Thread: decent gear without the price tag

Originally Posted by Snoppernator

With @MB on this one. Every rain jacket and tent (found that out last roar trip over 36 hours of rain) has a hydrostatic head limit - how much water it can take before it absorbs through. The reality is unless you are running a solid rubber rain jacket or the like, which is not breathable, at some point it is going to wet through. Also reckon the whole waterproof boots pitch is a bit of a have - along with goretex. So, I use a lighter Swazi Rifleman and do smaller stinks in the wet, and plan my hunts accordingly.

Yeah I have the Swazi Rifleman - very very lightweight but I wore it all day and it worked really well I thought…. Just a waterproof shell… still had to have the warm gear underneath. The good thing is it takes no room in my pack and really lightweight so no dramas having it in pack all of the time… works well for me anyway… not cheap though

Originally Posted by 308

One note regarding those who buy army surplus jackets - I got a good jacket off the rack but didn't check the hood and it turned out that the thing was huge because it was made to go over a helmet

A cheap mistake to make but one to watch out for

Oh so you weren't that kid that got put on the school bus wearing a rugby helmet back in the day..............

Originally Posted by Ponchorello

Yeah I have the Swazi Rifleman - very very lightweight but I wore it all day and it worked really well I thought…. Just a waterproof shell… still had to have the warm gear underneath. The good thing is it takes no room in my pack and really lightweight so no dramas having it in pack all of the time… works well for me anyway… not cheap though

I think yer mixing labels or I'm missing something, the Swandri Rifleman is a hoody.....?

Originally Posted by yeah_na_missed

Let me guess... Earth Sea Sky Hydrophobia, as recommended in every "what's the best waterproof jacket" thread? I can now see why!

But is it breathable @Ryan_Songhurst

Originally Posted by Zedrex

But is it breathable @Ryan_Songhurst

Yea not bad, breathes better than my Cactus Rain Jacket does

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Yea not bad, breathes better than my Cactus Rain Jacket does

Does it go swish swoosh?

Originally Posted by 308

One note regarding those who buy army surplus jackets - I got a good jacket off the rack but didn't check the hood and it turned out that the thing was huge because it was made to go over a helmet

A cheap mistake to make but one to watch out for

Yep got caught with this too - absolute pain in the ass trying to keep the hood from obscuring view in heavy rain - solved it by wearing a light nylon cap under - can cinch it down pretty tight and does a decent job at keeping ya dry.

Originally Posted by Jake77

Yep got caught with this too - absolute pain in the ass trying to keep the hood from obscuring view in heavy rain - solved it by wearing a light nylon cap under - can cinch it down pretty tight and does a decent job at keeping ya dry.

Yeah took mine to a local seamstress who sewed a velcro strip vertically up the back from the top of neck to top of head and I used that to pull it back a bit and open it out - was only 30 bucks

Always take a coat: "any fool can take a coat on a wet day".

Beta Craft. NZ company (Pahiatua). Mid range pricing. Bomb proof. Well worth paying a few extra dollars.

Ive got this. Kick arse quality. Can seal myself in it so just my nose gets wet. Little bit bulky.

https://betacraftworkwear.com/collec...40123431551111

Less bulky, same quality and performance. Farming/hunting mate swears by it:

https://betacraftworkwear.com/collec...42307669131399

Swazi have great after-sales support. You can send your Swazi rain jacket back to them for a waterproofing treatment. Alternatively, once a year, run your jacket through the wash with a Nikwax waterproofing product. Works great.

https://nikwax.co.nz/products/twin-p...direct-wash-in

Originally Posted by Snoppernator

Swazi have great after-sales support. You can send your Swazi rain jacket back to them for a waterproofing treatment. Alternatively, once a year, run your jacket through the wash with a Nikwax waterproofing product. Works great.

https://nikwax.co.nz/products/twin-p...direct-wash-in

What’s the cost for rewaterproofing through Swazi?

Originally Posted by Zedrex

I think yer mixing labels or I'm missing something, the Swandri Rifleman is a hoody.....?

Swazi Riflemen is/was a waterproof shell anorak. Not sure they’re still around but I’m sure Swazi has something similar. Definitely not a Swandri

Originally Posted by The bomb

What’s the cost for rewaterproofing through Swazi?

Think it was like $40 a couple of years back. Just ordered Nikwax wash and waterproofing pack for $36 delivered. https://nikwax.co.nz/products/twin-p...direct-wash-in

Prefer putting through the washing machine than spraying on.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Always take a coat: "any fool can take a coat on a wet day".

Beta Craft. NZ company (Pahiatua). Mid range pricing. Bomb proof. Well worth paying a few extra dollars.

Ive got this. Kick arse quality. Can seal myself in it so just my nose gets wet. Little bit bulky.

https://betacraftworkwear.com/collec...40123431551111

Less bulky, same quality and performance. Farming/hunting mate swears by it:

https://betacraftworkwear.com/collec...42307669131399

That rover looks the business, my only reservation might be that the hood seems a bit shallow so might let water in when it's really hosing down....also...it's not camo

Originally Posted by Ponchorello

Swazi Riflemen is/was a waterproof shell anorak. Not sure they’re still around but I’m sure Swazi has something similar. Definitely not a Swandri

Hmmm, might have been superseded as the only thing that comes up when searching for rifleman (other than army recruitment stuff!) is the Swazi bloody marketeers, always stuffing around with stuff that has stuff all wrong with it!