Hi, looking for a waterproof for Southern England winter. So 5-10 degrees. It is going to be used for mid intensity outdoor work (hedge cutting, garden clearing and tree surgery). It needs to be robust and not easily ripped on brambles, hawthorn etc. Going to be used in all weathers and conditions.
I 'think' a buffalo smock would be good but looks too warm for this. Their active light shirt is 240, so a bit expensive.
What should I consider? Ideally not massively expensive. A strong softshell and cheap shell jacket might work? Cheers!
A Pertex outer is not robust. Particularly around thorns etc in a garden.
I would look for a cheaper waterproof on its own and cheap thin fleeces.
Perfect Craghoppers/Tog24/Regatta etc territory for me.
Given I used my buffalo pertex (and only it) in full winter -5 I think you would melt.
agree with above post about layering, Ime not much is bramble/hawthorn/rose proof, so cheaper stuff is cheaper to replace if you see what I mean.
(* my old dirt motorbike jackets were cordura and Ime it was very thorn resistant as I plodded thru a lot of shrubbery unscathed in it but not waterproof, and on big stuff like hawthorn and pyrocanthus I think every thing will struggle),
fyi, using this on the bike for brambles and nettles, not bomb proof but better than I thought.
I thought the point of buffalo stuff was that it was tougher than normal waterproof stuff? Must have got that wrong! Will have a look at cheaper shells, just need it breathable!
It is going to be used for mid intensity outdoor work (hedge cutting, garden clearing and tree surgery). It needs to be robust and not easily ripped on brambles, hawthorn etc. Going to be used in all weathers and conditions.
There’s really only one answer, and that’s waxed cotton. It’s easily reproofed, and patched as well. It’s the nearest thing to thornproof you are likely to find. A Buffalo top is the very last thing I’d think of using, being the owner of a Special 6, and an MTB Wind Shirt. Pertex is great stuff, but for use around thorn bushes? Not a chance!
I thought the point of buffalo stuff was that it was tougher than normal waterproof stuff? Must have got that wrong! Will have a look at cheaper shells, just need it breathable!
No. What it is, is capable of keeping the wearer protected by virtue of having a bonded fleece inner to keep the wearer relatively warm without needing a proofing coating, that will eventually fail.
I wore my Special 6 outdoors through several years of ten hour days right through the winter, with just a Helly Lifa base layer, and a £20 Millets Peter Storm jacket over the top to keep the worst of the rain off, and my hi-viz safety vest over that, and it was vastly superior to the ‘waterproof’ hi-viz I was issued with.
Would I wear it for what you want a jacket for? Would I heck as like! Totally unsuitable.
Am i mising something.
Pertex isn't waterproof? Its a very windproof breathable layer.
Buffalos keep you cozy but not dry (but they dry exceptionally fast and keep you boiling hot so you don't care).
I am with Matts cheap seperates.
Or for more hipster points... Donkey Jacket...
Buffalo Belay jacket.
A bit more user friendly in a work situation.
Unzip if you get warm .
The breathabity is makes it comfortable for work, and its cosy and dries quickly.
I use at work, and put a hi viz goretex over on really wet days ,which is not that often really.
Survived sharp tying wire on construction projects ok, aka similar to thorns?
What you need is thornproof tweed, obviously.
A Buffalo jacket would get ripped to threads. Decathlon used to do a softshell jacket under their Quechua range, that had a mix of fibre pile and fleece on the inside and a tough cordura outer. Long pit zips if it gets too hot, I find it great for crashing through gorse in so very bramble proof. If you can find one, it would be great, otherwise Workwear do a fleece lined cordura outer softshell that is bramble proof. An old Belstaff (or similar) waxed cotton jacket might work or even a Barbour jacket depending on your fashion sense...................
Get an un-issued British Army waterproof (kinda Goretex but not branded as such) and a decent fleece underneath. I can't see that a Buffalo / Pertex jacket would be all that robust for garden work. Layers work better than just one big jacket and no doubt you'd warm up quick working round the garden. If not... work harder, damnit.
Mid intensity work even at that temp is going to be quite warm still.
For what you want, I'd be in a duck cotton or waxed cotton gilet. I have both, very robust. And then a shell to go over the top for if it rains. If it rains I'd put a waterproof over the top - to be honest, for really rough work you might be happier in a cheap and cheerful one that you're not going to worry about
For work, go to B and Q and look at the outer wear. Its cheap as chips and tough since its designed for work. I got this for working on the car in wet weather and its superb for the task.
You'll get really warm in a Buffalo and similar - Montane for example, Alpkit - pile Pertex at 5-10˚C. Also the outer fabric is just windproof Pertex so will rip relatively easily on thorns, brambles etc.
For that application, as already suggested, waxed cotton is probably your best bet. Or maybe a high denier, Cordura-type, cheapo waterproof shell jacket, something that feels super tough and rugged - Regatta maybe, doesn't need to be super light or particularly breathable. Wear over a cheap fleece or similar.
Gore-Tex and similar premium fabrics are just a waste of money for this sort of thing.
There are specialist gardening brands that might do something. A friend of mine designs for these guys, no idea if they have owt suitable though, I'm sure there's similar stuff out there:
£130 for a softshell jacket that looks like something from the middle aisle at Aldi/Lidl?!?!? That's what I wear for what you describe only it only cost me about £20 quid and it even has a hood.
£130 for a softshell jacket that looks like something from the middle aisle at Aldi/Lidl?!?!? That's what I wear for what you describe only it only cost me about £20 quid and it even has a hood.
It's all about the cachet of the label 🤣
tbf I've never looked at the kit, I just know that the brand exists. It's not really my bag.
Thanks all. Looks like a firm no for pertex. Will go for something cheaper and see how I go. Cheers
I normally I just buy a cheap ski jacket from Decathlon. The cost little and are great for bike cleaning, car cleaning and gardening tasks.
I normally I just buy a cheap ski jacket from Decathlon.
Yeah, the only insulated waterproof jacket I own is a ski jacket. Other than for actual skiing, it is worn maybe 2 or 3 times per year, and I live in Aviemore where winter temperatures are well below what the OP will experience.
I am not convinced the decathlon ski jackets are that warm.
