If there is one thing that defines Britishness, it
is our love of ceremony and tradition, and the wearing of a shooting
outfit is an act which is both deeply mired in the field sports
tradition and, when worn 'properly', almost ceremonious in it's fine
details.
Whilst, aesthetically, the shooting outfit exudes
British upper class charm and heritage, it's functional purpose is to
camouflage the wearer in the field and offer protection against the
British elements, whilst maintaining freedom of movement. Winter
shooting attire should keep the wearer warm and dry, without
restricting movement.
The key to cold weather dressing is layering and
shooting garments are perfectly designed to be pieced together to
create a warm and waterproof suit.
Starting with the first layers, Shooting Socks
come up over the calf and are held in place with garters. Pennine
have a good range of shooting socks and garters, such as the Pennine
Mayfair Cashmere Shooting Sock and the Contrast Garter. To add a
splash of colour to your outfit, Laksen offer the Harlequin Stocking,
in merino wool.
Breeks (Scottish dialect for breeches) are similar
to plus fours in length, but with less fullness. The bottom seam of
the breeks is important as it needs to work with the sock to make the
outfit waterproof. For comfort, braces can be worn to hold the breeks
in place. Musto have a beautiful range of shooting attire. In this
article we will focus on the Stretch Technical Tweed outfit from
Musto, comprising Jacket, Waistcoat and Breeks. Designed to work
together, and composed of a Scottish wool, nylon and lycra material
for added stretch and durability. The breeks feature a weatherproof,
breathable drop-liner and adjustable hem.
Moving onwards and upwards to the shirt. The
favoured design for shooting shirts is a tattersall pattern, cut
loosely to allow for freedom of movement. Barbour's Sporting Country
Tattersall is a specific shooting shirt, in 100% cotton, with a
superior cut and longer body length.
For additional warmth in bitterly cold weather, a
sleeveless, wool waistcoat makes a perfect second layer. A waistcoat
is preferable to a pullover or cardigan as it allows for freedom of
movement around the arms. Musto's Stretch Technical Tweed Waistcoat
features vents to the back to allow air flow and a D30 Recoil Pad
facility at the shoulder.
The outer layer of the outfit is the jacket.
Practical features to look out for when selecting a shooting jacket
include the protection it offers against the elements; such as a
weatherproof lining, stormflap and ribbed inner cuffs. Additional
practical features might include generous, bellow pockets and
internal zipped pockets. The Musto Stretch Technical Tweed Jacket
comprises all of these features and, together with the breeks and
waistcoat, completes a stylish and traditional outfit.
If you prefer not to wear tweed the most suitable
alternative is Gore-tex, in a classic colour such as moss. Lighter
than tweed, Gore-tex still looks great in the field and is renowned
for it's weatherproofing properties. Musto's Whisper Jacket, in moss,
has been designed to reduce rustle noise when moving and to be
virtually silent.
When standing for long hours out in the elements,
a good pair of boots is essential. Lined boots with grip are
advisable for warmth and comfort. Hunter's Balmoral Hawksworth Boots, winner of the Shooting Industry's New Footwear Product of the Year Award 2012, are a good choice.
Musto's Whisper Jacket, Barbour's Sporting Country Tattersall Shirt and Hunter's Balmoral Hawksworth.
Accessories to complete the look include Shooting
Gloves. Many options are available, including Barbour's Leather
Shooting Gloves which are suitable for both left and right handers,
with a fold back trigger finger on each glove. Musto make an
excellent Wetgrip Shooting Glove, a close fitting glove that retains
grip even when wet.
Two beautiful accessories to complete any shooting
outfit are Musto's Leather Gunslip and Cartridge Bag. Designed to
compliment each other they are hand crafted in England using Italian
leather and feature solid brass hardware.
Last but not least, you've kitted yourself out in
magnificent British heritage style, but health and safety is still an
important consideration! Our Bisley Active Ear Protectors will
safeguard your hearing and Musto's D30 Recoil Shield and D30 Recoil
Pad are an excellent, innovative new design to absorb impact energy.
With all of this in place you are ready to go out
and enjoy field sports without compromising an inch on style or
practicality!
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