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Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
@Nithsdale Farmer I just bought the ridgeline monsoon elite smock on ebay for £130, and so far I am really happy with it, it's really comfy and feels light when it's on, with good pockets, it's nice and long so great for sitting on wet bike seats! not really tested the water proofness yet but it has a 10,000 hydrostatic bead, so should be very good. Don't think you will regret spending a bit more, I have 2 friends that have had them for over 3 years, and they are still going strong! I would like to see the monsoon elite 2 smock in the flesh, too see if its worth the £190. I also have a pintail and would say its not in the same league for work.


At that price you'll have bought the Monsoon Classic, not the elite?

I have a (old) Ridgeline Pintail, it was good but the cheaper Riverside I have currently is definitely better. Like you I found the Ridgeline very comfy and light to wear, nice and warm too.

How do you feel the sizing? Going by the Ridgeline website the size guide says I need an extra small :oops: t-shirts, jumpers etc I'm 38-40" chest, XS is 110cm chest which is 43 inch which should be about right for a fleece under it
 

nacnud

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Aberdeenshire
I’ve got a ridgeline monsoon elite 2 and it’s certainly waterproof, I’ve had it about 2 years. But my main gripe is the fact that it holds water, rather than the rain running off so when it’s lashing rain the fabric gets saturated and stays wet for ages, even though you’re dry inside. Maybe being picky but it’s bloody annoying, it really needs a good dry out at the end of each day.
 

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
How do you all get on with the hood? I’ve a ridgeline thinking it would replace the swanny but it’s like working under a bloody tin roof!! You can hear every rain drop as it hits you like some giant radar. I like the wire in it so you can form it to a shape you like.
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
I’ve got a ridgeline monsoon elite 2 and it’s certainly waterproof, I’ve had it about 2 years. But my main gripe is the fact that it holds water, rather than the rain running off so when it’s lashing rain the fabric gets saturated and stays wet for ages, even though you’re dry inside. Maybe being picky but it’s bloody annoying, it really needs a good dry out at the end of each day.


That's kindof what all these smocks do.
IME they aren't waterproof in the sense the rain runs off... it gets held in the material, more like how wool works. You do eventually get damp inside, but never soaked. Not nice to put back on after taking it off at lunch time!...

What you say about your smock is the same gripe I have with the Pintail I have, I gets so loaded with water it takes 3 days to dry out compared to my cheaper one I wear currently which is dry in a day/day and a half. The Ridgeline is also bad for water wicking its way into the cuffs and coming up your arms!!



So I'm not convinced I should try the Ridgeline :unsure:
 
@west coast angus that's the Monsoon Classic (y) that's the one I'm considering buying

I don't really understand all the models, there is the one with 2 high pockets and no low pockets, then there is the one with the sticked out chest pocket and lower pockets, then my model has 1 inside chest pocket and 2 lower pockets, when I bought it I am sure they called it the monsoon elite new 2019 model, then you get the monsoon elite 2 smock that has zips up the side, and new outer fabric too stop the wicking effect, and its got those wet suit type inner sleeves at the cuffs. All very confusing ?
 

nacnud

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Aberdeenshire
That's kindof what all these smocks do.
IME they aren't waterproof in the sense the rain runs off... it gets held in the material, more like how wool works. You do eventually get damp inside, but never soaked. Not nice to put back on after taking it off at lunch time!...

What you say about your smock is the same gripe I have with the Pintail I have, I gets so loaded with water it takes 3 days to dry out compared to my cheaper one I wear currently which is dry in a day/day and a half. The Ridgeline is also bad for water wicking its way into the cuffs and coming up your arms!!



So I'm not convinced I should try the Ridgeline :unsure:

Aye exactly. Putting it back on after lunch can be a bit of a thought!
 

Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
I don't really understand all the models, there is the one with 2 high pockets and no low pockets, then there is the one with the sticked out chest pocket and lower pockets, then my model has 1 inside chest pocket and 2 lower pockets, when I bought it I am sure they called it the monsoon elite new 2019 model, then you get the monsoon elite 2 smock that has zips up the side, and new outer fabric too stop the wicking effect, and its got those wet suit type inner sleeves at the cuffs. All very confusing ?


I think they changed the design of the Classic, you have the current one from what I can tell. The Elite is a similar style but has a chest pocket stitched on. You're right it is confusing...

What built/size are you roughly, and what size smock did you get?
 
I am 6ft nearly 16st and think about 45 inch chest I went for the xl, but did try on a friends large and It fitted, not much size difference between the 2, but least I have plenty room for winter layers and easier to put on and off.
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
I am 6ft nearly 16st and think about 45 inch chest I went for the xl, but did try on a friends large and It fitted, not much size difference between the 2, but least I have plenty room for winter layers and easier to put on and off.

I’m the same sort of size. Mine is XXL. I normally wear it with just a t shirt underneath, but there’s enough room for a few more layers if I’m not moving much.
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
What do you 2 think of these smocks you bought?


The £60 Riverside smock I have and wrote about extensively at lambing - I have managed to rip it slightly on the back of one of the arms (typical 'L' shaped rip from barbed wire, not even 1" in length)... and the brown colour has bleached badly in the sun with normal wearing. and the bottom (most used) popper on the zip outer storm flap has fallen out... so although I do like it I am slightly disappointed as it isn't a year old yet. Still wearing it every day but considering options for going forward.

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).

If the Monsoon Classic @Macsky has is any good, I'd probably be as well spending the little bit more and getting one...

Love mine still and wear all the time but what you have there looks more “stylish “ / tailored
 

Macsky

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Highland
What do you 2 think of these smocks you bought?


The £60 Riverside smock I have and wrote about extensively at lambing - I have managed to rip it slightly on the back of one of the arms (typical 'L' shaped rip from barbed wire, not even 1" in length)... and the brown colour has bleached badly in the sun with normal wearing. and the bottom (most used) popper on the zip outer storm flap has fallen out... so although I do like it I am slightly disappointed as it isn't a year old yet. Still wearing it every day but considering options for going forward.

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).

If the Monsoon Classic @Macsky has is any good, I'd probably be as well spending the little bit more and getting one...

It’s good, but if I’m being critical I would prefer an actual jacket to a smock, easier on and off and the option to wear it fully open when you’re feeling the heat. Gripe number two is the ‘fuzzy’ material, I don’t like how it holds onto the water (how can it be breathable when the outer layer is saturated?), is noticeably heavier when wet and takes quite a long time to dry, I hate puting jackets with wet cuffs back on! Also gets a bit fusty smelling.

I think their latest offering would sort all these problems for me, although with a heftier price tag:

 
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Nithsdale

Member
Livestock Farmer
It’s good, but if I’m being critical I would prefer an actual jacket to a smock, easier on and off and the option to wear it fully open when you’re feeling the heat. Gripe number two is the ‘fuzzy’ material, I don’t like how it hold onto the water (how can it be breathable wet the outer layer is saturated?), is noticeably heavier when wet and takes quite along time to dry, I hate puting jackets with wet cuffs back on! Also gets a bit fusty smelling.

I think their latest offering would sort all these problems for me, although with a heftier price tag:



Aye, you're saying all the things which are putting me off the Ridgeline for its price...
I think I'll stick with my Riverside for now. Cheers for replying
 

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