Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Filson Mackinaw Cruiser or ???

I need a new jacket.

I was looking at a wool jacket for both work (business casual) and woods. The Filson Mackinaw Cruiser (large/tall in black) caught my eye and I was curious if any of you owned one.

SWMBO thought the $310 price seemed high, and the coat might be a bit too informal for workwear. She suggested I could get 'work' coat from a place like JCP for less money. If I do that, it still leaves me needing a coat for the woods.

I will entertain any suggestions you have. This is my first attempt at wool outerwear, so let me know if you guys and gals have any favorites.


http://www.filson.com/products/mack...ions/tall-xl-sizes&fmetaProduct=cc15

Quality garment no doubt.

I have a size 48 in red if anyone wants a bargain.

I have two Filson cruisers � the one that you mention and the lighter classic cruiser in twill.

Each is a life-time-plus garment, and the price is therefore really very reasonable. (It's one of those deals where one $300 coat will out-wear two $200 coats and look good when it's old.)

I wasn't aware that the heavy one is now available in black, but unless Filson quality has drastically declined in the last couple of decades, I'd enthusiastically say that if it appeals to you, go for it!

+1 to what Ken said..


It really helps if you are young...so you can get your money's worth out of it

I have this one....which is basically the mack with a shearling collar you can turn up. Nothing better for a freezing cold New England high school football game.

http://www.filson.com/products/wool-packer-coat.10040.html

But be warned they are heavy, and you will heat up like an oven if you're climbing, shoveling, etc.

Filson stuff lasts forever, so I don't mind paying more for it, and because it does, you can often find barely used items on ebay and save a bunch of money.

You just can't go wrong in choosing wool. Warm, waterproof and will keep you warm even when soaking wet plus it will last forever. I still wear Pendleton wool shirts that I have had for forty years and they still look like new.

Weight in wool jackets and coats is the only thing that could be considered a downside but not much. Go for the wool! All them sheep couldn't be wrong!

You might also want to look at SwanDri from New Zealand. Best wool products I have ever tried and several people in the US import them. Just google it for more info. TM

I guess it depends on your definition of "business casual"......around here I'd be GTG. You'd almost be over dressed but very classy while wearing it in the woods. I've got a couple Cruisers and a couple Double Mackinaws also. The Cruisers are made of a slightly heavier wool (26 vs 24oz), and are a slimmer, dressier design. They're only weak point is at on the front top of the shoulder area where there's only one layer of material (as compared with the cape on the other model), but it's largely a non-issue.

I would also call Filson directly to find out if they've changed the material weight of their Cruiser from 26 to 24oz. Their website shows that they have, but it might be a typo. Historically, all Cruiser colors were 26oz except charcoal which was 24oz. If so, just factor that into your decision. A charcoal Double Mack is pretty sporty looking too. Maybe more than you need for around town, but very warm in the mountains.

Good luck with your decision. You're making a lifetime purchase.

I've got a couple of the single weight Mackinaw cruisers, have had for a long time, and they are indeed great. The double looks like a dandy also, but I've no experience there.

My wife gets and stays cold easily... we are going to get her a pair of whipcord pants and see how they do for coolness, the insulated bibs she has are fine but a bit noisy and she doesn't want bibs anymore for certain hunts.

Question on the mack... is it really warm? And is it merino or itchy wool? I mean I can't afford to buy a 300 buck or so jacket and have her cold in it. But I'll happily invest in it if its worth it.

She hates the itch of the other wools, but wears merino long johsn with no issue.

Check out Bemidji Woolen Mills. Good, high quality, USA made clothes.

For those with the Mac Cruiser, how is the fit? Spot, big, or small?

My experience with the Mackinaw is:

It is very itchy wool. Not nearly Merino. Don't think it was ever intended to go next to skin.

The heaviness is somewhat of a bonus, as the weight helps it fit tight to the body to help insulate.

I found the sizing to be probably spot on or a touch small. I think they are probably "tailor standard" if that makes sense. Meaning, if you were professionally fitted/measured, that's what size Mack you'd need. I think most garments have gotten way to far off standard sizing. I tape a 49", but thought I wanted a nice, tight fit. So I eBay'd a nice 46. Too tight across the back and shoulders. My loss. Someone on here grabbed it for $125 last fall. But they are not tapered at all. So you kinda need the belly to go with the shoulders.

Just a note on quality. Be careful. I think MUCH of the Filson line is now off-shore made. They may claim the Macks are not, but not sure if its US wool anymore or what the real deal is.

It is a classic coat. I am fond of the dark green myself for an all-around town/hunting coat. I get cold easy, and thought I needed a Double Mack. It's just too bulky.

+4 for the Pendelton wool shirts. Bout the last thing eBay is good for anymore. Sometimes you can get 4-5 shirts that are 100% US Wool from 1970s for $30 or so.

I have a double mac and others have posted enough to get you going on that one.

But I also have the heavyweight outfitter jacket and used it on my deer hunting stand last season as well as for the office. Dress wise it is a bit classier and less busy for my tastes. But as far as hunting goes it is excellent for layering over my other stuff.

Sizing for the outfitter jacket was a bit weird. They didn't have the tall/long version so I bought a XXL and had 6 inches or so taken in at the waist. It wasn't a tough thing for my tailor and was worth the money. But out of the box it was not made to fit guys like me.

Will

I wear Mac wool in the woods up here, you stay warm even when wet, but wool soaks up water and gets about twice as heavy when it gets really wet. It also attracts just about every burr, seed or briar that is withing a 100 yds of you, those can be nasty and Mac's are hard to deburr.

+1 on the burrs. I have two double Macs, a dark green for wearing around town in the winter, and a red-and-black plaid for that traditional hunting look. I wore the plaid one last week, and since Montana's grass and weeds are really high this year after lots of spring rain, I was picking cockleburrs off it every night.

The double Macs are marvelously warm, though, especially when sitting on a stand. When hiking I tend to wear lighter stuff.

I have a double mac in charcoal and it is dressy enough for anything short of a business suit environment. Even then you might get away with it if it's cold enough outside that people don't care as much. My other business attire winter coat is a camel hair Ralph Lauren trench. While it's a very nice coat, it is more about style than warmth. It does not compare to the Filson.

When I first got my jacket I received many compliments on how well it looked. People well notice it, in a good way. The quality stands out. It is very warm and well made. Tough enough for the woods. However, it is itchy wool and a little stiff at first. You'll need a season to break it in.

I just called Filson and they are all made with 24 ounce wool now. It used to be the charcoal gray one was 24 ounce and the rest were 26 ounce. It appears nothing in their entire catalog is made with 26 ounce fabric anymore. Still made in the USA, just not as warm as before.

I may be wrong but I think almost all of the Filson brand stuff is now made overseas. Just sayin think it over.

The mackinaw and tin cloth staples are still made in America. Nothing changed on that count.

Will