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Hi there. I'm off to the Falklands for six months next year and will arrive right in the middle of their Winter. I'd like a jacket that does warm (synthetic, not down) and waterproof. I've been looking at the Alpkit Ohiro but was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions. Many thanks.
Montane Duality
https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/mon2131/montane-duality-insulated-gore~tex-jacket/
Cheers Matt, looks like a good deal.
Montane Duality
What's this jacket really for, do you think Matt?
Beyond the marketing blurb. Says it's for extreme winter in the mountains, but I thought it's all about layering for mountain sports. If I looked at the spec without the blurb or the £350 RRP, I might think it's fine as a general use winter coat (around and about, short walks, etc.) for when I don't want the faff of separate warm and waterproof coats. That's what I'm looking for. Can't see any comparable products from other outdoor companies.
Half price Fjallraven Parka @ ldmountain (if you're XL). Synthetic+ membrane outer shell. I was tempted but have an old first edition TNF McMurdo which does the same thing.
What’s this jacket really for, do you think Matt?
As you say beyond the marketing it is a waterproof and insulated jacket. How insulated, not a clue.
Mrs_oab has a very old Patagucci waterproof and insulated jacket - and it's her favourite 'standing in the cold on a damp UK day' jacket. Looks similar to that jacket I linked to.
I picked up a HH Artic Ocean winter sailing parka
https://www.hellyhansen.com/news/the-arctic-ocean-parka-tested-developed-for-cold-weather-sailing/
for £128 from their outlet shop in McArthur Glen (Bridgend) a few weeks ago and it's a really well thought out bit of kit that feels 100% like it's well worth the £500 it was originally. The guy behind the counter said they had plenty of stock coming in unsold from the high street shops, so got to be worth a try if you can get to one of the outlets. There were quite a few other choices on the racks, too.
Judging by the number of farmers I’ve seen wearing it, Ridgeline clothing from Aotearoa/NewZealand seems to be very highly regarded.
https://www.ardmoor.co.uk/collections/ridgeline/products/ridgeline-pintail-explorer-ii-smock-rlcape2
This smock top sits well within your price range, and I’d certainly consider it myself, if I didn’t already have a Buffalo Special 6 that I’ve worn outdoors over the last four winters, with a Helly Lifa underneath, and a cheap Peter Storm packable jacket over the top as a barrier against heavy rain. Spending between ten/twelve hours outdoors every working day soon sorts out what works and what doesn’t, and that did.
Ridgeline do some other, longer smock tops, which might be better in the more exposed terrain down there; a pair of cheap Portwest overtrousers, which is what I was issued with, and decent boots, and you should be fine without spending stupid amounts of money, probably a max of £300, or thereabouts.
Honestly, my Buffalo/Helly/PeterStorm combo, after twelve hours out in continual heavy rain, left me with a Buffalo that was slightly damp on the outside, and dry after an hour or less, and me perfectly dry all day. Every day. <br /><br />
The fjallraven nuuk is amazing if you can find it within price. Was perfect for the cold weather last winter.
The helly references above is amazing too, I just couldn't get one in my size at the time, so ended up with the fjallraven
Most of the farmers on This Farming Life on BBC2 wear Ridgeline coats so it must be good in crap Scottish weather
Just back online and seen the latest answers, thank you. Countzero, you're right, a smock is the way ahead but I just bloody hate getting them on and off and having to tuck myself back in (spoilt I know). The HH is really interesting and I've just started looking at Fjallraven stuff (I think this might be just turning into an opportunity to buy a spiffing bit of new kit). Just also booked my Landy course, quite looking forward to it.
Although, that Ridgeline stuff looks proper.
...and the Fjallraven Nuuk has serious Kurt Russell in The Thing vibes, hmmm.
+1 RIDGELINE, I use the Monsoon II Classic Jacket
It’s warm (but not insulated), robust and stays pretty clean on the farm as the mud eventually dries and then simply brushes off
In the absolute worse wet weather I prefer my Buffalo belay jacket (fleece insulation), but for actual farming / gardening tasks the Ridgeline is surprisingly rip free after many seasons use
Fjallraven stuff is generally made for cold/crisp Scandic conditions. Most of their stuff is made from polycotton G1000 material although nowadays they do a bit of waterproof membrane outerwear. G1000 is hard-wearing but isn't waterproof/water resistant at all - don't get suckered in by the Greenland wax thing (I own quite a few Fjallraven items and do still rate it).
However that Nuuk Parka is a membrane outer shell so is waterproof.
Ridgeline kit is well regarded. Robust, waterproof, good value. It's not known for being particularly breathable though
I tried on the Montane Duality and its apparent replacement the Duality Lite. The latter drops the chest pocket and most of the hood adjustments, but otherwise seems exactly the same. So the "lite" bit seems to be a few tens of grams just due to those omissions, the real motivation for is probably to save manufacturing cost. And the RRP is up from £280 to £350.
The fit didn't work for me however. I'm small in other Montane stuff but in this I'd want the body of a medium with the sleeve length of a small. Particularly for out and about use.