Finally bought a Filson

Jay K

Jay K

Active member
Right around the time I got into waterfowling and upland, I found myself in an Orvis store (in Manhattan, mind you) looking around at coats and jackets. That was my first intro into waxed cotton, as well as Filson. I remember being confused about the fact I was in Manhattan and they were selling $500 fine wool jackets with game pouch pockets in the back. Talking with a couple friends, they brought it to my attention they made no-nonsense hunting outwear. I sort of became infatuated with the traditional design of them and had to have one.

Knowing the new ones were made overseas, from what I understood, I wanted vintage. I looked over the years, mostly ebay. Most were really rough, overpriced, or both. Last week, I came across a gem on ebay. Seller wanted $229 which I thought was high, but the jacket looked nice. I messaged her directly and said I was a buyer right around $170. She came back with $180 shipped and it just had to happen. The jacket is in incredibly good condition. The woman stated "stains behind collar." They were faint, underneath the collar, and didn't bother me from what I saw in the pictures. The jacket arrives and is in extremely good shape. I see the stains and they are rust. It dawned on me this jacket was hunted. In the back there are two loops to pass the pin of a hunting license holder through where the stains are. The safety pin must have rusted and left the stains on the jacket. Very cool.

Finding info on older Filson's online is tough. With some crazy luck, I found an article where the writer has the same jacket, same year, as the one I purchased. Tag code "9711" which indicates 1997 manufacture date. Model 435. The 435 was the classic waterfowl wading jacket. The "4" denotes that it's shelter cloth. If the model number begins with a "6" in that year, it denotes tin cloth, which is much heavier. Apparently, they did make a 635 which is the waterfowl wading jacket but in tin cloth. It was extremely, extremely hard to find and not many were made. If anyone on here has one, do not let it go. The interesting quirk about the 435 is Filson put the game pockets in the front, unlike the upland coats. The upland coats are much longer and mostly tin cloth. Filson purposely made these wading jackets with the waterfowler in mind. Shorter for wading or sitting, shelter cloth to make it easier to move around, large front shell pockets with moleskin lined hand-warming pockets above. I also learned the shelter cloth, due to being tighter woven cotton, is more waterproof.

I'm happy. I have some wax from Filson on the way. It is going to get a nice wax treatment and put to the test this season.




View attachment 65421743928__63B51A4F-F166-4040-BD7D-04BB1A8D6BC3.jpg
 
But its not camouflaged, how can you hunt ducks in that???

[;)]

Cool jacket, I think you got a steal on it.
 
Carl said:
But its not camouflaged, how can you hunt ducks in that???
Click to expand...

How well does rattle-can camo paint stick to Filson wax? If well, paint after treatment. If poorly, it will stick to the untreated canvas, then you can wax over it.
 
Filson tin cloth and shelter cloth traditional jackets, heavy wool jackets, and luggage are still made in Seattle. All of their more trendy/technical products are outsourced, but the traditional stuff is still made my hand at their factory in Seattle. The cotton itself for the tin and shelter cloth is imported though. The wool for the heavy jackets is still made in Oregon by Pendleton.
 
Jay, I've owned that exact coat for decades...They last a very long time.

For those in need of a camo version and a very good buy...

https://www.sierra.com/filson-shelter-waterfowl-upland-coat-for-men~p~51rdf/?filterString=s~filson-mens-clothing%2F
 
Seems like I made this post in good company.

Carl, it does seem perfectly matched camo has a place. Behind I boat covered in natural grass though, I think we may be able to get away with a little more.

Sean and Tom, unfortunately, they make the new generation waterfowl jackets overseas. That was the killer for me.

Phil, seems like if it works in Alaska, it will work in NJ!
 
My wife is looking to get me a filson she's looking at the JacShirt, the shelter upland coat (linked a few posts ago), and the skagit waterfowl jacket.

Asking for myself, which is the way to go? I'm down in CT and it can be cold but not every year.
 
Nice! Filson stuff is expensive but worth it IMO. I'm slowly working my way up to a full Filson outfit, I got the waterfowler's hat about 10 years ago and it's just now getting broken in haha!
 
Nick,

This is my opinion and I hope to not ruffle any feathers:

JacShirt: I don't own one but from what I feel, seems very nice but very expensive.

Shelter Upland Coat: I think you might be referring to the tin cloth? Don't go shelter cloth for an upland coat. Go with a true-blue tin cloth design. You might be walking through briars, thorns, etc.

Skagit Waterfowl Jacket: Not a real Filson. I think your money would be better spent elsewhere. It's definitely imported. The wading coat is better in the fact its shelter cloth but once again, imported. Also, it comes in ONE camo pattern. If I was going to get a camo pattern Filson jacket it better at least be in a camo that works for my area.

If I'm buying Filson...Tin Cloth Upland Coat, Shelter Cloth Waterfowl Wading Jacket (like the 615) made in the USA.
 
Jay K said:
Nick,

This is my opinion and I hope to not ruffle any feathers:

JacShirt: I don't own one but from what I feel, seems very nice but very expensive.

Shelter Upland Coat: I think you might be referring to the tin cloth? Don't go shelter cloth for an upland coat. Go with a true-blue tin cloth design. You might be walking through briars, thorns, etc.

Skagit Waterfowl Jacket: Not a real Filson. I think your money would be better spent elsewhere. It's definitely imported. The wading coat is better in the fact its shelter cloth but once again, imported. Also, it comes in ONE camo pattern. If I was going to get a camo pattern Filson jacket it better at least be in a camo that works for my area.

If I'm buying Filson...Tin Cloth Upland Coat, Shelter Cloth Waterfowl Wading Jacket (like the 615) made in the USA.
Click to expand...

I meant the one linked by Tom Tyler. I can affirm that whatever waterfowl jacket I get won't be subject to upland. I have a designated painted trashed forester jacket I use for upland. Sounds snarky, but I keep my duck gear only for use when hunting ducks. This is mostly because I will trash it otherwise. All of my "normal clothes" end up being destroyed. You'd think I'd learn to change into ratty clothes before starting projects but I still haven't. Separating the waterfowl gear keeps me from making it orange with timber marking paint.
 
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Nick,

The one Tom posted is definitely made in Sri Lanka. The original Filson gear was all USA made, mostly USA material. For me, I just feel if I am buying something for the tried and true Filson reputation, it has to be USA made for me. Now with that being said, if it's a technical jacket like the Skagit, that's different I suppose. Being a technical sort of coat, not tin or shelter cloth, I may feel different.

Mike,

They do seem to be very highly regarded coats. Being USA made or not, Filson does seem to ensure that everything is well made.
 
Filson makes a great jacket, I own several. They take tons of abuse and keep on going. My wife bought me the Skagit for Christmas last year and I love it. Having said that, my all time favorite duck hunting jacket for crappy weather is my Barbour Longshoreman. It's like wearing a sleeping bad.

Waxed jacket or I guess you could say anorak, waterproof with hood, very cozy, has a nice deep kangaroo pouch pocket in the front and two deep hand/ side pockets. Simply the best outer wear for fowling in snotty weather.
 
Zane, Not certain if your Barbour is the same coat a friend and I were talking about last week. He said they are no longer made and are selling for 800 pounds in England! Why that subject came up we were discussing the camo pullover made by LL Bean. I use to wear one, and when he came over to Sask. to hunt with my wife and I he liked the pullover, and purchased one. In the email last week he mentioned he still had it, and I suggested it might be worth some money as a collector's item. As for myself, I wore out two of them. My favorite waterfowling coat for many years.
 
Worth,
Yup, that's the one. I picked my jacket up for two hundred. Just looked on Ebay and they are going for $900.00! That is crazy!


https://www.ebay.com/itm/224663064074?hash=item344ef64e0a:g:NwgAAOSw94Vg-itG
 
I can't say much about the coats since I do not have one. But I do have a pair of the tin pants and they are awesome. I have had them for about 20 years and got them for grouse hunting in the northwest where blackberrys are everywhere. I got them becasue I had some logger friends and they swore by them for the coast range. You can walk through anything with them. The only problem i have is when the blackberries are over my waist. Tough as nails. This weekend I decided to revive my first hunting coat (WWII brown camo) that I really like but has no waterproofness left. Coated it with Filson wax and I can't wait to try it out again. The only problem is that since I was not touching up I used the whole can and I think I will need some more. If it passes the first day of rain I will get another can to touch up the light spots.
 
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