Does anyone wear Barbours these days?

Storminateacup

Storminateacup

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 March 2008
Messages
1,633
Location
2nd star on the right and straight on 'til morning
Visit site
Just come back from a walk round the croft in the pouring rain with dog. My Barbour Northumbria got soaked but I stayed dry inside. Its a bit like wearing an old canvas tent. Its cold and hard and looks wet - does this mean it needs rewaxing do you think?
I bought it "new, never been worn" from Ebay, but seller said it was about 12 years old just hanging in cupboard unworn.
Looked and smelt brand new too.
My Barbour Bedale is quite different, light and supple, but I have rewaxed that twice during the winter.

My OH thinks my Barbours are awful 'cos he has gone hi tec and wears Gortex and North Face etc - but then he is richer than me!
smirk.gif
 
I owned my first barbour beadale coat from 1985 - 1998 when my other half threw it out because of the smell!!!!
blush.gif

It was full of holes and the zip was bust but I loved it! Over the years it had moulded to my shape perfectly and it was very comfy to ride in.

I wear a Toggi Apache coat now which I love but I do still have a barbout coat which i wear for walking the dogs, it's an old favourite about 8 years old now, how many new tech coats will last as long as my old barbour though I wonder.........
grin.gif
 
My o/h still has his from 10 + yrs ago!! Its still waterproof and he still wears it to bits!

As for me, i went to drizabone, for the full length coat, but find that heavy and cold sometimes!!
 
I have a Barbour Cowan Commando. I have had it adjusted to bring the length up as they are made for men. I love it cause the design is different than normal.
In the winter i just pop a fleece inside to keep warm.
 
Wouldn't be without mine. Can't remember how old it is, but it's a real novelty at the yard.
blush.gif
No body here wears them, but I'm the one who's laughing when everyone else is shivering in their fleeces when the winter sets in!
tongue.gif
S'pose I'd better think about getting a replacement next time I'm back in Blighty.....
 
Yep, had mine about 8 years now and is currently seriously in need of a rewax. Hole in one of the pockets from the hoofpick that has lived there for about the same amount of time.

Me and my Mum always used to joke that some people have street cred, we have field cred... barbour jackets and hunter wellies (green ones of course)!!
laugh.gif
 
I was wondering whether anyone wears Barbours too! My dad can still occasionally be seen sporting his (despite the fact that he owns a musto) and my sister and I used to have tiny little kiddies one, which were quite cute. Have to say, once they've been in a cupboard over the summer, they do smell pretty awful.
 
I work in a shop that sells Barbours. Selling a lot less of the old traditional wax jackets but Barbour do loads of different fabrics nowadays, including goretex type breathable fabrics. The name Barbour does tend to put up the price though! If your wax looks wet it doesn't sound as if it needs rewaxing, its when they are dry and cracked looking that you need to worry.
 
I really, really wanted a long wax coat - until I got one & was soooo disappointed. Found it cold, heavy, stiff, smelly. It was a Drizabone. Then it started leaking so I tried rewaxing it exactly as per instructions, & it was never the same again so I binned it.

Felt really guilty, esp cos I'd wanted one for AGES, but I didn't get on with it at all. Now have a Mountain Horse Oyster which I totally love.
 
Well I resurrected my long Barbour Riding Coat in last July when it never stopped raining. Forget the Musto stuff, I'm back to wearing that now when it's chucking down, it's the only thing that keeps the rain out.

It's the waxed sort, I've never done any maintenance on it, and I thought it was very old hat, until I put it on one day when I didn't have any dry jackets/coats left. I bought it circa 1990.

I might even go completely mad and buy a new one...
 
I've got two Barbours gathering dust in the back of my wardrobe. I used to wear them all the time. They are at least 15 years old if not older! It never occurs to me to wear them now because I love my Toggi jacket too much. OH still wears waxed jackets but he's never been at the cutting edge of fashion
grin.gif
blush.gif
 
Well I will be taking my full length wax to Badminton - it saves me having to wear waterproof trousers, I can fit it over another coat so if its cold I am snug warm and dry. Mine has never been rewaxed - it is oil cloth and seems to retain the oil. It must be about 10 years old. My Oh is planning on buying one at Badminton as he wants something full length to keep him dry.
 
I must say I do agree with the comments about heavy when wet and nasty cold feel but, when its bucketing down outside I reach for it instinctively. It comes to the knees, goes over a Puffa gilet and another coat and has a nice soft bit on the funnel neck that doesn't rub my chin sore.
The pockets are cavernous for loading with carrots, dog leads, baler twine and Swiss army knife/hoof pick and strong so heavy items don't break through the bottom, - reckon I could even get a flask of coffee in there with the sandwiches too.
I am still searching for a jacket that can do all this and look and feel good too, and last....forever - hmm, maybe I am stuck with the Northumbria after all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top