Smock Top

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
I bought a Ridgeline smock top a couple of weeks ago, being pee’d off with constant rain and on the back of this thread.

It was lovely and warm when I tried it on, and a perfect fit for working in, but what a palaver getting it on & off. I dread to think what a miserable experience it would be after lunch, when it was soggy. You guys can keep your smock wrestling!

I took it back and went to visit a local Kaiwaka & Betacraft stockist to look at their coats instead. Quality fractionally poorer on the Betacraft I thought, but £50 less money, so that’s what I came away with.
 

tinsheet

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Somerset
Bought a ridgeline last year lovely coat, great in drizzle, but heavy rain it's useless, shan't by another!
Best coat so far this winter is the council worker illuminous yellow for £20! Dry warm, looks shite mind :facepalm:
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
My other big fleece bonded smock, the stitching started to fail early summer so it's been binned for a while now... I bought the new Riverside version which is this;
kingston-waterproof-stalking-smock-jacket-shooting-hunting-stealth-coat-rrp-169-2150-p.jpg


It is much more fitted and better looking when you're wearing it, than it looks there... it was £95 IIRC (bought it in June). It's the same canvas like material as the £60 one. I will be interested to see if the green bleaches the same as the brown. I like it mostly but miss the breast pockets and I dislike the hood (chin poppers are far too tight on my throat when it's up and fastened, so I'm not sure I will use the hood).


Been wearing that smock most of the winter so far, and alternating with the Deerhunter since getting it - so I've got 1 dry to put on each day, with 1 drying from the day before...

I was helping a friend TB test this week, day 1 (Tuesday) was dry but day 2 (Friday) it snowed most of the morning then heavy rain all afternoon. The smock I've quoted above was worn. After about 3 hours out in the wet (the vet, my mate and his worker were all in oilskins and reckoned I'd be soaked through) I was still bone dry underneath and warm. It's taking a bit of drying out since, mind! Reckon that was its biggest test yet and I was very pleased how it stood upto it.


It isn't bleaching, yet, like the small brown smock I have by same company. But the hood poopers still aren't very good. Had the hood up, but not fastened, at the TB test. It was fine for that, but it's useless on the bike...
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
I bought a Ridgeline smock top a couple of weeks ago, being pee’d off with constant rain and on the back of this thread.

It was lovely and warm when I tried it on, and a perfect fit for working in, but what a palaver getting it on & off. I dread to think what a miserable experience it would be after lunch, when it was soggy. You guys can keep your smock wrestling!

I took it back and went to visit a local Kaiwaka & Betacraft stockist to look at their coats instead. Quality fractionally poorer on the Betacraft I thought, but £50 less money, so that’s what I came away with.

No palaver
Put your arms up the sleeves, hands right out, first. Then put the body over your head and you're in.

They aren't that nice to put on when soaking... but what is?
 

Bill dog

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Scottish Borders
I’m in @neilo ’s camp . Can’t be arsed with the pavlova of getting them on n off. Been looking at the Stoneycreek jackets on line, but they are very pricey. No doubt they are bombproof, but for wrestling ewes I’ll look for something else. A fortress “flex” waterproof jacket is £25 from Aps. That’ll do fine!(y)
 

Old Tip

Member
Location
Cumbria
I went for the XL, but I am not as thin as I probably should be! What version are you thinking of getting?
Ended up ordering a Jack Pyke version, I like to be different.
Couldn’t stand the deerhunter website and they looked expensive compared to others. The ridgline size chart was in cm so being of a certain age it made no sense
So in the end went with the old faithful John Norris website as it’s easy to navigate and it’s close enough that if I have an issue I can take it back
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Anyone got a betacraft makaku smock? And can recommend? My Ridgeline has come to the end of its life!

Never heard of them, but a quick look finds them.

It says water resistant, not waterproof... and I can not find a single bit of info saying how much water it will protect you from.

But consider breathability is 10,000g/m, (Ridgeline stuff is usually 5,000g/m) so it is very breathable, which suggests to me it won't keep much water out. Ridgeline stuff is 10,000mm for waterproof.

If you're happy with your Ridgeline, I'd stick with it. £140 is a gamble if it turns out not to be as good. If it were under £100 I'd have said take the chance
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Looks good, looking forward to hearing how it handles a full day in heavy rain, with 20.000 h20 it should be good. Had my ridgeline on today was on the bike all afternoon putting buckets out to the hill ewes, it was about 3 degrees with constant and heavy hail and sleet showers and blowing a gale, and have to say it was brilliant! I was really warm and dry. Can’t beat a smock for that kind of work and weather.


The Deerhunter has had plenty proper testing late summer gathering the hill etc (we have never seen rain like this year before)... it is brilliant. The 2 seams up on the shoulders did leak a little, so I used some seam sealer like this to sort it


Once I put that stuff on, the smock has held out water a Ridgeline could only dream of!

It does feel very posh on - the bonded fleece feels and looks like Moleskin and is very plush. As I said when I first posted the quality is very high. It feels wrong to wear it for work...
It has inner neoprene storm sleeves to stop water going up from your wrists, I don't like them when I'm putting it on but you do get used to them on your skin. For the price it's an absolute bargain and definitely recommend. I still wear the cheaper ones most days and keep this one back for when it's really wet
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
The Deerhunter has had plenty proper testing late summer gathering the hill etc (we have never seen rain like this year before)... it is brilliant. The 2 seams up on the shoulders did leak a little, so I used some seam sealer like this to sort it


Once I put that stuff on, the smock has held out water a Ridgeline could only dream of!

It does feel very posh on - the bonded fleece feels and looks like Moleskin and is very plush. As I said when I first posted the quality is very high. It feels wrong to wear it for work...
It has inner neoprene storm sleeves to stop water going up from your wrists, I don't like them when I'm putting it on but you do get used to them on your skin. For the price it's an absolute bargain and definitely recommend. I still wear the cheaper ones most days and keep this one back for when it's really wet

But most importantly, does it look as good as a Ridgeline for posing on social media?
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
But most importantly, does it look as good as a Ridgeline for posing on social media?

Hmm I think in these PC times, the name "Deerhunter" could be a PR 'disaster' to the brand sluts and sundry who sell themselves for Ridgelines free advertising campaign...

Have you got any of the new Ridgeline smocks yet? I'm undecided on the new fabric. I preferred the old fleece look. The specs don't look any better, either




I meant to add above, the Deerhunter is made with their Deer-Tex material - which is a copy of Gore Tex. Mr Gore, the inventor of Gore Tex, passed away about 2 weeks ago.
 

Downton_shep

Member
Location
Leintwardine
Anyone got a betacraft makaku smock? And can recommend? My Ridgeline has come to the end of its life!
I bought one about six months ago (wife bought it when working at Carrs) I tried it on, took it off and sent it back the next day. Just felt weird, something odd with the collar.
Apart from that it seams a good coat and I know a couple people that have them and they really like them.
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
Hmm I think in these PC times, the name "Deerhunter" could be a PR 'disaster' to the brand sluts and sundry who sell themselves for Ridgelines free advertising campaign...

Have you got any of the new Ridgeline smocks yet? I'm undecided on the new fabric. I preferred the old fleece look. The specs don't look any better, either




I meant to add above, the Deerhunter is made with their Deer-Tex material - which is a copy of Gore Tex. Mr Gore, the inventor of Gore Tex, passed away about 2 weeks ago.

No I haven't. I don't think i will either.

Probably going to try StormForce for this winter and keep the smock for when it's cold but dry.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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