Waistcoat/Gilet (3 Viewers)

[squidge]

Thinking about the summer already, Has anybody any reccomendations for a good waistcoat/Gilet, Country innovation and Jack pyke are the only two that seem too have big enough pockets as the rest of them seem to be geared towards fishing thus having small pockets. Thanks Ger.

 

[geordiebirder]

Hi Sqiudge, there is an american company called big pockets, theirs look cracking. Dont know how you get hold of one in the uk or europe. I have a country innovation vest and it does the job great!
Their web is www.bigpockets.com

 

[Mono]

If you want some serious load carrying the an assualt vest is the way to go http://www.rvops.co.uk/load-carrying-77/assault-vests-53/

If you just want a couple of big pockets then a shooting/skeet vest might be good http://www.gilsansports.com/products.asp?search_id=17285

 

[number6]

Photographers vest may be worth a look. Also 'Rohan' make a good travel waistcoat.

 

[Keith Reeder]

http://www.craghoppers.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product2_13552_-1__135851_11051_

 

[mike nesbitt]

Keith.
Can you fit a DSLR in the large front pocket of it? I'm wondering whether it would be any use for travelling on an airplane.
Mike.

 

[squidge]

I've been looking at the craghopper Sherman altough there considerably cheaper elsewhere on the net. There was a green version but I could only find it in medium and I'm a large. It looks like a good jacket alright. Ger.

 

[Keith Reeder]

Keith.
Can you fit a DSLR in the large front pocket of it? I'm wondering whether it would be any use for travelling on an airplane.

Uuuummm...

Dunno Mike - I actually have this Regatta waistcoat but they're thin on the ground these days, hence me suggesting the Sherman, which seems to the the closest thing to the Regatta (Craghoppers and Regatta are the same company these days).

I can say, having just checked it out, that an xxD body will fit into the Regatta's front pocket: it's "snug", but it's doable. The Sherman's pockets look a bit bigger (and they look like they'll expand) so I'd be cautiously optimistic about the Sherman.

It's got a poacher's pocket too.

 

[Bubbs]

I know this is of no help whatsoever but my local Oxfam shop has a fab photographers/fishermans jacket in for £4.50 and it looks brand new. Perhaps a charity shop or two may just be worth a look.

John

 

[mike nesbitt]

Cheers Keith.
I'll have to carry on looking. I fly fairly regularly and maybe I've been lucky, but my hand luggage (mini trekker) has never been weighed...... until I went at Christmas.
It was nearly double the allowance! and the cases had to be opened at the checkout whilst a major load shedding operarion took place.
I know the Domke waistcoat will do the job but I didn't really want to pay
£85. Maybe it'll have to be the charity shop.
Regards, Mike.

 

[Keith Reeder]

Hi Mike,

I'm thinking of having a Sherman myself (I can pick one up for £30) so if I do I'll report back on just how much kit will go in.

I have to say though that even without being able to get camera bodies in the pockets (if it comes to that) you can still tote a hell of a lot of stuff in these waistcoats, so a Sherman or similar might still earn its keep with you.

 

[mike nesbitt]

Keith.
Any feedback on that would be good, I've got a couple of months before I need to move on it. The way I see it is that I would like to fit two DSLR's and hopefully a 400f5.6 and all the smaller bits and bobs into the waistcoat.
My Minitrekker with a 300 f2.8 alone comes in just a smidgin under 5kG but once I got past the check in I would transfer it all back from the waistcoat. Not to fussed on the poachers pocket, there's no Salmon left in the River Conwy. lol
Best regards, Mike.

 

[hebog]

Barbour do a Westmorland in wax, tough as anything, with large bellows pockets. Theire shooting vests gilets also have large pockets.

 

[Sandra (Taylor)]

While we're talking clothes, does anyone know of a company who does large sizes in walking trousers - ladies. .... above size 20 !

 

[mike nesbitt]

In the end I bought a Domke photographic vest from WE. It will certainly do the flight bit for me as it's got some huge pockets.
I'm not sure that I will bother wearing in any other situation though.
Best regards, Mike.

 

[squidge]

Got the new regatta bodywarmer. It seems like an excellent one for the summer with plenty of pockets and lighweight. There was a 15 euro discount so even better again.http://www.regatta.com/product-detail.asp?pn=RMB006#

 

[Keith Reeder]

Good stuff, Squidge - if it's anything like my Regatta, it'll serve you very well.

As it happens I got myself another gilet recently - the Columbia Silver Ridge "vest" - from Nevisport, for a bargain £38, and it's excellent.

 

[NoSpringChicken]

Got the new regatta bodywarmer. It seems like an excellent one for the summer with plenty of pockets and lighweight. There was a 15 euro discount so even better again.http://www.regatta.com/product-detail.asp?pn=RMB006#

I bought one of these from my local camping shop (Norwich Camping) for £29 last week. It is really comfortable to wear and seems just as good quality as the Country Innovation Venture which was £75 at the Minsmere shop. The only thing wrong with the Regatta version is that the pockets are a bit tight fit for an average field guide. I am still impressed though and it even kept out the vicious north-easterly winds over the weekend.

Ron

 

[Jeremy]

I've got a cheap army surplus mesh waistcoat from Whipperley's - scroll down to the Green Multi-pocketed Vest: http://www.whipperleys.co.uk/acatalog/shooting_vests_safari_vests_fshing_vest.html
The front pockets will take a Canon 70-200mm f/4, or a 7D minus lens, although the pocket zip won't close completely with the camera body.
The mesh means it's quite cool over a t-shirt on a hot summer's day.

 

[Johnny1]

I've got a cheap army surplus mesh waistcoat from Whipperley's - scroll down to the Green Multi-pocketed Vest: http://www.whipperleys.co.uk/acatalog/shooting_vests_safari_vests_fshing_vest.html
The front pockets will take a Canon 70-200mm f/4, or a 7D minus lens, although the pocket zip won't close completely with the camera body.
The mesh means it's quite cool over a t-shirt on a hot summer's day.

The only problem with these is that they don't have a collar which is essential if you have your bins around your neck for any length of time.