When you say you wear your Barbour (or other weather proof outerwear) on wet days what are you actually wearing? The waxed coats? Quilted coats? Hip length? Mid-thigh length? Is there an advantage to waxed vs. Gortex? I’ve read so many references to hunting in Barbours on wet, nasty days but I’m trying to figure out brands/styles that might be best for riding.
No longer hunt, but have a rain coat with the appearance of a drovers coat,long, high spit in back, leg straps, but of a dark washable waterproof material, that is not Goretex. I love it!
I think mine’s a Bedale, but with four pockets? It’s hanging in the trailer…not much use for it in AZ at this time of year…so I don’t remember.
http://www.barbour.com/us/all-collections/mens/waxed-jackets/bedale-waxed-jacket/p/MWX0018BK9130
I will say, it can be heavy to wear. However, on a blustery winter day, I’m willing to take on the weight for the wind and rain proof properties.
I have a Barbour Bedale and I have some other brand that is a longer coat, but doesn’t have a great lining.
I have also ridden in my Melton on some nasty days and talk about HEAVY!!!, but I was warm.
I have seen some non oilskin coats, more Goretex like, that are similar in color and shape to a Barbour on some of the UK websites. I wish I could remember the one I saw, but they were a similar cut to the Barbour, but no worrying about having to rewax the coat.
I’ve hunted in my black Barbour Beadnell on cold rainy days. Here is a link to the Orvis site where they are sold: http://www.orvis.com/p/barbour-womens-beadnell-jacket/3c7c
What most hunts are looking for with rain coats would be a traditional look. Barbour is from the UK and are a long-tradition outer wear manufacturer so compliment the traditional attire worn while fox hunting.
Jawa, I think I recall one called a pack a roo?
http://www.outbacktrading.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=133
I had a long oilskin drovers coat. It was a pain to dry all the way and got musty and stunk of the barn. I tossed it. Got another oilskin barn coat like the Bedale. Didn’t learn my lesson. Stunk and pain to clean. No more for me.
gypsymare makes a good point–what is the stink factor on the waxed coats even if they are dried and cared for correctly? I like the look of the lightweight outback coat on the link above–it’s long and looks like you could layer up under it depending on the day.
I use a Drizabone full length Drover’s coat with lining. We only use them in the wet, worst weather and they stink like engine oil. I keep mine in the trailer. But there’s nothing better for keeping horse rider and saddle dry. My horse is nearly entirely covered by my coat. As to weight, remember to tie the waist string tightly -that takes the coat weight off the shoulders. And fasten the leg straps. That keeps them from flapping when going at speed.
Foxglove
How do you take care of these things. Mine has to live in the trailer.
It is also very stiff and is years old. Works well tho.
Bedales were always the standard for riding. However - things aren’t what they used to be. Barbour is no longer the old traditional clothing company it was back in the day. Old used stiff Barbours now sell for very much more than the new stuff. When I had to sit out in the fox pen for hours listening to hounds, I always wore vintage waxed barbour motorcycle coat and trousers. Toasty warm ! This was one of the best wet/cold/windy weather coats I had. If you had space for a down vest underneath it was the very best. Had leg straps and a high collar to keep the elements off you. It was rubberized cotton with taped seams. Trouble was, when I bought it to the US with me, it didn’t like the humidity. It ended up stiff with all the taping dropping off.
I had one of those long white coats way back when - everybody wore them before the Aussie outback coat. Eventually, it went sort of rotten and the
coating cracked and it had to go. Wow.
Equitbrit, interesting picture of the Barbour motorcycle trousers.
I’m not sure what they were originally called, but I’ve got some Barbour chaps-like leggings. They buckle around one’s belt. They’re really too big for me, but I keep them around for driving-rain days at the farm.
I cannot stand getting drenched.
I’ve never reproofed mine --just hose it off once a year and dry it in the sun. There is a product for reoiling: http://www.downunderweb.com/store/Clothing_OilskinandCanvasCoats.html
But I’ve heard “real” drovers just use more motor oil.
Foxglove
Musto rain gear is amazing - light, breathable, fully waterproof, machine washable, does not smell. Expensive, but I’ve bought mine through careful bargain hunting.
I have three different waterproof coats that I use for hunting – we can get a bit of rain in NZ! Things are pretty casual here so if it’s looking threatening we tend to stand around at the stirrup cup staring at the sky and debating if it’s a rain coat day. No-one is really worried what you are wearing as long as it’s a fairly discreet colour.
For early season hunts when it is still very warm I have a black gortex outdoor style jacket (not a Musto) – while it’s not a ‘riding’ cut our hunt jacket colour is black so it works fine. When it starts to get cold I switch to a short Musto jacket – it’s amazing, completely waterproof, but with a soft cotton like outer and fleece lining. I love it so much that I bought the long version – like a drovers coat, but with the same lovely soft outer and it’s not ridiculously heavy. I do find the long coat somewhat bulky and flappy – I feel more athletic in the short jacket – though I think that’s more in my head!
I also own a pair of cheap white waterproof over trousers. They go with the short Musto jacket for really wet days – I really like the combination more than the long jacket, especially if I have to get off for gates etc. Last season they had definitely stopped being so waterproof and I need new ones. Has anyone tried the Pikeur ones like this?
http://www.amirashop.co.uk/acatalog/Pikeur-Waterproof-Over-Trousers-AE619131.html#SID=573
I’m so glad I bought two full length Goretex coats with long splits and snaps around the legs when Classic Coverups was going out of business 
. We were at the paradriving Worlds in England (at Sandringham) this Spring and to say it POURED during the dressage warm up is an understatement. I was just grooming (taking care of horse, not riding on carriage), and as a former competitive swimmer, cold and wet is something I’m comfortable being, but my husband does not like to be cold or wet. Since he was navigating/riding as groom, he had to be on the back of the carriage the whole time, the Classic Coverups jacket saved the day. The USA team logo jackets we got from Ariat are super cute, and they are water resistant, but not waterPROOF. There is, IMO, no substitute for Goretex.
I have never heard of the Musto brand but after looking over their website it look like they have some very high tech gear. I’ve never tried any type of weather proof pants to put on over breeches…don’t you slide around?
Depends on the pants ! Mountain horse have a full seat version; [URL=“http://www.mountainhorseusa.com/outerwear/pants/mountain-horse-polar-breeches-305011”]http://www.mountainhorseusa.com/outerwear/pants/mountain-horse-polar-breeches-305011
There is now a huge range of bike gear, made of all sorts of modern materials instead of waxed cotton;
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/motorcycle/Waterproof%20Riding%20Pants
There’s always Goretex; http://www.gore-tex.com/products/outerwear/
This is the waterproof coat I was thinking of…It has a similar style to the Barbour, but is not a waxed cotton. They also have waterproof over trousers available on that web site.
Oh, I like the Ri-Dry jackets and over pants. Long enough to cover the saddle and upper thigh but not a full length coat. I have a pair of the Mountain Horse winter over pants but I’ve never thought about hunting in them. I may have to do a test ride to see how well they stick at speed cross country.
Honestly, I think you’re better off with Belstaff coats. They’re a bit costlier but you will never have to replace them!
