Are Barbour Waxed jackets still any good?

[MadamMooch]

My ancient Barbour waxed jacket has finally had it. I don’t know what style it was, as it came from an older relative. Who makes the best quality waxed jackets now? I’d like this one to last as long. Thanks in advance.

Barbour will actually repair their jackets too, you can send them back to the factory in South Shields

Yes they are still pretty much hand made and fantastic quality.

You need to rewax them regularly.

www.barbour.com/uk/blog/barbour-repairs-rewaxing/

Thanks all. It’s been well-loved and cared for but it now has an enormous rip in a fairly irreparable place. I did just google the exchange/repair option, thanks @Bluet1t.
Just wanted to know if they’d become rubbish as they’ve became fashionable, like Hunter wellies

I'm not sure if they have fashion and countrywear. if they do, the fashion ones will probably not be as good.

I’d get a price from them for repairing it. New ones aren’t cheap.

I got one about 2 years ago and it’s great.

Thanks all. I’m going to consider a repair. As long as it’s watertight, I’m not hugely bothered what it looks like.
If not, looks like I’ll be getting a new one.

DM had her 25 year old Barbour repairs last year. It had rips in places that looked irreparable. It came back looking amazing! It probably has another 25 years in it now.9

@MadamMooch long-time Barbour wearers tend to think modern (and new) versions worse quality, so hunt for secondhand jackets by preference.

Have bought two off ebay, one four years ago (£45) and one only a few weeks ago (newer, £65). Both in excellent condition, former had patina (thus avoiding "shiny new" look) but was not dirty, stained etc. Newer one clearly worn no more than once or twice, probably never seen rain or mud. Older one worn very lightly before it came to me.

Have used first one a lot since bought it, very practical and find that wax jacket smell comforting! Also don't have to worry about treating it carefully, as with expensive GoreTex clothing (one thorn in GoreTex and you're in trouble - waxed cotton easily patched).

Obviously many Barbour jackets on ebay are old rubbish. Bide your time and you should get something cheaply, possible longer-lasting than new item - and you'd be recycling an existing resource.

Tip: reproof jacket with pot of Renapur leather balsam rather than Barbour dressing. Renapur smells lovely, much easier to apply, gives excellent rainproofing.

Darn you @outwest, just been looking at ebay, ordered a dress and wasted ages looking at barbour wax jackets.
I might look for one. I had one decades ago, so it might just be me trying to relive my youth.

Darn you @outwest, just been looking at ebay ... wasted ages looking at barbour wax jackets.

My work here is done...

and quilted jackets. Stopped myself looking at ankle boots.

I know it's time to have mine 'serviced' when I find myself thinking that it's not really 'all that'

My '70s one is still going strong. Love all the pockets.

Personally I don't like them - I did have one but I found it to be a cold and stiff fabric. I also never liked the oiliness when it was new (worried about it leaving marks on friends car seats). They also tend to be drab colours - so OK if you like drabness. Having said that it was waterproof and had good pockets. I much prefer the modern fabric functional coats - including those in the Barbour brand. If I'm also being totally honest, I don't like the fact that they are often (but not always) worn by snobby people with an interest in money. If I see someone wearing one (particularly a man), I'm cautious because my inclination is that they are not my sort of person - just saying (even though I realise that this is an unjust generalisation).

@BikeRunSki That sounds promising, thanks.
@FinallyHere Can never have enough pockets!
@outwest I don’t mind getting new if they’re still well made and I can wear it for years. It’s not going to look pristine for long in this house I will look at Renapur.

@universallychallanged I do admire a lot of the technical Scandi waterproof stuff, but I’ve always had a wax jacket and like natural fabrics too.
Oh dear about the snobs. Must be where you are. My Gran accessorised hers with a belt of bailing twine and the drool of various large animals

My DS21 has just hijacked my ancient Barbour jacket, and is wearing it proudly as fashion. I think they are going to be back in style. Keeping it properly waxed will (a) keep it waterproof and (b) extend the garment's life.

I don't like the fact that they are often (but not always) worn by snobby people with an interest in money.

Think there must be many coats that would do better job of showing you have money than battered old Barbour! Even in same "Brit style" niche, Belstaff or Burberry are 2-3 times the price, for example. Personally find nearly all newer non-waxed Barbour designs (for men) a bit "try hard" and wouldn't consider buying. Also regard clean wax jackets with suspicion, as suggests not being used as they were meant to be used i.e. bought for show not go.

Still, agree with universallychallanged that it's an inflexible and chilly fabric, does need something between it and your skin. If you have lined jacket should be OK though. Smell puts some people off - find it evocative and love it myself, DW does not.

Performance mixed. If proper heavy rain is forecast would leave Barbour at home and wear super-competent Musto technical jacket, but wouldn't dare slog through brambly undergrowth and over barbed wire fences in the Musto (v. expensive, relatively fragile). Barbour just shrugs off that sort of use. At end of winter I pay local seamstress a few pounds to patch/repair holes and tears, then I reproof and it's ready for another year.

Horses for courses I guess.

@XingMing Hope you’re managing to keep dry
Thanks @outwest. Husband likes his Goretex thingy too, but he’s not dealing with livestock/small children who hang on pockets etc!

@MadamMooch Wet weather gear is not a problem; we have coats, over trousers and boots for every sort of rain (or snow) that falls on Dartmoor. 'No such thing as bad weather, only the wrong gear' is a sentence never spoken here. Space to keep it all is another matter.

OP, check out Barbouretum on Facebook for vintage Barbour jackets & accessories. Tim found a liner for my old Northumbria at a very good price.
I agree with the pp who said the older ones were better quality - mine is 25 years old at least but the materials feel better, the cloth, the zips & press studs etc.
I've also used the Barbour repair service, I paid £60 for 2 new inner sleeve replacements (they opened the seams, replaced the inner half of the sleeve which had rubbed against the body & closed the seam again), a new collar & replacement pieces at the cuffs & tops of the pockets where it had frayed.
The construction seems almost modular in some areas - a damaged panel can be swapped for a new one relatively simply.
Other areas seem to get patched but the patches add to the charm in my view.
There's a YouTube film about the Barbour repair shop I saw once, they can do just about anything to keep jackets going.

How can you tell an Ebay one is real?

My old one is about 30 - luckily it still fits! I have rewaxed mine and found that by popping it in the tumble dryer on a warm setting before and after waxing helped the wax to spread more evenly! Just used to put and old towel in the dryer for a bit to mop up any wax afterwards. I find the fit on The newer ones a bit hit and miss.

I have a Kelsall which is a waxed parka and a relatively new style.

I've taken the sightly ridiculous fur off of the hood but otherwise it suits me down to the ground. Long in the body (like me) and nips in a bit at the waist (like me) and oh the pockets, the endless pockets! It lets me go out without a bag which is my ultimate test for any jacket.

Mine has done great service for a good few years so far (5, maybe?) and though it could do with a rewax, I am really happy with it.

I replaced my nearly 30 year old one recently...it had suffered from extreme neglect. Thought I'd never get another. Then I got a dog
Now I'm tramping through woods and brambles when she dashes off to chase things I'm glad I have another and I don't worry about being caught on thorns etc and there are always enough pockets!

I don't think they are a statement where I live,more a practical response to living in the countryside!