Pete, I had a good laugh when I saw "sasskit" as the brand of the copy. Not to be too fine about it, in Swedish, skit means shit.



I guess the original is made by Arktis?

http://www.arktisltd.co.uk/military/outer_jackets.htm



Look in particular on the "1015 : Waterproof Smock":







The one in the lower left corner on the website is the Swedish Army cammo, I have one of those smocks and it is really great - windproof, waterproof, and much more silent than original GoreTex. WIth a fleece or two under it, I have not tried any better hunting jacket in rainy or windy conditions.



Regards,

Martin

Next time my Kids perform a skit (short play) at school I'll have to tell them to cut that shit out!...... .....DJ

I wonder if our German friends are "Anxious" to wear Sasskit........ ....DJ

kokdyer,

There are two different sorts of wax jacket. The older generation tended to be hard and stiff because of the type of wax used. This sounds like the problem with your Filson ???

These days most jacket makers use a "softer" wax..there is a name for it, but I can't for the life of me remember it..its almost as if there is an oil in it or something.

Barbour are not the only ones using this (at least in the UK) and it results in a much more comfortable jacket.

I do feel that you pay for the name with Barbour and there are other wax jackets out there just as good and at a more realistic price.However Barbour do have a reputation for good after sales service with regards repairs ect.

I have a jacket by John Partridge and a gelert (sp?) by Duck Dri and both have served me really well. I don't use them for stalking however as they would be too noisy for me...

Regards,

Pete

I think your right. There is a bit of name involved in Barbours prices. E310 for a Bedale in the big Spanish department stores.

The pound is killing the doller right now so I won't be doing any mail order form the UK until things get back to normal.

The American Filson is also made of 14 or 16 oz cotton duck. So it's tough stuff to begin with. Waxing it makes it pretty damn awnry!

Hey "folks"
My old loden jacket is worn out (after nearly 15 years) and so i�m thinking of get me a new Jacket.
Although i have to say, that i actually don�t won�t to buy me loden again, because compared to the new microsuede and microfibre clothing it might has some big negative aspects, like when it�s get wet or if u have to clean them (normaly only hand wash )but i saw, that LAKSEN do have TWEED Clothings ( Jackets and Breeches, http://laksen.dk/uk/detail_list.asp?katagori=Tweed ) which are mashine washable, come with a goretex membrane, are teflon impragnated and do have some nice little details. I know that tweed is the famoust fibre that scottish highland stalkers wear and prefer and maybe swear on. Guess they know why, or just a bit old fashion and tradition ?What do u think of Tweed?
Is it more durable as our loden and are they worth the price? By the way, i know a shop where i can get them for a good course with big percentages off! Otherwise i couldn�t efford them, because Laksen is something i like to call "Premium price class", if u know what i mean.
I know that fibre pile and fleece and microsuede do have some advantages, but if it comes to the question of quality and durability, i don�t know if they are "worth what the advertisement tries to make us believe". A thing that comes to my mind is, how could you repair microfibre when you stuck on barbwire or thorns...? Guess that loden or Tweed could easilier (and better? )be repaired.
Although i have to say that the Deerhunter Clothings (like the Montana Serie) looks nice too
But guess that laksen is better by quality than deerhunter.
Another Problem is, that you couldn�t check all the different Firms and the products that they offer.
Heared good things of H�rkila, Seeland, Swedteam too. But don�t know something about their quality.
I�m keen on your opinion. Maybe you already wear tweed and so can give me some tips out of the praxis.

Thx�s to all "responders",
cheers
Konstantin

Konstantin
I used to wear moleskin trousers and a Kammo (which I still use) saddlecloth jacket to stalk in all weathers. When it rained, my legs got very wet and stayed very wet. This year I felt that my age was getting the better of me and so with a heavy heart I invested in a pair of Laksen waterproof microfibre trousers. I wish I had bought them ten years ago, they are very, very good. To give an example, I spent eight hours in the forest last week. It is in an elevated exposed position and when it rains, it does so with "enthusiasm". In the eight hours I was there, my legs and body remained dry and warm despite the constant drenching, no I didn't stop in a high seat before someone chips in. I cannot recommend microfibre highly enough, the Laksen and Kammo products are hardwearing, easy to clean and stay waterproof for extended periods. If however you wish to purchase something more traditional, then take a look at NomadUK, their products are used by several stalking friends who vouch for their durability and weather resistance. Happy hunting!

Hi konst,

I havethe Laksen tweed breeks and jacket. I really like them, although I mainly use them on driven pheasant days. they are Very light to wear and designed with good features. the only downside I find is that when mounting with an open jacke the zip rasps on the gun stock... When done up this is not a problem, nor do I think it is exclusive to this range.

I shot through a downpur last season and when I took the jacket off I was bone dry inside... Can't grumble at that!!

Good luck,

FB

Konst,

I updated about 2 years ago. My old tweed jacket fell to bits about the same time I got a lot more hunting and started to go out in all weathers.

I now use a Deer Hunter Ram jacket with most of the zips cut off. In numerous wet weather hunts it has proved fantastic. It is also quiet being slightly furry on the outside. The Kammo is a higher quality item and more durable but too heavy and warm for the warm southern stalking I do. For Germany (if you can wear leaf style cammo) it would be perfection.

For trousers I use the Nomad breeches. These are made of a fleecy style material that is warm, comfortable, waterproof and breathable. I wear a pair of long socks under boots and gaitors or long socks under a pair of Le Chameau wellingtons. Completely silent but again too warm for anything other than winter use.

Avoid Fjallraven like the plague. The jacket I have from them has had to be relegated to leisure use. The goretex is on the outside and after a real downpour the outer gets wet, heavy and overpowers the liner.

mho
The Laksen trousers are relatively quiet, they do not rustle when you brush against sitka spruce and make no noise whilst walking such as waterproof walking trousers do.

@Adam
So, because you now have changed to microsuede and ago worn tweed, you might can tell a bit more about the downside of tweed.
Or are the differneces not that big?
Why do u prefer the microfibre? was is just a cost aspect?
I like to use the tweed jacket and breeches for early summer, summer and autumn clothing. For stalking and stand hunting. For winter i do have the rusky serie from deerhunter, but haven�t used it so far because get a good deal on a down filled and quilted loden set.
Guess i will go to frankonia or Kettner and see what they do have in stock and check the laksen microfibre serie too.
BTW, @Andy .. which trousers you do have?
With CTX or gore membrane?

Thanks
Konstantin

@Pete
"While I think you get the best of both worlds with those tweeds, there is a lot of other good or better stuff out there now."
That means, what exactcly? "Best of both worlds"? I�m not quiete sure if i understood it right. Tweed is good, butter there are better products today? OR?

@DJpainless
Rascher is a top product, can�t tell bad things about them. They are wort the money, for sure.

Cheers
Konstantin

Konst... A couple years ago I found some really good deals at Frankonia Jagd in both Nurnberg and Stuttgart after the new year. I bought some stuff at 1/2 price or less. If you can wait until then you might be able to find the "gunstig Pries". I was a little miffed to find the coat I paid pull pop for at a huge discount though........DJ

Hey,
have been to Frankonia nad Kettner yesterday and tried on some of the Laksen clothings.
To be honest, i was not realy amused about the tweed series.
Okay, from the look and the weight, nothing bad to tell.
But the noise level is unbelievable! It sounds like you weare a PVC wind breaker. Absolutely disqualifiyieng ! Even for normal use it would be toooooooo loud!
And for such a coat they ask 569,00��s!! Must be a joke.
Guess i have to look arround some more. Maybe get back to Deerhunter and the montana Serie. Much better Price / Value rate ,...to be honest

cheers and thx�s for your comments,

Konst

Konst,

I have the Deerhunter Ram and its ok but nothing special..it has too many zips and pockets for my liking really plus it has leaked.

If you don't mind a cammo jacket, check out the "Image Super Kodiak" or the slightly lighter version called the "Winchester Image" at http://www.kammo.co.uk/

These are expensive jackets, but just about the best I have seen. They do DPM and plain green ones as well but the outer is a type of cotton and is not quite as quiet as the "Tuffsuede" used in the Image jackets. They are perfectly usable for stalking, but the Tuffsuede fabric is just a little better/quieter.


These jackets are quite long (below your bum)and are simply very well made. While the upmarket German Loden jackets might be compared to Zeiss in terms of looks performance and price, these are the "Leupolds"...nothing "fancy", just plain, well designed for stalking, very functional and very good performance. They are far stronger than my Ram jacket for instance.

Don't buy the trousers though as they are an "over trouser" which while waterproof, are a bit too baggy for stalking...

Regards,

Pete