Filson coats - anyone?

[Short Balding Guy]

I just acquired a Filson Double Mackinaw Cruiser and a pair of Mackinaw bibs today. I dropped the jacket at the dry cleaners on the way home to make sure it is moth free and was going to leave the bibs too, but the suspenders are sewn on at the back side and they have bridle leather tabs on them. So I had to bring them home with me. I'll rip the threads on the suspenders in the morning and then take the bibs to the cleaners sans leather. It will only take about 5 minutes to take them off and sew them back on.The pair should make for some great cold weather gear. I may have to move back to MN to really enjoy it. Or maybe Canada.Michael

Michael; Sounds like your kit is full. Congrats. Love to be able to see a shared pick of the Mack.

Filson. The best, like buying a Rolex (though now I even wear Filson/Shinola watches). If I don't have everything they have produced in the last 15 years, I'd be shocked. Well, not everything but close. I wore a Filson green wool vest all day today and it hit about 65 degrees. My double Mac is my by far #1 winter coat. Have thought about getting the double Mac with the big sheepskin collar but I'm afraid that white collar would end up not at all white. I may give it a try anyway.Had quite the battle on eBay getting Filson's "Magnum" (the photo guys) camera bags as I didn't order them before they were discontinued. The photo backpack is now my man purse or whatever, holds my Leica plus all the other garbage I choose to pack around. Tin Cloth rocks, and it doesn't pick up dog hair like an Aussie duster. Wish I'd grabbed the trucker jacket. Have about a dozen vests, several safari jackets, many shirts....

I live in southwestern South Dakota, where the weather is tough on everything. Life is tough on everything. I have filled the pockets of Filson wool vests with nails and tools, had big game animal blood all over my double Mac (and ate well that year on bison) and our Filson bags have literally been dragged through things I'd hate to mention. We have the extra-large duffel bag, which they discontinued because if filled, it's about impossible to pick up. We've tied it over a load in the pickup and have driven thousands of miles with that thing subjected to terrible weather. Zero leaks.

David; Sounds like you are a satisfied customer with your choices. Your bag descriptions have me motivated to look at them.

Just in the past few days I sourced a Filson Mackinaw Cruiser for a decent price. The double Mac is too much for virtually all of Texas.Interesting post of the SD Badlands that I visited once a few years ago. Fascinating experience. As I recall it got its name from the Indians that lived there who said "This land is bad!"

Fanch; Sounds terrific. Congrats. Love to see a pick of your new jacket when the weather permits.

OK, I'll weigh in with my meager Filson collection.
Just got an older version of the Tin Packer coat off the Bay. I'm normally a 40, but this jacket is a 38 and fits perfectly. Haven't worn it yet as it's been uncharacteristically dry here in NJ this year. I'm looking for a wool liner for this jacket. It's the old style that takes a snap in liner, not the zip in liner like is sold now. If anybody has a lead on a med or small snap in liner, lemme know. I also have a black/grey plaid Mackinaw wool vest. This thing is great and I wear it under everything. It's especially good under my leather riding jacket for fall riding. Then I have a wool lined jean jacket in brown which is probably my favorite Filson piece now. It's a Med and a perfect fit with the exception of one thing: the wrists are made for somebody with pencil thin wrists. There's no way I can snap them closed. This jacket is quite warm down to the 40's, and lower if I wear a thin wool shirt underneath. Also have a Tin Cloth duck bill baseball hat that really looks funky and is great in the rain. Finally I have 2 pieces of luggage, an older duffel bag that has been carried to the gym millions of times and is nicely broken in. It was a bit large so I finally found a smaller bag, the Sportsman's Bag which I think is discontinued now. It's great with many zippered and non zippered pockets that I now carry to the gym. Both these items are their heavy waxed twill and I have no doubt they'd survive a nuclear blast.I'd love to get a double mac wool coat, but I don't think I'd wear it much as I have a very substantial and warm vintage Pea Coat.

One; Excellent testament to the vest and jacket.

Best to all, Eric -

BTW: Below is a pic taken this weekend. The wool jackets get use in my neighborhood.

 

[Michael A]

Eric - Here they are, fresh from the cleaners. First the combo,
P1200648 crop by Michael A2012, on Flickr
P1200649 crop by Michael A2012, on Flickr
As it's up around 70 now these are not something I would want to spend a lot of time in. Ha ha. Now the bibs alone.
P1200643 crop by Michael A2012, on Flickr
P1200645 crop by Michael A2012, on Flickr

The jacket is a size 42 and fits about like I expect it to. I wear between a 40 regular and a 42 short in a suit jacket. I think there is ample room under it for layering. The bibs are 36. These days I generally wear between a 32 and a 34 trouser, though I wear some 36 as well. These I found surprisingly snug for the size. Not that they are at all small, it's just that I thought I would probably be able to wear long underwear and pants under them. They might be too small for the extra pair of pants. I got both of these at the same vintage store that I got a recent batch of hats. They were more expensive than the hats. Ha ha. The jacket is pristine as far as I've seen. The bibs have two small moth holes, or similar, on the outside layer of two of the bib pockets. An easy fix when the mood hits me sometime before winter. I have the suspenders just hand basted on now as I had to remove them for the cleaning. I'll run them under the machine and put a couple of bar tacks in them before winter as well.

I'm going to try to motivate myself to spend more time outside this winter and I think this outfit will help in that respect. You may notice that the colors of the two pieces are not identical, with the bibs being a bit more of an olive drab than the jacket. That was actually a selling point for me as I didn't really want them to look like a suit or uniform.

Michael

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Michael; The jacket and pant look good. The jacket appears to fit Filson well. The jacket does look pristine - congrats. The double Mac with all of its features should do you well this winter. I can go from log chopping, hauling the logs, stacking the logs chopping ice around the boathouse to quieter yard chores and I am comfy. The jacket can get icy water splashed on it and I am still good to go. Later in the AM the dogs and I can go for a walk/hike and the jacket and I are good. For my desires it is an all day jacket. I am certain you can experience these same features. After several years use my Filsons still have that pristine wool look. Whatever they do to the finish, it retains its characteristics during my uses.

I never thought I would use the pocket in the back of the jacket, but surprise-I have. I use it more than I ever thought. My most frequent use is a place to store my gloves when I am really working hard and do not want to put them down.

My jackest are not close fitting fashion jackets. Never will be high fashion. But I recognize that I will never be a model and choose my own style.

Congrats. Eric -

 

[Michael A]

Eric - I'm sure I'll be happy with the pair. I'm well familiar with the heavy woolens for winter wear as I have among other coats a Lodenfrey duffle coat that is a nearly identical color and weight of fabric. Also doubled in strategic locations. Unfortunately it is now vastly too big for me since my diet and exercise regime has led me to shed 90 lbs. I may work on recutting it this winter. At 48 this morning it was probably cool enough to trial the jacket and I probably will be doing that some morning this week.

Michael

 

[AeroFan_07]

Great work with the weight loss!! It was only 43 when I left home this morning, so while the Filson vest has not been pulled out of sleep yet, other jackets are getting some more break-in.

 

[Michael A]

Great work with the weight loss!! It was only 43 when I left home this morning, so while the Filson vest has not been pulled out of sleep yet, other jackets are getting some more break-in.

Thanks. The weight loss was worth the effort.

I'm pretty sure I could have worn the Filson this morning if I wasn't too active. As it was I put on a wool cardigan and was a bit chilly out on the bicycle.

Michael

 

[David B West]

We have one of the Filson extra-large duffel bags, which they discontinued about six years ago. I know why. If you actually fill it up, then it is all you want to lift. We have often loaded the pickup, tied the duffel bag on top of the load and driven 900 miles through rain and snow. The clothes inside are always dry.

This week is beautiful, dry and 15 degrees above normal, so I can play cowboy with a Wrangler Jean jacket. Next week it will be winter, according to the weather forecast, so it's back to everything wool.

I really like the bibs pictured in an earlier post!

 

[Michael A]

I nearly scored a, what comes after hat trick?, today. The same vintage shop that I got the double mac coat and mack bibs at coughed up a mac vest.
P1200773 crop by Michael A2012, on Flickr
P1200775 crop by Michael A2012, on Flickr
This one in charcoal so I've now got a three color outfit. And they had a mac hat, but unfortunately it was maybe 2 sizes too small. That would have been the whole shebang I think.

Michael

 

[Lookaholic]

Hey,
I read this whole thread, and am fascinated by all the information everyone has thrown out here! I do not/have never owned a Filson item, but am looking for a jacket/coat on eBay as I have always wanted a Filson since my older brother got the Double Tin Logger and the Tin Cloth Wildfowl Hat about 8 years ago, and added a Wool Packer Coat in Charcoal a few years after that. He used to work for a tree clearing company, but has not for a while. My brother also has a Mackinaw Vest, and possibly some other Filson items. Two of my other older brothers and my father also have Mackinaw Vests, which they love. My two other brothers aquired theirs from Cabela's bargain cave in Dundee, Michigan.
I currently have my eye set on a few different pre-owned items right now, but do not really know what would best suit my needs.
Some Information: I am a college student in the Northern Ohio region, near Cleveland. I am looking to acquire a coat/jacket that would be good for wet fall/spring-type weather. I was thinking seriously about getting a Mackinaw Cruiser or Double Mackinaw Cruiser for a while, but realized I do not need such an item, and it would most likely not be suited for such weather. Any help deciding would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Jon

 

[AeroFan_07]

Jon, first, welcome to Fedora Lounge! It's great you are thinking through a purchase such as this as a college student and not just going after the next trendy fashion jacket that may not last you through college.

As for ideas, the Cruiser or Tin cloth may work out well for you, or perhaps a vest like the Mackinaw such as I have under another type of jacket. I think a double Cruiser would be overkill for Ohio. Or find a nice vest and put it under a quality leather jacket (see the many other threads) for a very windproof, warm and long lasting combination. You could have both of them well into your career!

 

[Fanch]

I second what @AeroFan_07 said: Welcome to the Lounge. My recommendation would be a Mackinaw Cruiser and persaps a moleskin vest to layer underneath when necessary. Filson makes several knit caps easily stuffed in the back pocket of the Cruiser when not in use.

 

[Lookaholic]

@AeroFan_07 and Fanch: Thanks for the welcome! Can either of you inform me as to the reliability of the wool cruisers in a short - medium length walk through a downpour? I was thinking of getting a tin or shelter cloth shell-type jacket, and a vest/full length liner.
Again, thank you!

 

[MikeKardec]

I love Filson and they will even cut the sleeves to different lengths and such if you ask nicely. The wool stuff is the best!

BUT ...

... with the waxed canvass beware the Filson Stench! After awhile that stuff can really reek, like 'leave it outdoors' reek. Some companies use oil or wax or whatever that's easy to deal with and some don't. Filson does not seem to have it figured out and they have looked me in the eye at their Seattle store and told me they have never heard of the problem. I have one jacket and two duffle bags that stink ... oddly, I have an older duster that is no problem.

 

[Lookaholic]

I am aware there is a smell on some waxed/oiled Filson apparel, but that has never made me shy away from the qaulity of acquiring such an item...although I have het to do so.

Edit: Does anyone have helpful information concerning Filson Mackinaw Cruiser in medium/heavy rain? Medium/long walks?

 

[Fanch]

If you are thinking of medium/long walks in medium/heavy rain, I might choose a waxed Filson Tin Jacket over a Filson Mackinaw Cruiser.

 

[Lookaholic]

Thanks for the suggestion! Does someone in this thread have any info as to the quality of protection the Redwood Anorak by Filson provides? Also, what cloth it is cut from? Thanks!
I stopped by The Backpackers store in Sheffield Village today and tried on some Filson coats...
I liked them all, unsurprisingly, but was a little disappointed by them not carrying any smalls in a couple peices i wanted to try. The tin cloth jackets/coats in medium that i tried were quite large and bulky, it seemed even more than i need for layering... by a good margin. The wool coats and vests fit well in medium, however.
Does anyone have any info on the Filson Explorer? Is it Shelter or Cover Cloth? Etc. thanks again!

 

[Lookaholic]

If you are thinking of medium/long walks in medium/heavy rain, I might choose a waxed Filson Tin Jacket over a Filson Mackinaw Cruiser.

View attachment 57820 View attachment 57821

When i say medium/long, i mean from one side of campus to the other, in a tipical downpour.

 

[Lookaholic]

Does anyone in this thread own the Mack Tin Cruiser by Filson? I am curious as to the practicality of such a coat.

 

[MikeKardec]

Does anyone in this thread own the Mack Tin Cruiser by Filson? I am curious as to the practicality of such a coat.

It looks pretty good for moderate wetness ... short walks in a downpour or longer is light rain. I have a wool Double mack cruiser, the lighter oiled (shelter?) cloth cruiser (that's the smelly one) and a tin oiled duster. Tin is very stiff and heavy, and it's not really warmer because none of the oiled cloths breathe like a modern water resistant fabric ... so you're often adjusting for ventilation. Layering is good because pulling on a cold Filson on a damp day is like putting on a canvass diving rig ... well, not that bad but you get the idea. The Filson wool liners plus the tin cloth is Rodney the Robot stiff even when beaten into submission by years of use. Tin cloth is great if you wear it for protection on a motorcycle or think you're going to damage yourself with a tool but other than that it's my recommendation to stay away from it. You'll find others that swear by it, of course.

I've found that the wool is useful in a limited amount of rain, it soaks it up but, if given long enough, dries out just fine. It's the turn around time that is critical.

A dry shelter cloth (or whatever their medium weight cloth is called) double cruiser would be my next choice. It's tight enough to be better in the rain than the wool and you might find an oil or water resistant treatment that didn't stink like a hairless zombie hound.

Of course Barbour makes oiled cloth jackets, some in pretty traditional styling, and they don't smell.

 

[rocketeer]

One in "Tin Cloth" one in "Shelter Cloth". Both need to be retreated though...

Worf

Can anyone tell me where the 'Tin Cloth' comes into it? Looks like waxed to me. Not been able to reference it, every google query just comes up with adverts.
Seems a silly name if there is no 'tin' connection. But maybe it's just me