• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

New winter jacket - wax or goretex

Lots of good infomation in these posts. As one contributor pointed out ski kit is fashion orientated but I'm not sure if the build is commensurate with standing/sitting around fishing. Still last season's kit can be bought cheaply. I appreciate that many people rave about Goretex and their clones, my experience is that Goretex is of no value if seams become untaped nor does the effectiveness of Goretex last forever. There have been contributors on here who have waxed lyrical about Forces kit and no doubt this is made to a higher spec than civvy kit and if you have access to this equipment you are very lucky. In my opinion, the Forces kit found in Surplus stores is of dubious quality and generally seen better days. Another contributor raved about Rab kit and at that price should be top notch - the problem I would have is getting a speck of mud on a £300 jacket. So I have come to the conclusion that the waxed stuff works for me. It doesn't have to be Barbour. It is the care which is crucial, making sure that there is a good wax layer rubbed in, (I'm sure that Paul Boote's Lady Guide would thoroughly endorse a good waxed layer rubbed into her Barbour, permission to speak sir, "I'd like to volunteeer..."). I've got a Mascott jacket and salopettes (padded) and they are tough, work extremely well, cheap as the proverbial and you're not paying for a fancy fashionable name. And look all the better for being caked in mud.
 
Thanks very much for the info (& distractions!) gents. I`ll take a look at some of the military stuff first hand & see what I think about how tough it is.
I know what you mean about not being on the slopes...
For some reason I find the camo stuff which makes you look like a painting of a tree just daft, so the cost/look of ex-army will be OK for me.
Has anyone out there ever WASHED a waxed jacket? - mine hasn`t had a wash ever, so that`s about 15 years - I expect it might ruin it irretrievably & the lack of slime & mud might cause it to disintegrate.
I`m sure that underwear is important & find mine Ok - might the lady guide have any personal recommendations?
 
As a result of a similar thread a few months ago, i bought a Dutch ex-army Goeretex coat. It is indeed rather tatty and well worn, although as far as i can tell, there are no bullet holes in it!:)

It came to me at around 30 quid and it's done a terrific job so far.
 
Julian Marshall said:
Thanks very much for the info (& distractions!) gents. I`ll take a look at some of the military stuff first hand & see what I think about how tough it is.
I know what you mean about not being on the slopes...
For some reason I find the camo stuff which makes you look like a painting of a tree just daft, so the cost/look of ex-army will be OK for me.
Has anyone out there ever WASHED a waxed jacket? - mine hasn`t had a wash ever, so that`s about 15 years - I expect it might ruin it irretrievably & the lack of slime & mud might cause it to disintegrate.
I`m sure that underwear is important & find mine Ok - might the lady guide have any personal recommendations?
Click to expand...

Sponge the wax jacket with warm soapy water, get the mud off. Allow to dry and then work in the wax in circular motions, Paul Boote can advise on technique. Follow the instructions on the tin and your old jacket will come up like new. If you have a mother in law force her to do it - that's what I did, took her a while though.
 
Adrian Williams said:
For those who are on a budget and don't want to look like an extra from dad's army could always visit the discount shops, on line or irl, and see what they have on offer.
Allot of this specialist outdoor gear is governed by fashion, you have to look the part on the hills and on the piste, and last years must have styles and colours are often found on the sale rail at a fraction of there original cost.

As well as the clothing aimed at walkers his will also include allot of gear aimed at snowboarders and skiers. This is warm, waterproof and breathable, TKmax always has a large range which is added to daily, you may need to make several visits before you find what you want but the savings will be worth it.

As a final point it is worth investing in a decent set of underwear, they will last you for several seasons and make a huge difference to your comfort on the bank.
Click to expand...


You have a point Adrian but the same could be said for any market. I find that the best manufacturers of outdoor clothing design functional items first and foremost though. There is however one important point to make, and it was one I was trying to get across in my first post - the outdoor clothing market is possibly the only driver in the production of new materials and it's these that push boundaries.
For example 3 companies are due in the autumn of 2011 to release new products said to be defying the limits of breathability set now - they are; Goretex - Active Shell; Polartec - Neoshell; Mountain Hardwear - DryQ. In no other markets do these companies supply their wares, that I am aware of anyway. Polartec in particular offer some pretty astounding fleece materials too.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jim Foxall said:
Sponge the wax jacket with warm soapy water, get the mud off. Allow to dry and then work in the wax in circular motions, Paul Boote can advise on technique. Follow the instructions on the tin and your old jacket will come up like new. If you have a mother in law force her to do it - that's what I did, took her a while though.
Click to expand...

A hair drier is a great tool for both getting an even coverage of wax and for applying it to the seems.
 
Jim Foxall said:
Sponge the wax jacket with warm soapy water, get the mud off. Allow to dry and then work in the wax in circular motions, Paul Boote can advise on technique. Follow the instructions on the tin and your old jacket will come up like new. If you have a mother in law force her to do it - that's what I did, took her a while though.
Click to expand...

As mentioned wash it down with warm water, then get the tin of wax and put it in a pan of boiling hot water. Once it melts to liquid get a paintbrush and paint the wax on. Takes about ten minutes and is a doddle. Then hang it up and get the hair dryer on it.

Then wear it in someone elses car to get the excess wax off....:D
 
John Glover said:
As mentioned wash it down with warm water, then get the tin of wax and put it in a pan of boiling hot water. Once it melts to liquid get a paintbrush and paint the wax on. Takes about ten minutes and is a doddle. Then hang it up and get the hair dryer on it.

Then wear it in someone elses car to get the excess wax off....:D
Click to expand...

Thanks, Damian and John, forgot the softening stage and the hairdrier is a must. Not sure if I told the old trout this, still kept her busy for ages.
 
Let me quell any rumours that I am minted Geoff, I am not. Having found a love of walking the Lakes a few years ago I now have a turnover of the types of clothing we are talking about. I have a Rab Vapour-Rise Smock that I use for work and along with the trousers I spoke off had many years use previous.
 
Damian Kimmins said:
You have a point Adrian but the same could be said for any market. I find that the best manufacturers of outdoor clothing design functional items first and foremost though. There is however one important point to make, and it was one I was trying to get across in my first post - the outdoor clothing market is possibly the only driver in the production of new materials and it's these that push boundaries.
For example 3 companies are due in the autumn of 2011 to release new products said to be defying the limits of breathability set now - they are; Goretex - Active Shell; Polartec - Neoshell; Mountain Hardwear - DryQ. In no other markets do these companies supply their wares, that I am aware of anyway. Polartec in particular offer some pretty astounding fleece materials too.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what your argument is Damien, all I'm saying is that if this years style and colour is financially beyond your reach you can often find end of season bargains heavily discounted.
I have to agree with you about the Polartec, I have a set of the base layer which has been keeping me warm for several years.
 
I was trying to say Adrian that most manufacturers design philosophy is driven by functionality, primarily, and because of that is a driver of new technology.
I have to say I think you will struggle to find the materials that most outdoor companies use in places like Tkmaxx

I would reckon on those you have being Powerstretch. I run a little hot on the hills but I have on occasion worn nothing on top other than a Powerstretch top, and when most have been wearing the obligatory Gore-tex, I have had some strange looks. They may still be sold, but I used to have a Sundridge Sleepskin and considered that cutting edge - getting wet lugging my gear down the banks and staying wet for the duration.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top