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.


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