Talk me out of buying a Barbour

[Iwannasnack]

Or should I? Been trying to find a coat that is warm, actually waterproof and looks smartish for over a year. Was wandering around John Lewis today with the plan to look at something from Joules or Seasalt and stumbled into the Barbour section. Tried one on expecting to look ridiculous and I loved it.

I’m 37. No dog. No Land Rover. No country estate lifestyle just the 1.2 mile round trip to school and back twice a day. It’s over double the money I was thinking of spending. I remember my friend having one as a child and it stunk. I just need to move on don’t I?

You can get coats which are better and much cheaper than Barbour from trade stands at country shows, game fairs, major equestrian events etc etc. It’s the tail end of the season now, but you may still be able to catch one in your area.

I got DP one in the John Lewis Black Friday sale a few years ago, OP, if you can wait a month or two. They didn’t have all the styles but there was a decent reduction on lots of them.

Go for it though. Love a good Barbour!

If you do get a traditional Barbour, chuck it in the boot of the car, on the floor, wear it to walk the dogs etc. Brand new is not the ‘right’ look. They are supposed to look well used.

I tried one on thinking I would love it but instead I felt like I needed to accessorise it with a headscarf tied under my chin.
So I put it back.
I do have dogs and a house in the country and am angling for a land rover defender but definitely not bothering with a Barbour.

I've got 5 barbours. Love them.

New one is bright red and it gets comments everywhere.

Love my navy ‘classic’ Barbour. As a pp above, I also have the inner fleece bit which makes it extra toasty.
Mine’s about 5 years old now. Great buy. Hasn’t needed to be re-waxed (great tip about buying the wax from Barbour, thanks for that) yet. And it is not stinky!
I’d totally recommend one.

I hate mine. Heavy, not really waterproof even though it should be and completely dated fashion wise now.

There was something in the news about heavy coats being bad for your back. Carrying extra weight around I kid you not. SO if its heavy and stinky then its not doing it for me. Plus you could buy 2 still decent coats for that price. I like the fluffy collar but theres plenty if those out there. Plus theres the faff of waxing it.

Overpriced. Understyled. Poser-ish.
But that's just my opinion! If you like it, go for it.
PS. You did ask to be talked out of it

I have 2 and love them. Agree with others posters about some of the North Face coats being nice too. It depends what you're after

The brand is not important, it's functionality is.

I've got a quilted barbour, It's my most worn coat and so cosy.

I've had mine for 20 years or so, still going. I don't find it particularly warm, but it's rain and windproof. I wear mine with a tartan mini skirt, wool tights and Dms, or on the now rare occasions I'm in a muddy field.

I would go for a classic and not the coloured or overly styled which I think looks naff and too try hard.

A great alternative is a Jack Murphy jacket. The quality is unparalleled and you don’t have the name stitched in bright yellow.

I've got the one with the Liberty print lining, I love it. I bought it on eBay for about £100

I’ve got this exact one and love it. It’s perfect for so many occasions and loads of looks - really practical. Would highly recommend

I had a classic waxed one but I found it really cold and heavy to wear and smelly too. I felt like I was walking about in a walrus skin. So I got rid.

However, last winter I bought a Barbour padded parka with a fur hood, and it's the warmest winter coat I've ever had, has survived repeated washes and tumble drys and I bloody love it.

It’s lovely but short. The rain will run off it and drench your legs.
Trust me

We love our ancient ones. They’re not smart in the ‘dressed up’ sort of way but are impervious to rain/hail and bramble. They’ve been serviced a couple of times in two decades and still going strong. There is a waxy smell if they get left in direct sunlight but that she diminished with age or else our sense of smell has diminished.
Not sure they’re a fashionable coat but very practical for dog walking.

I'd get a classic as this will date. They do last a lifetime and you can send it off to Barbour in South Shields to get it rewaxed.

I have two Barbours (8 & 15 years old) and a Jack Murphy.

The Barbours are neither waterproof or warm. The JM is perfect and was a third of the price.

@dinosaurkisses thanks very much. A giant hound to walk means I’ve been considering one of these.

Mine’s over thirty years old and doesn't smell - of old orangutangs or anything else unpleasant. Has had the occasional rewax but £ per wear has worked out ridiculously good value. I was in a vintage fashion shop with one of my DDs and we fell about laughing l when we saw the prices they had on a rack of classic, originals like mine - clothing that actually appreciated in value !

My DD bought one of the modern ones in a sale a couple of years ago - saying ‘ I can’t quite believe I am doing this’ - but you would now have to prise it out of her warm, dry hands.

They're perfect for muddy country life and dog walking. They're not smart or fashionable and look ridiculous worn by urban aspirational middle class people.

I love my Barbour, had it since (muddy, country) schooldays, had it serviced several times, maybe every five years. Am always asked how old it is and told some stories of other old ones still in active use.

Haven't worn it since I discovered (here in MN) https://www.protected-species.com