Does anyone wear plus two's in the field? (Would you admit to it if you did?) Next question, how do you wear them? I guess the plus two means two inches below the kneee? Do the socks go over the top or under the buckle?
Hope someone here can help this Antipodean learn some of the finer points of the culture we lack!

Stu,

It seems everybody else is avoiding this! Breeks or Plus two's are still the "norm" on any form of driven day as is a shirt and tie depending on the weather and the Shoot/host in question. Even on a simple walked up day/rough shooting I would still expect to see most Guns wearing breeks.

I don't do any bird shooting, but I do wear breeks when I go stalking, depending upon the circumstance. As a rule of thumb, if I wear wellies/rubber boots, I will usually wear breeks unless the weather is really bad and then I will switch over to waterproof trousers.

I normally wear the breeks over the top of the socks although I think at least technically the other way is "correct". I am quite long in the leg and I have real difficulty buying breeks ooff the shelf which have aenough material around the knee, most to day are more akin to a riding breek rather than a traditional plus two or plus four.

Regards,


Pete

Hi Stu,

I have just taken to wearing breeks in the last 12 months, and think they are the best thing to shoot in. I wear them for both game shooting and stalking.

I wear a long sock folded downfrom above the knee with a garter to hold the sock up tied just below the knee. I then fasten the breeks just below the knee and below the garter, but over the top of the sock.

They allow more movement when shootng game than having your trousers tucked into your wellies which doesn't hamper your swing.

I don't have buckled breeks for stalking as they can dig into your knees when crawling over hard ground

Regards,
FB

In Austria (and very possibly in Bavaria?) it is not uncommon to see hunters still wear the traditional trousers (in German: "Bundkniehose") that end just under the knee - worn with long socks. Traditionally these trousers were made of leather (Lederhosen - in Bavaria :-), although I don't know if this is still the material of choice?? It is not uncommon to find this traditional garb combined with a tuft of long hair (preferably from the back of a chamois in winter hair) worn as a hat ornament - the socalled "Gamsbart" (i.e. chamois' beard). The trousers look somewhat different to what is used in the UK, narrower over the knee primarily.

Actually, the short (over the knee) trousers are quite common in alpinism as well. In summer it is nice to be able to wear them with your socks rolled down. That means that type of trousers are sometimes worn for mountain hunting even in countries not quite as traditional as Austria and Southern Germany.

- mike

I do, in fact I wear a pair of plus 2's most days. I had to retire early so most of my time is spent outside shooting or fishing or just being out with the dogs. If you are going to wear welliies or calf length boots to my mind there is nothing more comfortable and practicle. The shoot's that I go on there are more who do wear them than do not.

I wear a pair of long socks/stockings, call them what you will, with a pair of velcro "garters", this is just a length of velcro fastened around under the turnover of the sock as opposed to the more tradional elastic, this way there is not an ever present "squeeze" from the elastic being placed upon my leg, the idea being to prevent varicose veins and the like. The 2's are fastened below the knee with a buckle, on some pairs I have had the buckle removed and use velcro instead, makes it easier to get on and off and there is no "digging in" discomfort.

I should add that I am tucked away up in the Scottish Highlands and am by no means the odd man out, well not because of my plus 2's anyway

John

John,



I avoided using the terms "stockings" and "garters" to keep the sniggering in the ranks down...



Where abouts in the Highlands are you? I lease a bit of ground near Strachen just outside Banchory...



Regards



Pete

Hi Stu

Hope you hade a good Christmas.

I wear plus fours for formal pheasant and grouse shooting. Only a cad or a foreign Johnny would wear breeches!


Seriously, I prefer the freedom of movement one gets with a baggy pair of plus fours. I get mine from P & J Haggard of Aberfeldy in Perthshire. They are top quality tweed and very good quality IMO. They also make breeches and plus 2s.

You know your plus fours are baggy enough when you undo the buckles and they just about touch your ankles.

Apparently the "done" thing is to wear the top of the sock outside, not that anyone can see one way or the other.

Cheers

What the *&^%$#@! is the difference between "plus two's" and "plus four's"??



In my Danish past, I have heard about "plus fours", and when Stu talked about "plus two's", I thought it was just his Aussie upbringing playing havoc... Now I see, that my knowledge is sorely lacking and beg to be educated about the finer points of English gentry clothing...

- mike



P.S. and while we are at it "breeks" = "plus two's"?? This is getting confusing!



P.P.S. Do all these numbers have to do with how far below the knee the trousers reach???

According to a webpage for Spencer's Trousers:

Quote:

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What is the difference between plus twos and plus fours?


Plus fours are the more traditional garment which are fuller cut and fold over 4 inches below the knee, plus twos are the more modern equivalent and these give off a slimmer sillouette

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