Hey, Filson owners

bobm · Oct 29, 2011

Up front and right out, I have 3 jackets, 2 jacket liners, 2 vests, 2 hats, pants, gloves and socks (all made in the USA, BTW) from Filson, so I like the brand. I like the more traditional materials like waxed cotton all their wool makinaws and prefer them over the modern, techy items. I like the waxed cotton foul weather coat; have worn it for about 5 years, but does anyone else find it lacking for wearing in, well foul weather?
I recently spent 1/2 hour rewaxing the coat - with dryer in hand, working that wax/oil into every pore of that coat. Walk to the store in a light moderate rain (20 minutes, maybe) and low and behold, my shoulders are wet, well one shoulder was wet, the other dry. This was a 20 minute exposure, I can only imagine being in the field or horseback riding for a couple of hours and how totally soaked through my clothes would be!
I understand this is not a rubber rain coat, or Gore-Tex, but what does Filson consider "foul weather" for a foul weather jacket? Clouds?
What does amaze me, is that I have read most every jacket and coat review on Filson's site (and written a few myself) and I don't see how some of the reviewers say, this coat - and other waxed cotton coats, have kept them dry in downpours. Other opinions?

Bob

Flipped Lid · Oct 29, 2011

I like the classic looks of the Filson line, but with the exception of a wool car coat and wool-cashmere overcoat, I've made the switch to all polyester for foul weather. I like the windstopper fleece with a waterproof outer shell. These fabrics breathe and dry quickly, plus they seem to last forever. They are also practically dry when you take them out of the washer.

OneEyeMan · Oct 29, 2011

I've worn my Lewis Creek in absolute downpours and remained bone dry inside it.
I'd contact Filson if I were you.
Lenny

bobm · Oct 29, 2011

OneEyeMan said:
I've worn my Lewis Creek in absolute downpours and remained bone dry inside it.
I'd contact Filson if I were you.
Lenny

Lenny,

Sorry, what product is the Lewis Creek?

Bob

Bruce Wayne · Oct 29, 2011

Are you sure you just didn't sweat right there?

caffeinated · Oct 29, 2011

I have the trucker jacket. I've only gotten wet under the jacket by leakage. Meaning the rain runs down my neck to my shirt which at first made me think the jacket wasn't waterproof. What I need is a big hat, lol.

ButteMT61 · Oct 29, 2011

I just soaked my Aero HG5 in a hot shower for 5 mins and the lining was still bone dry

OneEyeMan · Oct 29, 2011

http://www.lewiscreek.com/

I have the Stockton Barn Jacket.
Awesome quality.
Nicer than even Barbour.
You can find them for good prices on eBay.
Lenny

too much coffee · Oct 30, 2011

Hi Bob;

My experience is mainly with the tin cloth Cruiser. I had my original one for approx. 14yrs. before it was stolen. I used to pack it in my Army gear 'A' bag for field deployments. Used it in the Panama rain forest, Ft. Lewis, WA, Ft. Bragg, NC, Ft. Benning, GA, Bad Kreuznack, Baumholder, Grafenwohr and Wildflicken, Germany (very wet and cold there) and Honduras. It used to keep me very dry. Of course I had to hide it under various Army issue garments........poncho, or field jacket or later on ECWS Gore-Tex. What I found out was the older, the better. But I was somewhat eccentric about reapplying the Filson wax. Someone in the Army had some home made potion that was superlative for waterproofing.
If I lived in a serious rain environment I'd probably experiment on my own for a rainproofing concoction.

My current Cruiser is only about 2yrs. old and living in southern Arizona, the main reason I bought it was protection from cactus and other thorny devils in the desert.

I know your feelings about Filson's oiled tin cloth Bob, but to me it works very effectively and is really tough stuff.

Filson's shelter cloth, cover cloth and the like take a back seat to the oiled tin cloth for rain protection. But the others are probably warmer and lighter.

Regards,
coffee

P.S........."caffeinated" may be on to something. Any chance the rain could have seeped down your neck and spread to the shoulder area?

bobm · Oct 30, 2011

Lenny,

Very nice indeed. But why are they so limited in sizes and colors - looks like there is slim pickings on the site.

Bob

bobm · Oct 30, 2011

Bruce Wayne said:
Are you sure you just didn't sweat right there?

Nope, the rain soaked through on the top of my right should and was starting on the other shoulder.

Bob

bobm · Oct 30, 2011

too much coffee said:
Hi Bob;

My experience is mainly with the tin cloth Cruiser. I had my original one for approx. 14yrs. before it was stolen. I used to pack it in my Army gear 'A' bag for field deployments. Used it in the Panama rain forest, Ft. Lewis, WA, Ft. Bragg, NC, Ft. Benning, GA, Bad Kreuznack, Baumholder, Grafenwohr and Wildflicken, Germany (very wet and cold there) and Honduras. It used to keep me very dry. Of course I had to hide it under various Army issue garments........poncho, or field jacket or later on ECWS Gore-Tex. What I found out was the older, the better. But I was somewhat eccentric about reapplying the Filson wax. Someone in the Army had some home made potion that was superlative for waterproofing.
If I lived in a serious rain environment I'd probably experiment on my own for a rainproofing concoction.

My current Cruiser is only about 2yrs. old and living in southern Arizona, the main reason I bought it was protection from cactus and other thorny devils in the desert.

I know your feelings about Filson's oiled tin cloth Bob, but to me it works very effectively and is really tough stuff.

Filson's shelter cloth, cover cloth and the like take a back seat to the oiled tin cloth for rain protection. But the others are probably warmer and lighter.

Regards,
coffee

P.S........."caffeinated" may be on to something. Any chance the rain could have seeped down your neck and spread to the shoulder area?

Today, can you believe we had snow in NJ? About 4 - 6" of the heavy wet snow. Well I wore my tin cloth jacket and after about a half hour of walking around, same thing, starting to get damp on the shoulder areas. I know this is the most vulnerable area on any jacket moisture wise, but come on - 1/2" hour in some snow? Maybe I needed to reapply a heavy coating of wax, but did not think so because the jacket has seen so little exposure to anything, practically new. I placed the moleskin liner in the jacket for warmth; even though this jacket really only takes the vest/liner.
Just to mention - and kills me to do so, was that I later wore Duluth Trading Company fleece lined fire hose canvas jacket and I was dry as a bone; nothing penetrated through and the jacket did not even get stained when I was carrying logs for the fire and I was outside shoveling snow too - well over and hour, maybe an hour and a half and I was warmer, drier, more comfortable and had greater mobility than the Tin jacket and liner.
But damn if I don't have a warm place in my heart for Filson's signature items - the waxed cotton jackets and wool coats. I have not given up on them yet, but am disappointed in the performance.
I can deal with the higher price, deal with the stiffness, particularly in colder weather, deal with the actual hefty weight of the jacket when a liner is attached, but for all that puuuuuullleeeeeeeeeze afford me more than the most minimum of protection from the rain and snow.

No chance rain leaked down the collar though.

Bob

OneEyeMan · Oct 30, 2011

Don't know Bob.
I will say that my Medium is cut large enough to fit a decent thickness
sweater underneath.
Lenny

bobm said:
Lenny,

Very nice indeed. But why are they so limited in sizes and colors - looks like there is slim pickings on the site.

Bob

OneEyeMan · Oct 30, 2011

On the contrary, both the lighter fabrics are better for rain protection than the Tin Cloth.
Reason being is that they both have a much tighter weave. The Tin cloth is definitely thicker, but
has a much looser weave necessitated by the larger thread strands of the fabric.
Forget where I read this but it makes perfect sense.
Lenny

too much coffee said:
Filson's shelter cloth, cover cloth and the like take a back seat to the oiled tin cloth for rain protection.

bobm · Oct 30, 2011

OneEyeMan said:
Don't know Bob.
I will say that my Medium is cut large enough to fit a decent thickness
sweater underneath.
Lenny

I'm a 42 regular, which is considered in most cases a L. Would a M work?

Bob

budrichard · Oct 30, 2011

bobm said:
Up front and right out, I have 3 jackets, 2 jacket liners, 2 vests, 2 hats, pants, gloves and socks (all made in the USA, BTW) from Filson, so I like the brand. I like the more traditional materials like waxed cotton all their wool makinaws and prefer them over the modern, techy items. I like the waxed cotton foul weather coat; have worn it for about 5 years, but does anyone else find it lacking for wearing in, well foul weather?
I recently spent 1/2 hour rewaxing the coat - with dryer in hand, working that wax/oil into every pore of that coat. Walk to the store in a light moderate rain (20 minutes, maybe) and low and behold, my shoulders are wet, well one shoulder was wet, the other dry. This was a 20 minute exposure, I can only imagine being in the field or horseback riding for a couple of hours and how totally soaked through my clothes would be!
I understand this is not a rubber rain coat, or Gore-Tex, but what does Filson consider "foul weather" for a foul weather jacket? Clouds?
What does amaze me, is that I have read most every jacket and coat review on Filson's site (and written a few myself) and I don't see how some of the reviewers say, this coat - and other waxed cotton coats, have kept them dry in downpours. Other opinions?

Bob

Like yourself, i have a number of Filson garments both oiled and un-oiled Tin Cloth but none of the lighter weight garments.
Filson Oiled Tin Cloth was developed like Barbour oil cloth in the early 20th century to provide protection from wind, rain and with proper insulation, cold. These products are not bullet-proof, you can get wet if in prolonged exposure and moisture from exertion may not evaporate fast enough and cause you to be wet. And then one then needs shelter and warmth to dry yourself and everything out.
But along came fabrics like Gore Tex with a high degree of water resistance and somewhat but not much breath-ability. It is these garments that I use while hunting in rain/snow or when outside.
I have switched to un-oiled tin cloth for hunting etc and it provides about the same protection from wind and light rain but it's real versatility is protection from brambles and thorns.
If you still think the coat has a problem, contact Filson. They are very helpful.-Dick

too much coffee · Oct 30, 2011

OneEyeMan said:
On the contrary, both the lighter fabrics are better for rain protection than the Tin Cloth.
Reason being is that they both have a much tighter weave. The Tin cloth is definitely thicker, but
has a much looser weave necessitated by the larger thread strands of the fabric.
Forget where I read this but it makes perfect sense.
Lenny[/QUOTE

Might make perfect sense until one adds the further protection of multiple applications of linseed oil, beeswax and Filson's own canned wax over many years. When it was stolen after approx. 14 years of ownership it would still stand up on its own, not because it wasn't broken in but because of the amount of wax and oil in and on the jacket. That old Tin Cruiser kept me very dry over the years or maybe I wasn't exposed to a real rain storm.

We'll just have to agree to disagree Lenny.

Regards,
coffee

bobm · Oct 30, 2011

Good information here and I guess everyone is correct. What I can whittle down after all is said and done including my own experiences, is that Filson's (and most others probably) will provide out of the box, and if properly maintained and renewed, some protection against a light to moderate rain and if you want more protection from the rain/snow/moisture, wax/oil the heck out of it - frequently. This may help the water from getting in, but surely must hinder water/sweat getting out. I noticed this last year on a moderate hike in cool weather where I had worn a cotton shirt, wool sweater and the waxed foul weather coat. At day's end, the inside back of the coat was very wet. Oh well, I should have known better that there's a reason you never see anyone hiking with waxed cotton and use the more modern/techy products (except for wool) and they use parka, rather than coat, styling - way more comfortable movement/fit. Also, as I was reminded yesterday when the temps went down to the low 30's, waxed cotton can be very stiff - and my coat is the softest fabric of Filson's cotten coats and well broken in.
I can appreciate that the tin fabric is tough as nails - against thorns/brush/whatever and that's a huge plus for hunters, ranchers, guys working in the fields, etc. Also the coats do look so much better with continued use. And there is a nostalgic charm and a certain old time/classic style exuded by this old time fabric. It kind of makes an anti-tech statement for some of us - at least a mild anti tech statement. Following on this thought is the reemrgence in the popularity of waxed cotton jackets - check this out - by Land End.
http://canvas.landsend.com/pp/Waxed...RDI&CM_MERCH=IDX_Men-_-Outerwear&origin=index.

So, I will continue to enjoy my waxed jackets, apply a lot more oil, don't go on long tough hikes with it, and wear a different coat in heavy rains.

Bob

too much coffee · Oct 30, 2011

Well Bob, you're probably right.
I can only talk about my own experience with my old Tin Cruiser. I certainly didn't want to muddy the waters or have you side stepping land mines in a mine field in regards to this Filson issue. There are certainly more guys on this Forum with more experience with Filson products than me.

The only reason I'm not into the techy stuff is their lack of durability when put to rough field use. Probably OK when stand hunting or hiking cleared trails but when I used to hunt, I was usually on the move and usually hike without benefit of cleared trails.

But I like your summation!

Best regards,
coffee

bobm · Oct 31, 2011

too much coffee said:
Well Bob, you're probably right.
I can only talk about my own experience with my old Tin Cruiser. I certainly didn't want to muddy the waters or have you side stepping land mines in a mine field in regards to this Filson issue. There are certainly more guys on this Forum with more experience with Filson products than me.

The only reason I'm not into the techy stuff is their lack of durability when put to rough field use. Probably OK when stand hunting or hiking cleared trails but when I used to hunt, I was usually on the move and usually hike without benefit of cleared trails.

But I like your summation!

Best regards,
coffee

Hey Coffee,

No muddy waters or land mines here and I appreciate your comments and reviews - you are a Filson user and are speaking from experience...and long experience at that! Again, much appreciated. I think you are spot on in terms of "toughness" in the field and durability of the Filson tin cloth clothing.

Bob

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