Just wondering what people's recommendations were for sensible grown up stalking and shooting outerwear? I'd rather not wear DPM anymore and I'm not taken by all the "Homoflauge" offerings; for one thing they often seem fairly 'cheap' (as opposed to inexpensive) and poorly made and I don't like the image they project much either.

My gut takes me towards Musto or Scandinavian makes like Laksen, as I presume they know what they're talking about when it comes to cold weather gear!?!

Just as a final thought, coming from a hillwalking/mountaineering/military background with regards outdoor clothing, a lot of shooting gear seems based around big heavy coats that don't seem very flexible or in keeping with the old layering principles? I appreciate you generally move fairly gently whilst stalking, but they don't really seem the thing for hiking up a Scottish mountain to get to the deer!

Anyway, I'd appreciate people's thoughts and recommendations.

Up here in the Arctic (or close to the Arctic Circle at least ) brands with good reputation are the Sweedish Harkila (you find them under www.uttings.com) and the two Norwegian brands Norrøna www.norrona.com and Bergans www.bergans.no.
They offer both lined and shell clothing with membrans. Some made for stalking woodland (silent) other made for high mountains (rougher use)
Not much camo but usually two tone green or brown.

Norrøna and Bergans are also specialists on expedition and mountaineering equipment, which mirror their use of technical details and usefullness in their "green"/stalking clothing.

Harkila has a rock solid reputation for hard wearing gear, they last forewer it seems.

You cant go wrong with any of these three brands.

I'm new to stalking but not new to spending a lot of time on the hill and I posted the following on another thread recently. Clearly different things work for different people but hopefully this might at least give you some ideas for avenues to explore:


I've never been to Alaska but spend a lot of time out and about in very wet weather and I recommend one of these:

http://www.musto.com/productdetail.aspx?fromSearch=true&productId=1649

I'm on my second one now and don't think the newer ones are quite as robust as the old ones but even so I got 12+ years out of the old one.

They have a good hood which is essential in driving rain and sensible pockets including an inner zipped one for mobile phone, car keys etc. The Musto is also the right length as much "trendy" outdoor wear is designed by someone who only ever walks from the office to the car park and is far too short. In colder weather you can wear a fleece jacket inside the coat.

I wash my fleece jackets in waterproofing and this means that any condensation that builds up inside the coat doesn't soak back in to your body. On wet days when you are walking hard it doesn't matter what coat you have there is just no way to stop condensation building up.

In terms of waterproof trousers I wear some from Cabelas in colder weather and also some of the Paramo. The Paramo are excellent and there is nothing else that passes moisture/condensation like them but they are quite noisey and a bit fragile and only really suited to moderately mild conditions.

In terms of under layers the Paramo shirts are wonderful:

http://www.paramo.co.uk/en-gb/garments/detail/index.php...AMETASSHIRTTRAILMENS

I also wear Under Armour ColdGear Metal Mock. I think a lot of the UA stuff is over rated but this particular thing works well for me, I haven't found anything else that moves moisture from the skin as well, though it is expensive. You can pair it with similar synthetic shorts and although you will stink to high heavens after a while you will be comfortable. This is the UA offering though I'm sure there are alternatives for a lot less money that work just as well:

http://www.underarmour.com/shop/mens/apparel/bottoms/co...on-Short/1003526-001

Hopefully that gives you some ideas.

I use Deerhunter gear and I rate it very highly. I use the montana jacket and trousers, Sportsman gun centre had a sale on deerhunter latly not sure if it is still on.

I'm with 308 on this, recently my veteran Ruski passed away, I'm now using Browning Hydro-fleece, only complaint being our cousins across the pond put the zips on girly style!

I have used lots of different stalking wear over many many years in Norway.
Mostly on the north west, but also on the northern part of the country.

The north west is known for is wet weather and steep hills/mountains much like Scotland.
The main difference is that ours mostly are clad with dence forests of birch and bush.
Late October snow is common in many parts.

Clothing that keeps the rain and wind out and still can breath in a decent way is paramount.
I have found that the Norrøna with Gore Tex and a single mesh liner works best for me.

Norrøna (both the Finnskogen and the Forelhogna models) keeps you dry, breats farly good, are light and takes a beating (they dont like sparks from the camp fire though).
They also have a splendid custom policy in case something goes asunder.

Wool closest to the body, and quality fleece as second layer. A light fleece west to put on in addition when sitting down after a climb works good.

With such a set up, one can start with just the shell on top of the wool underwear, and put on the second layer when sitting down.

Stalking roe and red from stands on farmland, dont take a lot of walking, so for suchs events I also use Cabelas Gore Tex Cold Weather Whitetail Hunter.
Light, warm and silent.
But the lining sucks water like a wick if it get access around the cuffs.

To cut i short, when stalking which require lots of walking and climbing I have found that mountaineering style of cloting works best.
And in my book thats spells Norrøna or Bergans.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Latham:
our cousins across the pond put the zips on girly style!

We, of course, would say 'tis vice-versa.

Ahhh-ha! I was a little baffled by the zips in Cabela's not long ago, for a minute I thought I was trying a womens jacket.

For anyone that might be mildly interested, I've managed to source a military type smock, but in plain olive green, Here, which seems to offer a suitably pocketed, hardwearing, subdued and protective outer layer that will allow me to use my existing outdoors kit to best effect.

Personally, I can't abide wearing goretex or waterproof membranes of any type unless it is actually raining, or very very cold, as they just result in a sweaty mess inside!

night walker on this site put me onto Arktis gear,

ive had a waterproof smock for a while now and have a few pairs of their Falkland trousers, i really cannot find fault with them so far, in fact since having them i havnt worn either of my musto jackets for about 2 years now.

IIRC arktis have a 4 year guarantee

quote:

For anyone that might be mildly interested, I've managed to source a military type smock, but in plain olive green, Here, which seems to offer a suitably pocketed, hardwearing, subdued and protective outer layer that will allow me to use my existing outdoors kit to best effect.

At £125+ for only a "WATER REPELLENT" smock I'd want it tailor made and complete with matching trousers.

quote:

At £125+ for only a "WATER REPELLENT" smock I'd want it tailor made and complete with matching trousers.

Waterproofness is not always a good thing though, and it does exactly what it's supposed to. In fact, waterproofness is a bad thing unless its actually raining!

I have had one of theirs in DPM for years and its been great, I never saw the plain green ones before though.

It is a bit pricey though I grant you...but then it is made in England!

Yo!, Cazador, Twas purely in fun,Steve.

No offense taken amigo.

It isn't exactly warm, (but you can layer up) bbut I have fount the Swanndri smokck with the hood to be excellent. If it is cold I have a Fal Raven jacket that has a detatchable microfleece liner that has fabulous water resistance, and it is breathable.

FB

Actually Steve I am glad you cleared that up as I bought a "Walls" jacket (American job) years ago and just presumed I had been sold a big womens jacket or something. It is only until I read your post that I realised it was the norm.

It is a brilliant coat for v cold weather by the way and totally waterproof aswell.

Oh come along Jon, surely the fact that the camo was pink and sky blue indicated YOU had infact picked up a ladies jacket!!



Only kidding mate! Its the long hours thats affecting my humour!

All the best for Thursday

Ohhhh. If you're talkin' the Walls brand, now you're talkin' Texas (although I'm sure, like everything else, I'm sure it's made in the far east also). And you know how obnoxious we can get when someone besmirches our manhood; threatening to secede and become our own Republic again (it worked so well the first time), etc.

Not sure if its too late to jump in on the thread but I am interested in the products on both of these sites. As yet I have no experience of these products but I believe them to be good. If anyone out there has any of this gear already I would be interested to hear.

http://www.icchunting.co.uk/online-store/3.html

http://www.countrycoversshop.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Outer_Layers.html


Grant

quote:

Originally posted by 63:

quote:

At £125+ for only a "WATER REPELLENT" smock I'd want it tailor made and complete with matching trousers.

Waterproofness is not always a good thing though, and it does exactly what it's supposed to. In fact, waterproofness is a bad thing unless its actually raining!

I have had one of theirs in DPM for years and its been great, I never saw the plain green ones before though.

It is a bit pricey though I grant you...but then it is made in England!

And hard wearing. I bought my DPM one in '86, and it still gets worn when out after deer/rabbits/foxes on cold days.
Of course, it seems to have shrunk a bit around the waist...