Branded Fishing Clothing....Value or Rip Off.

[maverick 7]

I hope it wasn't one of the many Daiwa garments that are actually made by Halkon Hunt, or you've rather blown one of your own theories out of the water.

There is undoubtedly plenty of absolute junk clothing out there with fishing tackle branding on it. However, year on year it gets a little better. There are some quality items out there if you look for them. That said, in an ideal world, you would want to be paying much more that a third to half of the normal selling price. Just about all of it is well overpriced.

I am a little bemused by folks that sit around in the rain testing waterproofs to the n'th degree though. Whatever style of fishing I'm doing, I don't have to rely entirely on waterproof clothing to keep me dry. I'll almost always have a brolly, shelter or bivvy with me. I seem to recall getting caught without in torrential rain on two occasions in the past ten years or so. I certainly got wet both those days. Cuffs and neck are a weakness no matter how brilliant the material of the waterproof.

Come on Sam...what I am saying are not theories mate....they are FACTS...and I worked with them for many years of my life...

However, I do agree with you on the brolly bit...I too could never understand that...If it is raining...I fish under my brolly.

Maverick

 

[Chris Hammond ( RSPB ACA PAC}]

Being an ex-Tackle Shop owner...I have owned many different types of clothing from all the top manufacturers....I have had Sundridge Suits, Halkon Hunt Goretex suits, Drennan Salopettes, Daiwa bib and braces and many more....some wasn't bad but they were too expensive and the rest was daylight robbery.

10 years ago..the Igloo Suit from Sundridge cost £200.. and they are simply not worth that kind of money....you could have got all kinds of quality gear from the Mountain Shop or any other High St outdoor shop for that kind of money. Mine wasn't even warm for Christs sake...it was ill fitting and was nowhere near 100% waterproof. So what are we paying £200 for then?

The same applies to all the other "top brand" suits....for the forfeit of having a fishing name on the clothing....you would be miles better off getting your clothing gear from a Company that specialises in outdoor clothing...not fishing tackle.

The only branded clothing I bought and thought was brilliant was the Halkon Hunt made for Sensas two piece Goretex suit with matching windstopper fleece......but it should be for £450.

I also have a pair of Drennan Salopettes that I have had a while and to be fair, they are still doing the business....but again they cost £80 and I have seen similar quality skiing salopettes for much less.

Of course...the only reason I had them was that I didn't have to pay the retail prices for them. There would be no way I would have paid that kind of money for that kind of quality if I had been a member of the public.

All in all I think we get a pretty rough deal from the Tackle Giants when it comes to decent weatherproof clothing.....it is generally not good enough and far too expensive....but the name on it attracts attention....and the makers KNOW that.

....but what are your thoughts on this?....

Maverick

I'm absolutely staggered by that remark M.

I consider my Igloo suit to be the best value and most fitting for purpose piece of Kit I've ever purchased. And so does every other Igloo suit owner I've ever talked to. That's the first time I've ever heard anyone criticize them tbh. My only tiny criticism would be that it is a wee bit heavy and cumbersome, but mine has been 100% waterproof and by far and away the most warm outdoor garment I've ever owned.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that I've paid a bit of a premium as it is manufactured for the angling market though. That could probably be said of most things angling. If you can point me towards a new one of exactly the same thing for less money from another outdoor pursuit I'd be eternally grateful. Seriously!

BTW I couldn't give the proverbial shiny .... what the logo says. It can have Mothercare written on it for all I care, but I want it to be a dull green.

 

[Titus]

Most of the time if I'm wearing foul weather clothing it's winter and it's dark. Colour is not an issue really, however, most of my gear is black or green.
Most of it (apart from a camo jacket and fleece which I won) is originally designed for walkers but came, hardly worn, from charity shops.
Walking/hiking is a bit like gym memberships, loads of people start out with good intentions, buy all the best kit, go on a couple of 8 mile rambles and then give up, all the fancy gear clutters up the hall cupboard for a year or two before being donated.
Thanks.

Why do manufactures of fishing tackle make the pockets so small, when your hands are cold or wet they are a nightmare.

 

[Chris Hammond ( RSPB ACA PAC}]

Most of the time if I'm wearing foul weather clothing it's winter and it's dark. Colour is not an issue really, however, most of my gear is black or green.
Most of it (apart from a camo jacket and fleece which I won) is originally designed for walkers but came, hardly worn, from charity shops.
Walking/hiking is a bit like gym memberships, loads of people start out with good intentions, buy all the best kit, go on a couple of 8 mile rambles and then give up, all the fancy gear clutters up the hall cupboard for a year or two before being donated.
Thanks.

Why do manufactures of fishing tackle make the pockets so small, when your hands are cold or wet they are a nightmare.

Mine doubles up for wildlife photography so colour does matter to me.

I've got plenty of outdoor and hiking kit which doubles up for angling. I use Brasher or Meindl walking boots for anything but the coldest of weather and often combine them with hiking gaters and goretex walking trousers. As Maverick has pointed out there is some superb kit to be had from outlets like Blacks and The Cotswold Outdoor Centre etc

 

[nicepix]

I am a little bemused by folks that sit around in the rain testing waterproofs to the n'th degree though. Whatever style of fishing I'm doing, I don't have to rely entirely on waterproof clothing to keep me dry. I'll almost always have a brolly, shelter or bivvy with me. I seem to recall getting caught without in torrential rain on two occasions in the past ten years or so. I certainly got wet both those days. Cuffs and neck are a weakness no matter how brilliant the material of the waterproof.

Sam, I don't know whether you fly fish, but many times I've been stood up to my midriff in the Wharfe, mid-winter fishing for grayling and a waterproof top is essential.

The best I had for warmth, comfort and water resistance was a demo' wading jacket from the guy who runs the bloke fly rod company. It closely resembled the Greys wading jacket. I got a pair of breathable waders and the wading jacket for £60. They were unbranded samples that he was considering marketing. The waders are still OK, but the jacket after two years of being almost 100% waterproof, and being the most comfortable and well designed coat I've ever had, started irreparably leaking. It broke my heart to throw it away.

As for cuff and neck leaks; try a brimmed hat.

 

[maverick 7]

I'm absolutely staggered by that remark M.

I consider my Igloo suit to be the best value and most fitting for purpose piece of Kit I've ever purchased. And so does every other Igloo suit owner I've ever talked to. That's the first time I've ever heard anyone criticize them tbh. My only tiny criticism would be that it is a wee bit heavy and cumbersome, but mine has been 100% waterproof and by far and away the most warm outdoor garment I've ever owned.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that I've paid a bit of a premium as it is manufactured for the angling market though. That could probably be said of most things angling. If you can point me towards a new one of exactly the same thing for less money from another outdoor pursuit I'd be eternally grateful. Seriously!

BTW I couldn't give the proverbial shiny .... what the logo says. It can have Mothercare written on it for all I care, but I want it to be a dull green.

Well I am seriously pleased for you Chris.....but my shop in the 90's was a top customer of Sundridge in those days and needless to say...we sold an awful lot of all different models of their suits.

Because of your very pleasant experience with your purchase...it goes without saying that you will not believe what I am going to tell you next. We had loads of the Igloo suits brought back...mainly for letting water in. At first I just thought we must have had a bad batch..but the same thing happened the very next year too.
...so that only leaves me to say Richard that you and your friends should consider yourselves a little bit lucky mate....certainly luckier than my customers anyway.

In my personal case....it wasn't so much that it let in water as it was damn uncomfortable...and as you say, incredibly heavy...and for £200 Chris, not good enough in my opinion.

Excellent salopettes and an equally excellent jacket can be bought from most good outdoor shops Richard....and it does pay to shop around too. I like to choose waterproof jackets that you stick a fleece under it to keep you really snug and when the "summer" comes...you can discard the fleece and it will keep you ultra dry too.

Maverick

 

[sam vimes]

Come on Sam...what I am saying are not theories mate....they are FACTS...and I worked with them for many years of my life...

However, I do agree with you on the brolly bit...I too could never understand that...If it is raining...I fish under my brolly.

Maverick

You've missed the point entirely. If the Daiwa that you moan about being rubbish happened to be made by Halkon Hunt, as some of the Daiwa clothing is, or has been in the past, it pretty much destroys your theory that Halkon Hunt stuff is excellent.

Don't worry about responding to me. I can see that you don't read what anyone says. You've got your ideas of what's what and I've got mine. I'm not going to change your mind and you definitely aren't going to change mine, regardless of how long you were in the tackle game. I part agree with you that most stuff is way overpriced at either RRP or SSP. I'll never agree that it's all unfit for purpose though. Twenty years ago, perhaps. Now, nope. There's some decent quality gear that's entirely fit for purpose out there. If you can get it for a third of SSP, it can be pretty good value too.

---------- Post added at 21:46 ---------- Previous post was at 21:42 ----------

Sam, I don't know whether you fly fish, but many times I've been stood up to my midriff in the Wharfe, mid-winter fishing for grayling and a waterproof top is essential.

No, I'd sooner use a centrepin than fly fish. I can well understand the point, brollies are about as much use as a chocolate teapot to a fluff chucker, but I never wade. I'll not even set up a seatbox in the water.

 

[nicepix]

No, I'd sooner use a centrepin than fly fish. I can well understand the point, brollies are about as much use as a chocolate teapot to a fluff chucker, but I never wade. I'll not even set up a seatbox in the water.

Bloomin' fillistein! That's the trouble with you bivvy-boys. No sense of adventure.

 

[sam vimes]

Bloomin' fillistein! That's the trouble with you bivvy-boys. No sense of adventure.

It's an attitude born from seeing someone almost drown and knowing someone that did.

Where's this bivvy boy thing come from? I may have a bivvy, I try not to use it very often though. I like my own bed and hate bedchair back.

 

[Titus]

Sam that's like saying you wont drive because you saw a crash, I have lost four friends, one aunty and her dog to drowning in the river Severn but I have no qualms about wading, just take the same care as you do when driving your car.

 

[sam vimes]

Sam that's like saying you wont drive because you saw a crash, I have lost four friends, one aunty and her dog to drowning in the river Severn but I have no qualms about wading, just take the same care as you do when driving your car.

Nope, there's a big difference. I have no particular need to wade, so I don't. On top of that, I've got no waders and have no desire to buy any. The death and close call just put a tin lid on it.

 

[Chris Hammond ( RSPB ACA PAC}]

I wade occasionally, but only if absolutely necessary, and not often in running water. It frightens me to death tbh.

This is well worth a watch though. It might save your life one day go to about 10 minutes:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNuGnotR3IE]Salmo the Leaper Hugh Falkus Part 2 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[barbelboi]

Some interesting opinions expressed. As stated earlier I find Preston Drifish clothing and Drennon bibs 100% waterproof after some 8 years of use and would certainly buy some more when they reach their SBD. On rivers I never carry a brolly and have been out in the heaviest of persistent rain for hours at a time without a problem (apart from the Itchen fish’in last March when I forgot to seal one of my pockets which half filled up with water before I realised and ruined my extra strong mintsmg.
Jerry

 

[maverick 7]

You've missed the point entirely. If the Daiwa that you moan about being rubbish happened to be made by Halkon Hunt, as some of the Daiwa clothing is, or has been in the past, it pretty much destroys your theory that Halkon Hunt stuff is excellent.
Don't worry about responding to me. I can see that you don't read what anyone says. You've got your ideas of what's what and I've got mine. I'm not going to change your mind and you definitely aren't going to change mine, regardless of how long you were in the tackle game. I part agree with you that most stuff is way overpriced at either RRP or SSP. I'll never agree that it's all unfit for purpose though. Twenty years ago, perhaps. Now, nope. There's some decent quality gear that's entirely fit for purpose out there. If you can get it for a third of SSP, it can be pretty good value too.



Sam...why do I always detect a smattering of hostility whenever you address your posts to me?............never mind, it's not important.?

Fact is Sam....No, I didn't miss any point, entirely or otherwise...because you don't have a point. If your "point" is what I have highlighted above ( which I believe it is ) then it is wholly inaccurate.

You should read the opening post to this thread and you'll see that I am talking about just ONE HH model ( the Goretex ones)........not them all!

It seems to me that you think Halkon Hunt ONLY makes those garments in Goretex...which of course is nonsense, they would not be able to survive if they only produced £450 top end garments like that....certainly not at the time I am talking about anyway.

So whether or not the jacket "I was moaning about" was made by HH or not is irrelevant.....it certainly wasn't Goretex..

......so no theory destroyed this time .....eh Sam?

Before HH...I believe some Daiwa clothing was made in Rotherham but I can't be too sure...it was either clothing or luggage....anyway Sandra Halkon Hunt finally got the business...no doubt with help from her famous husband...... ....and the rest is history.

Finally Sam....you should know that I read and scrutinise EVERY post in my threads.

By the way...do you know why I can't get my blue quote boxes on?

Maverick



---------- Post added at 02:29 ---------- Previous post was at 02:18 ----------

Some excellent advice on there Chris....

..thanks for sharing that...I will not forget that in a hurry.

Maverick

 

[Chris Hammond ( RSPB ACA PAC}]

I must admit I was gobsmacked when somebody else pointed me towards that video Maverick. I had always assumed the urban myth about waders to be true. It makes me a little more comfortable about wading too.

 

[maverick 7]

I must admit I was gobsmacked when somebody else pointed me towards that video Maverick. I had always assumed the urban myth about waders to be true. It makes me a little more comfortable about wading too.

It has been true for me for many years Chris......I always regarded falling in a river like the Trent or Swale in my waders as my worst nightmare.

....as far as being a little more comfortable wading......I will be doing a tadge more from now on....

Talk later Chris...

Maverick

 

[jasonbean1]

ive got the new preston DF20 and i'm very happpy with it for the price, i woudnt have got outdoor clothing as suitable or hard wearing for the money.

my freind as the sensas goretex suit but i cant' justify the money as its not as durable.

i did look at getting a suit from halkon hunt but the waiting time was too long

 

[sam vimes]

Sam...why do I always detect a smattering of hostility whenever you address your posts to me?............never mind, it's not important.?

Fact is Sam....No, I didn't miss any point, entirely or otherwise...because you don't have a point. If your "point" is what I have highlighted above ( which I believe it is ) then it is wholly inaccurate.

You should read the opening post to this thread and you'll see that I am talking about just ONE HH model ( the Goretex ones)........not them all!

It seems to me that you think Halkon Hunt ONLY makes those garments in Goretex...which of course is nonsense, they would not be able to survive if they only produced £450 top end garments like that....certainly not at the time I am talking about anyway.

So whether or not the jacket "I was moaning about" was made by HH or not is irrelevant.....it certainly wasn't Goretex..

......so no theory destroyed this time .....eh Sam?

Before HH...I believe some Daiwa clothing was made in Rotherham but I can't be too sure...it was either clothing or luggage....anyway Sandra Halkon Hunt finally got the business...no doubt with help from her famous husband...... ....and the rest is history.

Finally Sam....you should know that I read and scrutinise EVERY post in my threads.

By the way...do you know why I can't get my blue quote boxes on?

I'll not beat around the bush. I'm a little hostile because you ask for an opinion, get one, then do nothing but rubbish anyone that doesn't share your opinion. End of story. If you don't like others having different opinions, or thinking you are wrong, don't ask the question in the first place.

You think all fishing branded gear is rubbish. I think that's (based on some of the cherry picked discount kit I've picked up over the years) absolute tosh. You are right that a full price it's often overpriced. The answer to that is not to pay full price.

P.S. I couldn't care less how long you had a tackle shop. I couldn't care less that the garments you are slating are rubbish, they probably are/were, I don't think you are lying. However, that still doesn't mean that all fishing branded clobber is rubbish.

And no, I've no idea how you consistently manage to ****** up quotes.

 

[sumtime]

I own two Sundridge two pc suits, one for sea and one for course fishing. I didn't buy them for the name, I visited the shop/s and tried a few suits on, coming away each time with a Sundridge and I don't go for dear stuff, more middle of the road.

Had them for a long time now, the Sundridge IQ Breathable is a cracking, warm, comfortable suit, the sea one (can't think of the name, it's in the wardrobe halfway down ) is the warmest of clothing, I've never been anywhere near chilled in it around the coast in all weathers.

Boots? the warmest pair I had was the Pisces, if you ever see a one legged person hopping around the Wirral wearing a Pisces boot, it's mine.

 

[maverick 7]

I'll not beat around the bush. I'm a little hostile because you ask for an opinion, get one, then do nothing but rubbish anyone that doesn't share your opinion. End of story. If you don't like others having different opinions, or thinking you are wrong, don't ask the question in the first place.

You think all fishing branded gear is rubbish. I think that's (based on some of the cherry picked discount kit I've picked up over the years) absolute tosh. You are right that a full price it's often overpriced. The answer to that is not to pay full price.

P.S. I couldn't care less how long you had a tackle shop. I couldn't care less that the garments you are slating are rubbish, they probably are/were, I don't think you are lying. However, that still doesn't mean that all fishing branded clobber is rubbish.

And no, I've no idea how you consistently manage to ****** up quotes.

Do you have an example of me rubbishing anybody else's opinion on fishing clothing?...'cos I don't remember doing it and I would love to see it.

It should also be noted that I have NEVER. EVER said ALL branded fishing clothing is rubbish..at any time during this thread.....You yourself was highlighting that fact in your "point" in your last post......remember......the Halkon Hunt Goretex suit that I thought was brilliant. The last time I looked THAT is branded fishing clothing....is it not?

I also mentioned the Drennan salopettes too as also being very good...and I dare say there is a few more that I am not aware of too....we are talking GENERALLY here Sam....not specifically.

If you are considering having a pop at me Sam ....you really should try to ensure you have fully read the thread concerned and gathered all the facts together that would be relevant to what you are attempting to put forward.........but you clearly have not done that.

Otherwise ...it does tend to make one look slightly foolish.

Thanks for the advice on my blue quote boxes...it was greatly appreciated..

Maverick

---------- Post added at 14:10 ---------- Previous post was at 14:03 ----------

ive got the new preston DF20 and i'm very happpy with it for the price, i woudnt have got outdoor clothing as suitable or hard wearing for the money.

my freind as the sensas goretex suit but i cant' justify the money as its not as durable.

i did look at getting a suit from halkon hunt but the waiting time was too long

That is one brand I am not familiar with Jason...but according to one or two of my mates plus one or two on here.....the brand seems to produce some decent gear....so good for you mate.

Maverick

---------- Post added at 14:16 ---------- Previous post was at 14:10 ----------

I own two Sundridge two pc suits, one for sea and one for course fishing. I didn't buy them for the name, I visited the shop/s and tried a few suits on, coming away each time with a Sundridge and I don't go for dear stuff, more middle of the road.

Had them for a long time now, the Sundridge IQ Breathable is a cracking, warm, comfortable suit, the sea one (can't think of the name, it's in the wardrobe halfway down ) is the warmest of clothing, I've never been anywhere near chilled in it around the coast in all weathers.

Boots? the warmest pair I had was the Pisces, if you ever see a one legged person hopping around the Wirral wearing a Pisces boot, it's mine.

Could never get on with mine TBH as I said earlier...but I am glad you do. I like to move around when I'm fishing and I found those suits to be just too cumbersome for my needs....I also thought they were ill fitting but that could have been just MY suit......they wasn't for me but pleased you are happy.

Maverick