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

it's well made, i got one, hangs in the basement cause it's way too heavy.

I have a double Mac and the downside is that it really doesn't block the wind very well IMHO.

dang, you must have some hellacious winds up there.

I have two Double Mackinaws;green and red/black...and two regular Cruisers;plus a couple of work jackets in green and charcoal.

During winter I wear the Double to the office and around town and can't remember how many comments I get from folks who have never seen one and don't know what they are...."Wow what a great coat! What is that and where do you get them?"Hear it all the time.

The doubles go hunting, but not much....it's tough to find weather cold enough to use them until very late in the season.The Cruisers see more action for hunting.

The Filsons are only rivaled for "Classic" by a Navy P-Coat.

This. I have the double Mac and it's warm, it's quality, sort of fashionable, but if you move at all as in anything strenuous, prepare to be well-done. I no longer wear it hunting unless I know I'll be on a stand for an extended period of time.

Also in the running is the Barbour "International" Motorcycle Jacket.
Rather than paraphrasing, READ THIS

I've got a closet full of Filson that I cherish, but I still have the itch for an International......

The double mac is the bomb. Have had mine over 10 years..occasional use at best here in N Tx but it looks brand new. Fit and finish is superb. Worn with a 100X increases the cattle herd. wink

222: Barbour makes great stuff....I had never seen that one.The Brits and Scotts certainly know a thing or two about dealing with moderately cold, and wet conditions.

I think they may have shot a stag or two,and maybe some birds over there as well....?

Yep. Modern materials may have made Barbour largely obsolete, but not much else approaches the classic look.

I use my Mackinaw Cruiser, which is a mid weight hard finished wool in sage green, in a layering scheme w/ other garments. Works great. I use it big game hunting and bird hunting as well. I can't imagine using the double mac hunting, unless it's single digits or below zero outside (unless sitting only).

As to the Barbour stuff, I like it, but if really active they don't breathe well. I've got two, both Beaufort, the first is worn out. Good in wind, wet conditions, layering underneath, as they are not warm by themselves. Not sure they are worth the $ these days.

Double Mackinaw is for work and like Bob it gets a lot of compliments.

Reread addition: Bob, you really do get a compliment now and then.

Have tried to hunt in the Double, but way to hot if you move around for average Pa. temps and with anything else underneath they can make a rifle stock become very long.

The Cruiser on the other hand is just about perfect. Not to thick and definitely more flexible. Also a good looking around town jacket.

Buy them at least a couple sizes bigger if you plan to layer underneath. The only other drawback I have is that in Blaze Orange Pa. I have to add one of those flimsey orange vests on top to be legal. Always catching on something and coming open.

A cruiser being used for one of the things it was made for:

Not long ago if you had someone purchase one over in England, they were half the price of here in the States.

Yup - my last one, bought new in England in 1997, cost me $175. I special ordered a Border jacket for my wife with custom modification (shorter sleeves), and it came to $190 (yes, $).

you can find used Barbour stuff on ebay for way less than retail, and like Filson it's kind of indestructible.

this coat is more than 30 years old and still sheds water better than new Gore Tex ever will, plus it is really thornproof, which is important in the woodcock wars:

No one has mentioned the "Pennsylvania Tuxedo", Woolrich's classic 503 wool hunting coat. I wanted one and was about to pull the trigger at Cabela's when I decided to do an internet search. Cabelas wanted $199 for it. The place below is $149 for the same coat so I got mine from them.

http://montanawoolenshop.com/PWoolrichHunting.html

LL Bean's version is also a little less than Cabelas:

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/69102?feat=506679-GN3&productId=1157890

My favorite. With the game pouch in the back they are just about perfect. Flexible and will turn the jaggers. Wish you could get one with some orange so I could stay legal. Hate those flimsy orange vests I have to wear on top.

Addition: Nice shotgun, birds and pic.

Looked at them down at Cabela's.

Unfortunately not the same as the original. Much thinner. When the old ones took on water they weighed a ton.

They bring back a lot of memories.

Daughter shopped around and picked me up a Beaufort for $150 something around 2007. Either in England or Scotland.

I got the Mack Cruiser in green for a gift several years ago. Quality is top notch. I have used it for work, shirt and tie type dress, people do notice. I've been asked more than once, "Is that a Filson?"

It has seen more use in the deer woods when I'm not very active or sitting on stand. It's pushing 10 years old and looks every bit as good now as when new.

Having the wool cruiser prompted me to buy the Tin Cloth version. It's also a quality coat and shines in the woods when crashing through thick stuff. I don't wear this one deer hunting however, due to the brown color and hunting public land. For birds and rabbits though...