Filson question?

I know Filson stuff gets mentioned here from time to time- looking at the posts, it's mostly the vests, but I thought I'd ask..

Based on LOTS of recommendations I read in different places, and partly out of curiosity, I finally bought my first Filson, a "Cover Cloth Field Jacket".

This isn't one of your manly Filson canvas-so-thick-it-stands-on-it's-own jackets, this is the wimpy lightweight stuff that is advertised as being "comfortable without break-in" (which makes you wonder about the other stuff) but it is the "oiled finish". This is the stuff our grandparents called "oilcloth", or sometimes "oilskins", though I suspect that last term more properly refers to something far older and more literal...

Now, "lightweight" is a relative term, and this is light only in comparison to the other Filson jackets and coats. I had previously tried on Filson Shelter Cloth coats in a store (there aren't many, here on the "other" coast), so I had absolutely no illusions about backpacking with this thing. I bought it for wear about town and commuting (involving a particular daily "stroll" where I get caught in ALL kinds of weather with fair regularity), and MAYBE a cool weather day hike or two.

So far, I've gotta say I have mixed reactions.

Drove around town with it on a bit over the weekend, no problem except that the fabric feels a bit damp and "clammy" whenever it's cool. Ok.so... I've read comments that attribute almost mystical qualities to the break-in period of the waxed/oiled fabrics, so I figure that may lessen over time.

This morning's subway commute, no problem. Ok, one guy who sat down next to me changed seats after a minute, but there was an empty one suddenly available. I don't THINK it was me...

Out in the cool wind, it cut the wind pretty well, but still felt clammy. Not a "warm fuzzy" jacket, at least without a liner.

Back out, some hours later, it's a bit warmer out, but I had gotten chilled, so I zip up. Maybe the build-up of body heat inside is what made the difference... but when I made it to Starbucks (a lot of stuff seems to come out of Seattle these days), I kept catching a whiff of... something. Not quite kerosene, not quite turpentine, more... like a New Jersey refinery, actually...

I honestly didn't make the connection at first, since I'd worn the thing before with no problem, but after catching the smell again in an elevator on the way back, I checked the jacket when I took it of, and sure enough.. though, ten minutes later, I guess when the fabric cooled again, it was gone. No trace.

Ok, anyone have any experience with this stuff? Am I safe in assuming that part of the "break in" period is having these volatiles "boil off" (ok, ok, evaporate) and leave behind something more waxy than oily, less damp and clammy, that *doesn't* have a "distinctive" fragrance when it gets warm?

Or is this just normal for Seattleites? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks...

Presumed,

I am a real Filson fan and your observations as to the oil odor are correct. Heat seems to increase the odor and time will definately decrease it.

As to the clammy feel this is something I have not experienced. I nearly always have my coat over a wool vest or sweater though. I do not have any cover cloth coats but do have the cover cloth rain pants. This light cloth seems to drape more closely to the body...no break in required, but more closely fitting which may produce the clammy feel. My tin cloth coat stands away from the body as it is very stiff when cold. Shelter cloth is a bit less stiff but it also does not drape like the cover cloth.

I think a bit of a break in period will definately lessen the oil odor and change your "feel".

Thanks.

I'm willing to give it some time, if it doesn't get too embarrassing... maybe I'll let it air out in the sun by itself for a bit...

Presumed Lost:

Did you wash it before you wore it?

I do so with all underwear and outerwear that I buy wheather new or used. I have never had a Filson product so I do not know their care recommendations

Bountyhunter

P.S. (As the King of Bel Air, Will Smith would say; "Smell you later".) <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter,

Thanks for the thought, but almost all Filson stuff comes with the sentence "Clean by brushing or wiping only, gains character with use". They're sort of famous for it.

The shell fabrics on most of the garments are essentially oil/wax soaked cotten (sometimes very heavy), and there are dire warnings on the tag against washing it. Minimum results are loss of water resistance, but apparently drastic shrinkage is also possible.

For what it's worth, I've seen what they look like after years, and, to my eye at least, it's true.. they do look better with some miles on them. A friend used to say "quality is the distance between broken in, and broken down", and that does seem to apply to Filson stuff.

Correct...never never never wash an oiled Filson coat.

You will need to retreat the coat every couple of years or so if you want to maintain the water resistance. Somehow the smell of new wax is better than the smell of "original" treatment.

When I recoat mine, I rub the wax into my hands and then thinly spread it all over the garment. I turn it inside out and tumble it in a warm dryer for 5 minutes or so to melt the wax in....never never let your wife catch you doing this though.... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> A hair dryer works too, but gentle on the heat....and gentle on the wax amount.

A tin cloth Filson coat takes about 2 years to break in....but about 5-10 years to achieve that perfect balance between new and broken in. I bet you can break in the cover cloth in a few months.

A few hours in the sun would probably take off quite a few of the more volitile oil components. The wax/oil mix is a balance between ease of application (more oil to spread) and water resistance. As it ages it sort of hardens (more wax than oil) and eventually almost goes away so has to be renewed.

Oh the smell of tin cloth in the Autumn....

Reminds me a lot of treating our old, two-ton hiking boots with Sno-Seal in the '70s.

Hmmm. I have yet to see the Tin Cloth in person. Some of them, like the Packer, are just hopelessly exotic here. I was eyeing the "Waterfowl/Upland coat", though, and I just found a site that has it for $75 off list. Mutter, mutter...

Two to ten years to get really broken in, huh? When it's new, can you flex the arms enough to hold coffee? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The tin cloth Original Hunters coat (no longer made) is my favorite. In the winter I have been known to drape it over a heat register for a few minutes to melt it enough to put my arms in <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The Waterfowl coat I have in Shelter cloth and it is very nice. I sometimes wish it was in in tin but it is far more wearable than the tin for the first few years.

My Original Hunters coat is a double layer of tin through the body and single in the arms so I can just bend it enough to get that essential morning cup of coffee in. That cup starts my heat engine enough to make the coat conform....

Filson changed their wax/oil formula recently to make the garments softer...another reason for the more intense initial aroma. Old wax tin coats need no rack to hang, you can lean them up against a wall for storage. I bought an additional old wax Original Hunter's coat when I heard they were both changing the wax formula and dropping this old design from their catalog.

In my view their is nothing that beats a Filson coat for durability, protection and style....not my backpacking coat for sure, but around town or on day field walks these are my choice.

When I complete Part II of my Urban Prep article my Filson coats will appear as primary shelter choices.

Might As Well Have the Best. (Filson tag line that I find true)

>>The Waterfowl coat I have in Shelter cloth and it is very nice. I sometimes wish it was in in tin but it is far more wearable than the tin for the first few years.<<

I find that an interesting statement. Bear in mind that many of us are just guessing what this stuff is really like- no dealers I've found in this area who carry Filson (there aren't many) carry any of the Tin Cloth garments at all.

So, given some small sacrifice in wearability for the "first few years" (the fact that it takes two men, a boy, a small winch and the Jaws of Life to get you into it, for example), what makes you sometimes wish it was in Tin Cloth? I can guess that it might be it's value as a stand-alone shelter, or as an emergency re-entry shield (now that Virgin Galactic is a going concern), or just the fact that being covered in hard waxy stuff is such a babe magnet, but I'm just taking shots in the dark here... <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

PS- subsequent activities in the Cover Cloth Field Jacket lead me to think that body heat had nothing to do with the odor. I'm guessing that walk was the first time it was exposed to direct sunlight for more than a minute or two, and, even though the air temperature was below 70 F, that direct sun was enough to warm the surface well above ambient. No recurrance so far.

Hard question to answer on tin vs shelter cloth. I really tend to like the stiff coat feel of my tin but I bought the shelter cloth waterfowl coat because it was immediately comfortable. I did not really have to break it in like tin, but now 5 years later it would be broken in and .....ramble ramble ramble...

My original wants for this coat made getting flexible right away a good choice. I wanted to travel to Scandanavia with it right away and really did not want to be breaking one in on the trip.

I have the super luxury of working 3 blocks from their main store so trying on and choosing is difficult (I always want both) but it is at least doable.

For ultimate first day comfort cover cloth or shelter cloth or wool is the way to go, for long term durability then oiled tin has my vote, but there is a price to pay in comfort initially.

Water resistance is similar across the board as I see it. This stuff is good but it is not coated nylon or goretex. It can get wet but it seems to shed water better when wet. One advantage to tin in my view is that the stiffness can work for you in that the coat can be made to ventilate by body movement...the whole coat can be lifted with a shoulder shrug and warm moist air inside forced out. The shelter cloth and presumably the lighter cover cloth does not "move" this way. My Original Hunters coat #66 really works great in our damp but mild climate. It is not too warm, sheds light and prolonged rain, and does not steam up if my activity level is reasonable (walks but not chopping wood). My shelter cloth Packer and Waterfowl are super wind coats, shed rain a bit less well than the OHC, and since they are less thick seem to dissipate excess heat well. I can wear them for more active work without steaming up and their greater flexibilty is necessary for things like ax work, canoeing or fly fishing. The OHC would be a perfect shotgun field coat (designed for it) as it rides well, and once warmed by body heat flexible enough to mount the gun, but highly resistant to the usual stickers and briars in a bird hunt.

The choices from Filson are very wide, I recommend calling the store and discussing your needs and expected uses and then probably ordering a couple of candidates with the expectation that one will be returned....but if you are like me it will be very hard to return one <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

The prices will seem high at first, but considering that my father still wears a Filson cruiser he bought in the 50's, and I have many garments (coats, shirts, sweaters) that are close to 10 years old and still going strong, the prices are really an excellent bargain.


as to



I have not found the material makes much difference here...quality Filson stuff always makes them swoon <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Schwert:

Are you sure it is the quality that makes them swoon and not the odor? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Well, I have to admit I'm curious and sort of tempted. It's obviously pretty drastic overkill for my needs, but I'm hard on jackets, and while I've managed to keep some of the better ones from destructing (Pagagonia seems to last forever), it would be a novel experience to have one that I just didn't have to worry about at all.

However, the deal for the waterfowl coat at $150 seems to be gone now...

The Cover Cloth jacket is getting noticably more wearable (less damp-feeling, dryer, warmer) every day I wear it. Seems like they break in in different ways, but break-in, in general, seems to be a big factor with Filson stuff.

I was thinking about the odor I detected that one time that seemed related to the direct sunlight. Probably it was just because it was brand new... and I sort of figure, since the factory is in Seattle, they've probably never experienced it. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Then there's the serious babe factor, of course. Hey, if waxing your Ferrari helps, why not waxing your coat? They won't stand a chance...

Man... good thing you guys don't work in Filson's marketing department. What I have gotten from this thread so far is that these coats are stiff, uncomfortable, and stinky but for some reason you guys still love them. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

>>What I have gotten from this thread so far is that these coats are stiff, uncomfortable, and stinky but for some reason you guys still love them.<<

I think you've got it. Any questions? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I haven't decided whether I "love them" yet or not, I'm still new to this.. but the impression I'm getting about this deal is that they aren't stiff forever, they aren't uncomfortable forever, and they aren't stinky forever, but they do last forever... so when you see one that's really "broken in", you know the owner's "downside" is over, for a long, long time.

I ran into a fellow at the Filson store a few months back. He had flown into town from London for the express purpose of shopping at Filson. He bought 3 coats and a pile of other things.

A Filson wearer is an exceptional person, not beholding to marketing weenies who mostly have no idea what makes a servicable garment. While many folks are buying new hot color coats, in some new miracle plastic fiber, at huge prices for imported garments which are designed as non-durable goods, we are still walking around in clothes our Grandfathers gave us.....and the babes swoon....

also remember that our Grandfathers coat has never been washed....so the initial wax odor is a distant memory...and the swooning....hum. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sooo.. Highland Sports in PA has some of the jackets on sale right now.. not a lot off, but they're much closer to me than the West Coast outlets, they ship for free and seem to have a good policy.

Since you seem to own them all, what are your thoughts about the Waterfowl vs the Packer? I tend to favor shorter jackets for the commute (since it involves driving and the subway as well as walking, I'm afraid I'd be fighting with the length of a tin Packer), and the Packer looks like it would be pretty conspicuous around here (maybe not in, say, Wyoming...).

On the other hand, the Waterfowl looks to be pretty short in a real rain... the coverage would be welcome at times, but do you find yourself fighting the Packer when not in the open?

I wish SOMEONE had pictures of these things actually being worn. It's hard to judge much about fit and coverage just looking at the jacket itself.

Waterfowl vs Packer is like apples and oranges.

Packer has longer sleeves and is double in the cape and arms. It is a light coat without a wool liner. It is long enough to cover your butt, hanging at about fingertip length. The Duster is a super long Packer.

Waterfowl is a waist length plus jacket. It has super arrangement of pockets with wool lined handwarmers on the chest, and a front entry game pocket with inserts to hold small stuff.

Both are great coats, but the Packer is designed for horse riding originally, the Waterfowl for shooting ducks. They really are not comparable.

For rainy warm days I wear the packer. Good walking coat. For colder days with wind I wear the waterfowl coat. It has wrist knitted wind blockers, and the whole concept of it is a snugger warmer jacket. The pockets are superior to the Packer too IMO.

Each Filson coat generally has a design intent. Hunting coats, fishing coats, horse packing coats, etc. You just have to see how the body configuration, pocket layout, and fabrics answer your particular needs.

If I could only have one Filson coat it would be the #66 Original Hunters. Second choice would be the Waterfowl or 110 Cruiser. But these answer my daily uses and probably will not yours. Also even though I have several Filson coats, there are many I have never even seen let alone tried to figure out how they would fit into my days.

Once I get my article done I will have some photos of various Filson coats, but that is a ways away.

Thanks, most of that more or less reinforces my thinking.

I went ahead and ordered the Waterfowl from Highland Sports in PA, which, like I said, seemed to have a good price, is much closer than that other coast, and seemed to have good policies. I put an order in through their web page on Sunday and tried to add an item with an e-mail on Monday morning.

That may have been a mistake. The first lady I talked to told me that the site was down, and seemed shocked that I'd put an order in. Seems that they have lost their domain (www.highland-sports.com), and the only way I got in was linking in from elsewhere. She knew nothing about the order. Later I talked to another gentleman that was more than a little dismissive, and, among other things, told me that it would be back ordered to Filson and take at least a week... that despite this:

"We'll make every effort to get products to our customers in a timely manner. But in some instances an item might not be in stock. In that case we'll overnight the product from the manufacturer, and ship it out to you the next day "

from their "info" page.

Now it seems that all of my e-mails to them are coming back with "delayed" messages, so they haven't gotten any of them.

Not a warm fuzzy.

There a phone number on their info page? If so, phone them up and cancel. Seems like they don't want to be bothered with customers.

I've talked to them three times now.

I'm somewhat reassured... this last time, the guy (whoever it was) apologized, said the hassles with the domain name (registrar wouldn't let them renew- probably cybersquatters) came up while he's deathly ill from the flu. He said he ordered it second-day delivery from Filson, which isn't what the site says, but is somewhat better than a week...

We'll see. ..

In the meantime I'm shopping for a hydraulic jack to get the elbows flexing at first...

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

Dave,

I am not sure of the repair process for mail customers. I just walk over and hand the garment to the folks.

I would definately call them as the first step.

They did a bang up job on my vest. I had worn fairly large holes in the wool against my knife, flashlight and matchcase. They took the pocket down and totally relined it front and back then replaced the worn fabric so the faded color would match. Pure function. I took some fine wool and wove the holes back together to make it look a bit better. They also added some wool along the worn seams and thin pockets.

All for free too.

Great service and customer care.

Given (rather huge) allowances for ambient temperature, the tin cloth jacket continues to get a little more comfortable each time I wear it. To my surprise, so does the cover cloth, but it was so (comparatively) limp from the start that the changes are much more subtle. The cover cloth has lost all of the "damp" feeling, it's dry to the touch and warmer to wear, but it still sheds rain very well. The tin cloth, well, maybe 50 percent. Feels dry when warm, but still about half as clammy as it started out when cold. It's only been a few weeks. Both have a remarkably wide comfort range.

So, next question, how do you know when (2-5 years from now) a Filson tin cloth garment is fully broken in? I know it has quite a ways to go, but just wondering what to expect.

The coat will have large areas of dark coloring (character AKA dirt), the coat will be a cast of your body shape not a flat garment, the arms will be tubular and have a bend, the tin will have sort of a slick feel to it...mostly around the cuffs and pocket areas.

When you hang it up it will look like a headless you hanging in the closet. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You will find yourself tossing the coat around you and it just sort of slips on...no fighting the stiffness, but the stiffness working for you.

Since I have no tin older than 5 years, that is the best I can do. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Enjoy.

Soo... by perfectly logical extrapolation, we can predict that at about 10 years, it will be a nice uniform black, nothing will stick to it, and it will come when you whistle and jump on your back by itself....

... well, maybe. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I will let you know sometime in 2009 <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Just to follow up on this one - I got a call last night from Filson. The guy on the line said they'd received my coat (a cover cloth "Foul Weather Jacket") and evaluated it, and decided it wasn't worth attempting to repair. So, he said, would you rather we sent you a new one, or use the credit of that model toward another new jacket? They also suggested I try shelter (heavier) cloth.
After looking more in depth, I decided on the cover cloth "Field Jacket" - a trifle longer, separate handwarmer pockets, a rear game pocket, and it fits the vest liner and hood I'd already purchased for my Foul Weather jacket. In fact, they introduced the Field Jacket about 2 months after I got my Foul Weather Jacket, and I was bummed that they hadn't offered it when I was picking out my first coat.
So, I paid them $21 to cover the difference in the value of the coats, and they're sending it my way.
I'm VERY pleased with the no-nonsense customer service, and I'm looking forward to the new coat.

FWIW, the CC Field Jacket was my first Filson, and I still wear it a couple of times a week, even though I'm trying to wear the Tin Waterfowl jacket more to break it in. I think you'll be pleased. It's a very functional design.

Filson is a stand up company. Glad you have another coat to replace the other.

Cover cloth is something I have yet to give much trial. I have rainpants and bib rainpants in it, but the bibs are brand new and the rainpants have very few miles on them. Shelter and tin have served me well in coats and shirts (shelter).

Enjoy