Smock recommendations

[Mr grumpy]

I'm thinking of getting a smock.it would be used for beating, shooting,dog training and also walking in.

Any recommendations/experience appreciated 👍

[Stephen-H]

Ridgeline moonsoon if you do a lot of up hill walking tho it can turn into a boil in the bag job like all smocks I've found 

[Scully]

Fortis, as they are now. 

[Spr1985]

I have a Hoggs of fife struther (long) smock and find it very comfortable, easy to get on/off as it has zips down both sides. decent sized pockets, nice sized hood that accommodates wearing a hat with enough over hang to shield face from rain/wind. May be worth a look 

[chrisjpainter]

What's your budget? I've loved my Ridgeline Pintail II I think that was 90, but reduced from 140ish? I tend to generate a bit of warmth, so I didn't want one that I'd cook in. This does the job perfectly, but with still enough warmth to keep out a chill wind. Nice big side zip for ventilation and to make getting in and out of it very easy. 

[Stephen-H]

Forgot to add have a look on the link below usually the cheapest for outdoors clothing I've found 👍

https://hollandscountryclothing.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwgLOiBhC7ARIsAIeetVDylPl1uMmHxw38XowKRA634yHh1WtGKk4o5EiC032fhhVdfQ9oNM0aAusHEALw_wcB

[bishop]

4 hours ago, Stephen-H said:

Ridgeline moonsoon if you do a lot of up hill walking tho it can turn into a boil in the bag job like all smocks I've found 

Agreed-great when sat still but oh dear--walk a distance in these babies and prepare to drip dry in a nice pool of freezing cold sweat when you stop .

[Mr grumpy]

Thanks for all the recommendations.i like to try things on before I buy them.so will take a look at somewhere that stocks most of these makes.not too keen on being boiled through 🥵

[Mr grumpy]

1 hour ago, Stephen-H said:

Forgot to add have a look on the link below usually the cheapest for outdoors clothing I've found 👍

https://hollandscountryclothing.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwgLOiBhC7ARIsAIeetVDylPl1uMmHxw38XowKRA634yHh1WtGKk4o5EiC032fhhVdfQ9oNM0aAusHEALw_wcB

Thanks for the link.some good kit on there👍

[Bungle The Bear]

Hoggs of Fife struther smock - best value around dry and warm, but you don’t melt in it 

[harkom]

Try Ventile products. Smocks with liners will get very warm if you are walking a lot.

[Charliedog]

Whilst obviously pretty trendy to have a smock, what are the perceived advantages over a traditional jacket with a nice easy zip at the front to aid ventilation and to get on/off

[mudpatten]

Any recommendations? Yes, dont!

As many a wildfowler will tell you, you get very hot and sweaty since its impossible to vent the heat and condensation. If you happen to sit down in the mud you`ll get it smeared up the back of your neck and the top of your head when you remove it.

I mention this from personal experience of shooting an entire season in the early `70`s in a Barbour Solway smock.

Hateful things!

 

[Sako7mm]

On 03/05/2023 at 18:26, mudpatten said:

Any recommendations? Yes, dont!

As many a wildfowler will tell you, you get very hot and sweaty since its impossible to vent the heat and condensation. If you happen to sit down in the mud you`ll get it smeared up the back of your neck and the top of your head when you remove it.

I mention this from personal experience of shooting an entire season in the early `70`s in a Barbour Solway smock.

Hateful things!

 

You’d do well to try something from quality modern materials. Your advice is decades out of date.

[quentyn]

On 29/04/2023 at 14:52, Scully said:

Fortis, as they are now. 

not tried their smocks but i really rate their jackets 

[mudpatten]

21 hours ago, Sako7mm said:

You’d do well to try something from quality modern materials. Your advice is decades out of date.

Absolutely, about 5 decades out of date! I mention it only to reinforce the point that I have actually used a smock. Unfortunately, the basic principles of clothing breathability have only progressed so far. Unless, as has been suggested, you opt for a Ventile type material which works on a different principle to membrane type liners or linings, you WILL overwhelm the membranes ability to vent water vapour once heavy exertion begins. Thats a matter of basic physics allowing for a smocks restricted ability to dump sweat in quantity. Overheating would have taken about 5 minutes with a waxed Barbour but will still only take about 15 minutes in any modern material. Allowing a few minutes either way, according to external temperatue and atmospheric moisture content.

Some random observatiions on smocks, the over- the- head type and not the military jacket of the same name which is a conventionally opening jacket by any other name. The "smock" part being that it is a loose fitting coverall garment.

The manufacturers like them because they can charge proportionately more for a smock that involves much less machine work and components, zips, buttons, studs etc than a conventional jacket and represents a bigger profit.Given that an over the head smock is cheaper to make you have to ask why the military don`t use them to any great extent.

Regrettably, my original comment about getting a muddy mohican when taking it off still holds true. I can`t get on with smocks, but if you can, then they`re still good value for money and currently very fashionable. If you don`t need to work up a sweat whilst wearing it, a smock is a great idea.

 

[Madhatter2132]

I spent years basically living in a buffalo special 6 smock so I've had some experience with them, I've got one of these for exactly what you want one for:

 

https://www.newforestclothing.co.uk/products/percussion-highland-waterproof-smock?currency=GBP&variant=40117402108095&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&utm_agid=&utm_term=&creative=&device=m&placement=&adtype=pla&product_id=13118-Khaki-Medium&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmN2iBhCrARIsAG_G2i6ZaiFEaz89oKovTpk73U6-PWHm0srFFa506Z7NPZusiwNcX8ptGm0aAkufEALw_wcB

 

Ita a bit of a PITA to put in and take off if you've got bad shoulders, it does get very warm and the hand warmer pockets are right at the bottom which can be awkward depending on what you're doing but it works well with a cartridge belt.

 

That said it's comfortable, it's warm when there's a cold wind blowing and there's a lot less zip for it to push through, it's waterproof to a point and could stand having more waterproofing on it, there's a decent sized game pocket and the chest pocket is cavernous. I've spent over a year abusing it and neglecting it and it's still absolutely fine so I'm not worried about longevity either.

[shaun4860]

I have tried to try various smocks on but am yet to meet the exit holes.

I spend around 5 minutes trying to get in one then pull the thing off and can be heard muttering “stupid idea” whilst walking away

[dogone]

  I have a Swazi Wapati. Water resistant not proof I suspect. We don’t get a lot of rain here . We do get wind and cold. It is great for warmth in those conditions. I think pit zips would be a good addition but Swazi feels it moves enough moisture as is. For my use would rate 8.5/10

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Let's simplify things somewhat.

 

!.  Buy a smock that fits loosely.

2.  Where the smock when stationary.

I carry mine during the walk in, set up and walk out. I put it on when I am not doing much apart from watching for birds.

[London Best]

2 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Let's simplify things somewhat.

 

!.  Buy a smock that fits loosely.

2.  Where the smock when stationary.

I carry mine during the walk in, set up and walk out. I put it on when I am not doing much apart from watching for birds.

Exactly 

I did exactly the same when I was ‘fowling, even though I was using a Barbour zipper jacket in those days. Walk in a sweater if not raining, or a very light waterproof if it is raining. Big jacket in a backpack.

[Scully]

My Fortis smock is used primarily for sitting in a hide, it is great for keeping a chilly wind at bay. Have only used it the once for beating, and it was fine, but the pockets aren’t ideal and I found the weight of the walkie talkie and hand set was very apparent, bouncing around clipped to the opening of one of the pockets. 
Cant recall it being too hot, but it is ventile.