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Post by Bruce Tackett on Jan 18, 2019 22:59:53 GMT
A really good, somewhat expensive winter coat - Columbia, that I got some years ago has bitten the dust. The zipper keeps pulling apart. So I dug out another winter coat I have from our closet, and the %$%# zipper keeps getting caught and snagging on the material - poor designing. Now I know why that particular coat has remained in the closet. Well, I needed something, and, unfortunately, there is no Rodeo Drive here in Pratt, Kansas. The only place to find a coat or jacket around here is Walmart, and I wasn't thrilled about getting one of their stupid Dickies. I was pondering the long drive to Wichita. Well, I need something, like, right now, so I headed over to Walmart, thinking maybe I could find something inexpensive for the interim. I saw these jackets, Swiss Tech, going for only an even $17, so I tried one on. It fit comfortably and has a good zipper, so, at that price, I got it. And then after I got one and got home with it, I noticed things about it that are really cool (or warm). It weighs practically nothing. It is so lightweight it practically floats, and it is very easy to get on and off. I was standing out on my porch wearing it in the Kansas winter wind, and I noticed that this thing is really warm. It has some type of insulation that practically generates heat. I could almost feel it getting warmer as I stood out there. It's almost as though it was working with my body heat to generate more heat. At first I thought it looked kind of stupid, but, anything in a storm. Once on, though, it's a really good fit and is actually somewhat stylish. So what can I say? Walmart actually came through for me, and I am really pleased with this new jacket. Such a deal!  |
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Post by gruntbrain on Jan 18, 2019 23:13:58 GMT
I'll buy one if I ever move from the Left Coast
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Post by Deuce Gunner on Jan 18, 2019 23:14:15 GMT
Weren't your favorite Jerusalem Cruisers a Wal-Mart item also?
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Post by Bruce Tackett on Jan 19, 2019 0:08:23 GMT
Yes, indeed, Deucietoes! Comfortably fitting sandals for only $12.
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Post by Bruce Tackett on Jan 19, 2019 0:09:31 GMT
I'll buy one if I ever move from the Left Coast Well, there's a reason for you to leave the Left Coast, right there. |
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Post by mr potatohead on Jan 19, 2019 1:34:29 GMT
What colors do they have?
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Post by Bruce Tackett on Jan 19, 2019 2:13:01 GMT
At my Walmart, black and blue. I got black.
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trog
Caneguru
Wild Thing
Trog
Posts: 652 
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Post by trog on Jan 19, 2019 14:02:23 GMT
I tend to go for leather coats. Leather is completely wind proof, although it does require upkeep. When it is really cold (like now) I wear my knee length leather trench coat. When it's not so cold, I go for a leather jacket. I've had mine for 25 years but I've sadly had to retire it. The lining has gone, there is a split in the seam and a small hole where the coat hook had worn through. I might well get it fixed one day, but I bought a new leather jacket last week.
I've also got my motorbike leathers, athough I don't ride now. I rode daily until the mid 1990s. I can still get into the trousers but I can't get my arms in the sleeve of the jacket, let alone do it up. They date from when I was a 7 stone weakling.
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Post by billfish on Jan 19, 2019 14:32:50 GMT
My wife made me an Anorak style pullover years ago out of a couple of different fabrics. She put zippered pockets on the chest and sleeve and the waist can be cinched tight as having elastic at the cuffs. i used to cross country ski in it ....very warm and windproof , I still wear it today  |
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Post by Bruce Tackett on Jan 19, 2019 16:35:02 GMT
My wife made me an Anorak style pullover years ago out of a couple of different fabrics. She put zippered pockets on the chest and sleeve and the waist can be cinched tight as having elastic at the cuffs. i used to cross country ski in it ....very warm and windproof , I still wear it today Nice wife. |
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Post by justregularguy on Jan 19, 2019 17:38:13 GMT
I hate it when the zippers give up. It pretty much makes the whole jacket useless. The manufacturers could save money on any other material why on the damn zippers. They are doing my head in
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2019 18:08:06 GMT
There's nothing more stylish and warm than an old British Army coat . . .
. . . and no zippers
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Post by Alan OldStudent on Jan 20, 2019 6:59:10 GMT
I'll buy one if I ever move from the Left Coast Well, there's a reason for you to leave the Left Coast, right there.  |
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Post by stormshadow on Jan 20, 2019 11:56:07 GMT
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Post by tobywan on Jan 21, 2019 19:11:10 GMT
I’ve taken to collecting old wool blankets from thrift shops and making coats out of them. I had to teach myself how to use a sewing machine, but it’s been worth it. It’s become sort of a side hobby to my regular art making. I’ve been studying historical clothing styles, looking for lost functionality. The coat I wear all the time is patterned after a karate gi jacket, but knee length. It doesn’t have any buttons or zippers to break, just a few simple ties. I made the sleeves extra long so when I’m out camping or hiking I can keep my hands warm if I forget gloves (sticking my hands in the other cuff, like a hand warmer, works fantastic.). I also built a pocket into the sleeve that functions like a mitten. Because its wool, it does a reasonable job shedding water (just not in a real downpour), it keeps me warm even when wet, I don’t have to worry about an ember from a campfire burning through it (wool is fire resistant naturally), it does a fair job blocking the wind (if you use a dense enough weeve) and it’s fairly durable.
I’m currently in the middle of working on a new version of the coat with a few more features to suit my needs, one of the biggest being better thermoregulation. I’m the kind of person that tends to overheat (I wear shorts year round here in the northeast), especially when active. As I want this coat to be sort of my everyday coat for any activity, I need to have the ability to seal it up to stay warm if I’m just standing around outside as well as be able to ventilate excess heat when I’m really moving. At some point I’ll add the videos of these coats I’ve made to my YouTube channel, but who knows when I’ll get around to that.
Take it easy,
Toby
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