Filson prices do not vary much unless you encounter an end-of-season local sale.

I would recommend dealing direct with Filson Seattle, they have superb service and will really work with you until you find exactly what you want.

Guess I will next time, if there is a next time.

From the website I really expected these guys to have it in stock, and I thought I'd get it a lot quicker. Neither, as it turns out.

Got my Filson Waterfowl "coat" (jacket) in Tin, first had it in my hands about 15 minutes ago. Highland Sports in PA came through, despite their internet problems- this is pretty quick delivery, as I ordered on Sunday night, and Filson would not ship direct to me. I hope they get the problems worked out.

I opened the box, and my first impression was that I might have gotten in over my head this time. The jacket was a pretty heavy, neatly folded rectangle that DID NOT FLEX.

Ok, I admit it. It's obvious that Filson came up with the Cover Cloth jackets (which I've been wearing every day) for wimpy, city/suburban dwellers like myself. I thought I had never seen Tin Cloth before, but I recognize it now.. they sell it in the hardware stores under the trade name "Masonite".

I got it open, and even got into it (I can't really say I "put it on").

Oh, boy, does this stuff smell a LOT more than the cover cloth.

Thankfully, I now know the smell will go away pretty quickly. So far, though, I'm just trusting you that this stuff does break in... eventually.

It seems like it fits.. or will... but I think I'm going to have to "train" (and air) it a bit before I can take it out into polite society- or introduce it to the lady of my life.

This is to normal jackets what my Lone Wolf Harsey folder is to normal pocket knives.. that is, what Arnold Schwartzenegger is to Raph Nader, or Jurassic Park is to Playland. It looks like something they might be manufacturing for themselves out on one of the further Colony Worlds.

For this time and place, it is what I'll call "agressively unfashionable". I think I'm going to like it. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I also ordered a hood for the Cover Cloth jacket, which I should have in the first place- I could have used it a few times already. I considered ordering one for the Waterfowl as well, but the Filson catalog raises the idea of ordering the hood in Shelter Cloth instead, which makes some sense to me- I guessing that a hood really needs to be this heavy, and might be better if more flexible, but I wanted to get to know the fabric first.

I bought the hood for my shelter cloth waterfowler and rarely use or carry it. (I wear a felt Akubra normally). I am not much of a hood wearer, so see how you like the other one before investing in the waterfowl version (see if it interchanges anyway).

The tin will break, it will be a while but it will. Try draping it over the heater duct, that will melt it enough to slip into, and once it stays body warm it will flex fine.

Just think, in 3-5 years it will be just about right <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> and it will have some character...

"agressively unfashionable" is perfect...so true...but styling for sure.

Enjoy and glad it arrived so fast.

I appreciate your advice. I've worn the Tin jacket a few times, and like it more each time I wear it. I've even worn it to Starbucks, to the admiring glances of the ladies (ok, maybe "puzzled" glances.... ok, ok, it might just have been "appalled" glances...). <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The the distinctive "aroma" has dissipated a lot (by at least half the second time I wore it- must build up in the plastic), but I don't think it's ready for the confines of the daily subway ride yet. Soon, it's fading fast.

>>I bought the hood for my shelter cloth waterfowler and rarely use or carry it. (I wear a felt Akubra normally). I am not much of a hood wearer, so see how you like the other one before investing in the waterfowl version (see if it interchanges anyway).<<

I confess, in this area, I only wear a hat when it's raining... even then, I get odd looks. There are a few others wearing hats in the rain, we all get odd looks. Mine are mostly Tilleys and Stetsons (fedoras). Akubra is probably better, but harder to find in person here, and I'm hard to fit...

The weather is changeable enough around here that I get caught in the rain, without a hat, with fair regularity. If it's raining hard enough, I'll break out an umbrella, but in drizzle (and in extremis) I appreciate a hood. The jackets have enough pockets that carrying one is not a problem, and with a little practice you can attach one "on the run". At least, with the Cover Cloth version. Not sure about the Tin.

The Cover Cloth jacket is dark green (the only color Cover Cloth comes in, I think), but the Tin Cloth jacket is dark tan (same thing), so swapping the hood could look a little odd- right, like that's a factor at this point. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Still undecided whether I'd be better off with a Tin or Shelter hood on the Tin jacket. Same price, same color.

PL

They were admiring glances....just keep telling yourself that <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sorry I cannot really advise on shelter vs tin for the hood. My gut says shelter for its easier turning but I do not own a tin hood and have only used my shelter cloth version once or so.

Nice thing about the waterfowl coat is you can slip a Tilley in the game pocket and have just about the most perfect rain hat ever devised that will tolerate squashed flat carry. I wear my Tilley's all the time in the warmer months and the Akubra felt in the winter.

You need a tin whistle to go with your tin jacket. Like the poem my mom used to tell me when I was little:


I bought a wooden whistle,
and it wouldn't whistle.

I bought a steel whistle,
and I steel couldn't whistle.

I bought a tin whistle,
and now I tin whistle.

>>Nice thing about the waterfowl coat is you can slip a Tilley in the game pocket and have just about the most perfect rain hat ever devised that will tolerate squashed flat carry.<<

Now, there's a thought. It just so happens that I have a Tilley T3 that I almost never wear anymore because I upgraded (sort of) to a synthetic Lightweight LTM3 Airflo, which IS a lot better (much lighther, cooler)... except in the rain (it's got mesh in the crown- it was GREAT in Bermuda, Key West and Hawaii... might not be for Seattle). If this carry works out, I'd probably like it better than a hood anyway. Thanks again.

Ouch.

It's an odd name to modern ears. I tend to think of the Tin Woodsman myself. Probably will... until it's broken in.

Schwert, a quick question on Filsons. I've got a Foul Weather Jacket that I love, but it's worn several holes along the seam of both forearms (and I've not been doing a lot of Army crawls these days). <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
What's the Filson process for repair? Call first and get a return number, or do you just send it in with a letter?
Thanks
Dave