Country Innovation’s View:
To the sound of a fanfare and drum roll, we are absolutely delighted to announce the launch of our brand new RSPB Avocet Jacket. It has been a long time in development, but the wait is worthwhile as this truly is a great outdoor jacket.
Whether you’re a birdwatcher or wildlife lover, we understand how serious you are about your choice of outdoor clothing. We appreciate the need to stay warm, dry and comfortable to be able to enjoy the wonders of the natural world. Consequently, the new RSPB Avocet and Lady Avocet Jackets are not only highly waterproof, windproof and breathable, but also soft, lightweight and comfortable.
There are all the essential features that you need in an outdoor jacket, including 6 pockets, (large bellows lower pockets with fleece lined zippered side entry pockets behind, a zippered map/security pocket and an internal pocket), a highly protective detachable hood, double front plackets (to minimise water getting water getting through the main zip) and an inner zip to take a separate fleece liner.
An articulated underarm allows the arms to be raised without restriction, providing complete freedom of movement when using binoculars or cameras, and the roomy fit allows for plenty of layering underneath.
All in all, a great jacket to offer protection from the elements, and because our garments are extensively field tested, they can be trusted to provide ultimate performance. Every time.
It comes with the Country Innovation’s usual very high standard of finish and attention to detail, and for every one sold, Country Innovation will donate £10 to the RSPB.
The Avocet is available in mens (S – 3XL) and ladies (S – XL), and retails from £195.
Features:
• Waterproof, Windproof and Breathable
• Articulated Underarm – allows the arm to be raised without restriction thus providing freedom of movement
• Detachable Hood – with wired peak, volume adjuster, high front fastening and drawcord to pull in tight to the face
• 6 Generous Pockets:-
• 2 Large Lower Bellows Pockets – with water repellent flaps
• 2 Fleece Lined Side Entry Pockets
• 1 Zippered Map/Security Pocket
• 1 Large Internal Pocket
• Inner Zip – to zip in a separate Fleece Jacket
• Double Front Placket – to minimise water seeping through the main zip
• Press Stud Adjustable Cuffs
• Adjustable Waist Drawcord
• Two Way Main Zip
• Bottom Hem Drawcord
Fatbirder View:
These days I’ve become a bit of a fair weather birder… pushing seventy these aging bones don’t do well in the frost let alone the wind and rain… but guess what… that might well change this winter, because I am in love with this jacket! Big thank you to Country Innovations for producing this in fatbirder sizes too! Here’s what I love…The ambiance – first and foremost I like the look and feel of the garment, an appropriate birding colour coupled with a silent fabric that is on the one hand breathable and on the other wind and waterproof. I’ve tried it and it really does breathe… I’m used to jumping out of the car in the cold and wet to scope the fields for winter geese and watch the skies for raptors before jumping back in and driving to the next birding spot. To date my choice has been freeze and get sodden without a coat or find myself swimming in my own perspiration in the warmth of the car never knowing which layers to don or doff as I get in and out of the mobile oven which ‘she who must be obeyed’ insists is an ambient temperature.
Second up it’s the sensible array of storage space. Who goes anywhere now without their iPhone? I am happy to ignore the calls but I need instant access to my electronic bird books to check I’m not stringing a common buzzard into a rough-legged! I want somewhere to stow the bins out of the rain if I’m scoping the field as well as somewhere for my gloves, hat and water bottled if I’m off to a near enough hide.
Last, but not least, while I’ve never cared what I look like (just as well I hear you cry) my curved back means wearing a hood obscures everything but my feet… but now I can position this peaked hood so I can be warm, dry and able to see!There are all sorts of other nifty bits and bobs too, like drawstrings and press studs which are the sartorial equivalent of draught excluders.
There is even an inner zip so you can attach a fleece – if the people at Country Innovation have one knocking about to fit this reviewer I’ll let you know how that works 😉
So far there is only one negative… bruised arms. This is not the fault of the Jacket, its just that when I was sent the coat to review it was actually too big (never came across that before) so I sent it back for the next size down and not, as the love of my life suggested, the Lady Avocet instead… hence the bruised biceps from the love tap she administered to emphasise her disgruntled state.