Timeless styling,very duarble, exceptionally comfortable, repairable in almost all cases(see review)
Disadvantages:
Requires regular checking and one rewax at least once a year, can smell, heavyweight classic wax designs not available in blue or black .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
~I first purchased a Barbour Jacket back in 1987-a Border design in Navy Blue. It had gone throgh the wars and eventually gave up through years of abuse which proved terminal.
But for today's purposes I will stick to the Northumbria jacket. Now I like them so much, I have three. THREE? A long story but one was given FOC in effect from my local Barbour Retailer-Barretts of Feckenham in Wolverhampton after Barbour had an "accident" repairing a much loved Solway Zipper jacket I'd had.
The Nothumbria is in the Barbour "Classic" range of jackets made of Heavyweight "Sylkoil" Waxed cotton. It has two handwarmer pockets, two large studded main pockets, two large inside pockets with detachable pouches, one inside pocket to hold walletts etc and finally a small concealed zip pocket to hold coins etc. Studs are provided for an optional lining and also for a hood ( a very useful accessory).The jacket has a large brass double-zip. Finally the jacket is lined in a fairly soft "classic tartan" cotton lining.
I see Barbour as a premium quality product. Attention to detail is taken very seriously right from the choice of long staple Egyptian cotton to the stitching used and of course to the top-quality buttons,zips and studs-all made of corrosion resistant brass.
And in use where all this fuss pays off. for a start, it is a timeless design which screams quality as soon as it's worn. The jacket when zipped is totally wind and rain proof and can survive quite seroius abrasion hence the description "Thornproof". Now that doesn't mean if you fall onto an Arizona Desert cactus you won't get hurt-even Barbours have their limits ( an unlikely scenario I admit) but even in extreme circumstances the jackets can be repaired. A more modern GoreTex jacket is almost impossible to repair in those circumstances.
So thats the theory but what about the practice?
Everything that's claimed is true.. I've been out in tropical style cloudbursts wearing my Barbour and hood. Everything below the jacket hem was soaked ie the lower calves of my legs and feet. But my Barbour did it's duty and kept the rest of me bone dry! It is also remarkably wind proof. Combined with a vest,shirt and jumper and a decent Tinsulate lined wooly hat, I've braved nasty cold east winds this winter and stayed warm.I've also been through bushes by accident of course. Again a lesser jacket would have been pierced by thorns etc and as a result, I was saved from some potential nasty injury.
Ok so it does what it's supposed to....
Drawbacks?
Well if you take a heavyweight jacket out in summer you will roast, a medium weight is more practical but requires rewaxing more frequently. Rewaxing has to be done at least once a year, failure to do so will result in damage/wear which can prove expensive to rectify and involves patching up and can work out expensive. Oh and my best friend has banned me friom wearing a Barbour in his car-as he cannot stand the smell.One final point, buy your jacket one size up from normal as when in use the sleeves etc form semi permanent creaes which in effect shrink the jacket for want of a better term.
Overall though I couldn't bear to be without my Northumbria jacket...
Which is probably why I've got three of them!
www.barbour.com
More details
Price
£120-300 featured one £179.95
Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
