Wax jacket - are they really waterproof?

[wetnoodle]

I have a nice NorthFace waterproof that I wear walking but I'm looking for something a bit more stylish for every day. I LOVE the Zara safari jacket with leather sleeves but it's not practical.

Should I go for a Barbour wax jacket? Does anyone have any experience? Is it actually waterproof?

[dexter73]

I have 2 - they are both waterproof.

[crazyaccountant]

Yes wax Barbour's are waterproof I have a few, they do live in the garage not the cloakroom as they do smell if they have got very wet! They need re-waxing to keep them waterproof but will last years if well looked after! I'm lucky enough to live near the factory which has an outlet shop so have quite a few styles of Barbour and think they are excellent quality and worth the investment!

[Frontpaw]

I had a Backhouse for donkeys years and it was definately very waterproof!

[EmilieFloge]

I've got two, I don't find my winter one is very waterproof - resistant yes, but I always get wet inside the elbows which is unpleasant. Only been worn for one or two winters, on and off, it's not supposed to need redoing yet but tbh it let the rain in the first time it happened.

So I'm not madly impressed. It is warm though.

[TinyDiamond]

I have a stylish type one but it is perfectly waterproof although I didn't get one with a hood

[thecinnamongiraffe]

you're meant to wear a matching hat TinyDiamond, not something that I have had the nerve to do myself!

[wetnoodle]

Thanks! I'm thinking:
www.barbour.com/womens-clothing/jackets-coats/heritage-womens/heritage-beadnell-jacket-0

OR

www.barbour.com/womens-clothing/jackets-coats/wax/classic-womens/beaufront-jacket

Like the idea of lining and hood but wondering if it's a bit bulky, even when the lining isn't in

[wetnoodle]

Sorry, here are the links:

www.barbour.com/womens-clothing/jackets-coats/wax/classic-womens/beaufront-jacket

OR

www.barbour.com/womens-clothing/jackets-coats/heritage-womens/heritage-beadnell-jacket-0

[wetnoodle]

Crazy - where's the outlet located?

[dexter73]

There is an outlet at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. You can get some good bargains there.

[wetnoodle]

That's good to know. I'm not to far from Portsmouth and DH and I have been meaning to do a family day out there anyways.

Do they tend to stock a wide variety to styles and sizes? Sometimes I find outlets stock some of the crazier/trendy items but never the classic/traditional stuff

[dexter73]

They usually have a good range of styles and sizes.

[crazyaccountant]

The factory is up here in north east, a place called simonside industrial estate on the outskirts of south shields (NE32 3HL if anyone fancies a visit!) they have a full price new stock store then a factory outlet store joined to it. Hit and miss with the outlet stock and you don't get many of the trendy collections reduced but with waxes and tweeds there is much more choice, especially if you are after hunting/shooting style items, I've got waistcoat liners to go under my waxes for about £25 at times.

[crazyaccountant]

Be aware that beadnell won't be very warm, I have liners for my waxes as unless they are heavily lined they can be really quite cold when its a wet, long dog walk!

[wetnoodle]

Ooh good to know re: Beadnell. I might check out the men's range as well

[Butlerz]

The wet elbows is either wax wearing thin, which means its time to get coat cleaned and re-waxed, or bad re-proofing. If garment always leaked it hadn't been re-proofed properly to start with. A good re-wax and re-proof should sort it out and worth the money as they last for years if looked after.