A question for Filson owners

Chris Pierce

Chris Pierce

Joined
Nov 15, 2006
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Howdy Folks

I live in the middle of no where. But since Monday was a holiday, and it's still the off season for me, my wife decided that we ought to take a family trip to the big city. First stop was the Filson store! I've been drooling over their catalogs literally all winter long. I was finally able to try on their coats and feel the quality. And of course I ended up buying a Mackinaw Cruiser in 40XL on ebay as soon as I got home! :D
BUT While doing some reading I found that a lot of folks think that the heavy wool isn't very good in a stiff breeze. Which around here is a major concern.
So, I'm wondering if anyone has a tin jacket (maybe a packer or cruiser) and a mackinaw cruiser. Can you wear the two together? If not, what is the problem? Would you need to buy a larger size tin cloth coat to fit the cruiser under it? I know that I could buy a wool liner, but that's another 150 bucks.
Another question. While I was at the store, one of the salesmen told me that I would need to buy a size larger in the Tin Jacket. At the store the size small fit me absolutely perfectly. But apparently the tin cloth will shrink up to 2" in the sleeves? Did you buy a size larger when you bought your tin cloth?



Thanks
-Chris
 
I at a Filson addiction for awhile.. I have almost every piece made from shirts, jackets,boots, luggage.

It is awesome stuff.. Mac cruiser and tin jacket does not seem like a good combo to me. Too bulky..
I would just layer under the cruiser myself. It's plenty warm. My Sleeping Indian wool jacket has a light wind proof liner on the inside. I have worn that jacket all over Alaska on many hunts.

My tin jacket was too stiff and bulky and I sold it. I had it for 10-15 years and I don't know if it ever broke in.

I swear by Filson Luggage!! I could tell lots of luggage stories. Trust me, the luggage will out live my kids.

Every man should own at least one Filson belt.
 
I bought three filson shirts,I went up a size but the arms a still a touch short,no biggie as I always turn the sleeves up.All have been washed {cold} no sign of shrinkage.
 
I own a lot of Filson! A lot!!! I own the Packer with the Wool liner and it is the bomb. I don't know why a Mac won't do the same thing as a liner. My outer garments are always a tad larger for layering. I should try my single Mac under my Packer.

None of my jackets have ever shrunk but I still concur the outer should be a bit larger for maximum layering and comfort. Function not fashion is my mantra!! I don't care if the jacket is too large.
 
I work for a Filson dealer, and as a result, I have a lot of their stuff. The Mac is a great coat, but I agree that putting a tin cloth jacket over it would be way too heavy and stiff. If you really want serious wind/water protection, I would look at one of their tin cloth (or shelter cloth, which is not as stiff) coats with a zip-in wool liner. This is the system I use most often. Expect that if you buy a tin cloth item, you will be spending some time breaking it in. But it will probably last as long as you do.

But with that said, the Mac does a really good job of keeping out the elements, in my experience. As Harleyguy said, you can always layer under it with a lighter wool shirt, or sweater. It would take a lot of wind to get through that.
 
I had a tin cloth hat, and my sweat made it shrink up. It was a perfect fit when new, but too small once it shrunk. I do love my Macinaw jacket and vest though, ten years old and still look like new.
 
Chris Pierce said:
I ended up buying a Mackinaw Cruiser in 40XL on ebay as soon as I got home! :D

At the store the size small [tin jacket] fit me absolutely perfectly.
Click to expand...

It doesn't seem like a 40XL and a Small from the same manufacturer should fit the same person. :confused:
 
Scott Free said:
It doesn't seem like a 40XL and a Small from the same manufacturer should fit the same person. :confused:
Click to expand...

Why not? A 38-40" chest, I think, is generally considered a small. The XL is eXtra Long. I wear a 16x36 shirt, so I need the XL just for the sleeves. Also, the tin cloth apparently is meant to shrink so it may be sized larger.
 
Quirt said:
I own a lot of Filson! A lot!!! I own the Packer with the Wool liner and it is the bomb. I don't know why a Mac won't do the same thing as a liner. My outer garments are always a tad larger for layering. I should try my single Mac under my Packer.

None of my jackets have ever shrunk but I still concur the outer should be a bit larger for maximum layering and comfort. Function not fashion is my mantra!! I don't care if the jacket is too large.
Click to expand...

Will you try it on and tell me what you think? I'd really appreciate it.
 
Chris, I love Filson gear, but the Tin jacket, is exactly that..tin..as tough as they are, they are heavy, and if you are going to be in a lot of rain, what I've grown to prefer is a good polyshell like from Northface/cabellas due to weight for combo w/ your Mac..if you do go with a Tin shell..if what you had was a perfect fit in the store, you need to at least go up one more size on the shell/jacket.or will make you feel smothered with a Mac under it..you might want to call a dealer and ask for a recommendation..would stink if you got a shell shorter than the Mac..shoulders are a bit narrow to me on the tin jackets, so another size consideration..also get a couple of extra wax tins for touch ups..just can't stress enough the weight of the Tin..and how that can pres on your neck due to the single weave design, all weight centers on nap of collar IMEx.
Around the farm, I really like the Tin field jacket with the zip in heavy liner :thumbup:. awesome to be able to just brush off sh...tuff.
 
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Well the small was a perfect fit for me with a heavy hooded sweat shirt on. But since they're supposed to shrink I'd pick up a medium I guess. I'm not worried about rain very much. It's more about wind protection. Also protection against barbed wire and the like since I build a lot of fence.
 
Quote Originally Posted by Chris Pierce View Post

Also protection against barbed wire and the like since I build a lot of fence.
Then tin cloth is truly what you want. It's armor.
Click to expand...

Ahh..now knowing your application (which is none of my business of course), makes a lot more sense for the combo.. same reasons I got it initially as well, it's definitely a cold weather work coat..as will not breath in the heat, very easy to sweat in though, so I like to wear a good wicking material as a base layer..Glad you're getting the bigger size, Chris..you won't regret it if you like to layer..that Tin will feel like ice with a gust of cold air, you'll be glad to have room to layer under it, especially as a work coat.
One cool thing I learned, just as food for thought, is that you'll notice if you wear tin cloth and build/maintain a fire the wax holds up MUCH better around the front of your arms where it got warmest maintaining the fire..in several years of owning it, have had to rewax shoulders and back a couple of times, but not those areas..the heat so permeated the wax there I guess after a fire or 2, that I don't know if it will ever need waxing from the forearm down.
 
Have you actually tried your coat in a ' stiff breeze ' ?

I have a Woolrich wool jacket which is the same style as the Filson Mac but by all accounts poorer quality and I've been out in some real rough weather and have never been cold or felt the wind come through. Even in the middle of winter I barely need more than a t-shirt under my coat !!!

Anyway if you do find the wind cuts through why not try a Filson Tin cloth vest under your coat to keep your core warm !

Regarding the Tin Cloth shrinking, I had read the same thing and ordered a size larger than needed in the Tin pants, the damn things fit large anyway and even though I've got them soaked numerous times they have never shrank at all and are way too bloody big !
 
I've not worn wool in the wind yet. The mackinaw I bought is still in the mail. But I would guess that the wind here on the prairie is going to be a bigger issue than in the rain forest. When I lived in Seattle I never had any issues with wind even when I worked on the water. But here it's a different story. The wind has started blowing already and won't stop until May or June probably. Then it'll start back up in September or October. There is a reason that were surrounded by wind mills. I'd like to buy a tin cloth vest just to have something that's wind proof but not too warm, the same goes for the tin jacket. But unless I find a really good deal I'll probably just stick with what I've got for now.
Anyway.
So will someone please try their mackinaw cruiser under some tin cloth for me? :D
Thanks!
 
My guess is that if you're actually working while wearing the mackinaw cruiser, you'll be glad that a little bit of wind is getting through.
 
I love the Filson wool if I'm moving, but would agree that even the double cruiser is not a good choice if you'll be standing in the wind. Tin cloth with a wool liner is great for that or stop & go in wet weather.
 
My coat just came, it's a 40 Extra Long. The "40" is actually 47"! And the "extra long" sleeves? 23" :eek: I am so disappointed. :(
 
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