This jacket seems to fit the bill perfectly for what I'm looking for - lightweight (with down liner removed), soft-feel, waterproof & breathable. I'd prefer a roll-down or fold-away hood, but that's not a big issue.
It can be found for under £90 online.
I've read the few online reviews I've been able to find, and all seem quite positive, which is encouraging. Nash's own blurb obviously reckons it's brilliant.
But I'm sceptical about these soft-touch garments - are they REALLY, ACTUALLY waterproof?
I'm also sceptical about a jacket with very little on-line presence in the way of reviews. By comparison, Sundridge, Wychwood, Trakker and many more all seem more commonplace.
How come this Nash jacket isn't leaping out of the www if it's so good?
So called waterproof jackets - I've seen them all and their fancy claims.
The name of the game here is that you get what you pay for. I have a Greys jacket that has stayed waterproof for about 3 years but now it's starting to let a bit of water through.
The best waterproof jackets are made for game anglers and shooters. It is perhaps because game anglers and shooters do sit in the pouring rain all day and not under a brolly or bivvy that the clothing does have to be genuinely waterproof.
I have a bib and brace with a very well known name on it that after only 12 mnths is now letting water through. I have replaced these with a set from Sundridge that look better.
For you information the very best waterproof clothing is made by Musto and Barbour (Not the waxed stuff), but they will cost you.
I have a friend with a Musto Highland Goretex jacket that has lasted him 10 years and it's still perfect.
I bet I know the Bib and Brace you mention Ron.I have the same set,which are a pain in the arse to get into!!.
I replaced my winter clothing just before Xmas. I decided on Sundridge,so far I`m very happy.
Ron is dead right about Game/shooters. I do a little wildfowling and purchased a jacket by a firm called "Deerhunter". This was over 10 years ago,and the jacket in question is still 100% waterproof. Brilliant bit of kit.
That's the one mate. The Sundridge bib and brace I have just acquired looks a heck of a lot better.
I have recently acquired a Barbour Northumberland jacket designed by Lord James Percy, It's £300 RRP but I got it at almost half price from John Norris.
I expect this jacket to outlive me it is so well made. It also has a PTFE membrane in it like Gortex.
I would strongly recommend anyone who wants a really good waterproof 3/4 jacket to look at John Norris. They have really top quality at very good prices indeed.
As you have said Yoggy, the shooting stuff knocks the stuffing out of the fishing stuff when it come to quality.
You guys are probably right about the shooting stuff.
Till I came accross the Nash jacket, I'd been set on getting a Chiruca Sileno jacket.
They're a Spanish hunting/shooting clothing company.
Thing is that like a lot of folk, my hobby exploits are always going to come lower down the funding allocation list than the mortgage, bills, 3 kids, 2 cars, etc.
As a single young man, I always had the best of gear whatever my given interest was, but that just changes as life does, so VFM is really a priority for me at this time.
Speaking of game clothing, I also spotted some gear called Stillwater by Glasgow Angling Centre (presumably own-brand?), and Wychwood's "All Season" gear, which I actually tried and liked at the recent angling show in Dublin.
I really like the look of both, and both brands are claimed to be 100% fully waterproof & breathable. Not soft-feel, but I'm thinking maybe I should give up on that idea.
I definetly want unlined gear - I prefer to layer up with thin thermal layers and maybe one fleece under a waterproof/windproof shell rather than bulk up with down & fleece inserts.
If I were to ask for recommendations, I know I'd get as many criticisms for a given garment as I would recommendations, so I won't.
But if anyone has experience of either Stillwater, Wychwood All Season or Nash Windcheetah gear, even just feeling or trying the gear in a shop, I'd love to hear opinions.
I agree that reviews of garments a couple of years down the road would be useful, probably even more useful and relevant than a first impressions review.
Mark,I know what you mean about Wife,Kids etc.You have to get your priorities right.But trust me,make do with what you`ve got now and save hard like I did until you can afford the better gear.It`ll actually work out cheaper in the long run. There are alot of superb jackets out there specifically designed for shooting that make ideal fishing jackets.As Ron stated,their quality completely outshines any so-called fishing jacket.[Apart from game fishing]. You`ll be surprised how many bargains there are to be found.Barbour,Deerhunter,Musto,to name a few are all top quality jackets.Just do a google search.As a matter of interest my local gunshop is selling Deerhunter jackets in a sale for 120 quid reduced from 200 quid.Thats a bargain and its only 20 quid more than the Nash jacket!!!! And you cannot even begin to compare the quality!!!
Yoggy, extra time ain't gonna get me a bigger budget for my hobbies.
Though the prices of Deerhunter gear and other undoubtedly high quality jackets justly reflect that very quality, in my case, it's not a matter of holding off till I can afford better, it's more a case of this is the amount I can allocate - either now, or at any time in the future.
To get the best gear I can for the lowest prices, I'm in a position where I have to buy online. I've done it with great success and satisfaction with all my motorbike gear (except my helmet), and my band's complete PA rig.
That means I have to rely on and trust manufacturer's blurb, dealer's appraisals and online opinions from review sites & forums.
Of course, all my normal rights are still present - if a product is not fit for purpose and as described, it goes straight back.
Incidentally, I also spotted a Cortland jacket online this morning - they're a US fly fishing company. Looks good, claimed 100% waterproof and breathable, soft-feel, light lining and very well priced. Ideal, if it is indeed as described.
Do any of you guys know of any other sites or forums where product reviews are featured?
