedish Goretex available, it's popular on the moor this season

[EssGrouse]

Ive been looking at Pinewood and the new percussion range which is cheaper than seeland but went and looked round the stall at Galloway at the weekend and the gear actually looks and feels decent.

[PERCE]

I bought a fleece & 2 pairs of trousers in sales early this year. The fleece I've worn a fair bit, it's been washed a few times & has kept shape & not gone pilly. Trousers I've worn are very light weight but have kept dry on a couple of rough grouse days & are windproof, they're a bit like waterproof tracksuit bottoms.

[Judy]

That brings an interesting image to mind...

I've found Musto gear expensive but reliable and long lasting but then I have a pair of secondhand Seeland Trousers which have lasted me for years apart from the crotch splitting which didn't surprise me as they are a size smaller than I would normally buy. A quick stitch up and they're fine. Maybe I'm just lucky!
I've had one or two cheaper coats but found them a waste of time and money an Aigle I bought was a complete disaster, wasted £150 on that. Stuff has to be breathable for me otherwise I get too hot walking then too cold standing at the start of the next drive. My two Musto Highland coats lasted me for donkey's years, bought both in end of season sales on ebay for around half price - well worth looking out for. They have a tough water repellant outer then two layers of goretex so even if you play in the brambles and hawthorns like me they tend not to leak as the holes never line up.

[EssGrouse]

I bought a fleece & 2 pairs of trousers in sales early this year. The fleece I've worn a fair bit, it's been washed a few times & has kept shape & not gone pilly. Trousers I've worn are very light weight but have kept dry on a couple of rough grouse days & are windproof, they're a bit like waterproof tracksuit bottoms.

Pinewood or Percussion?