Jack Pykes’ Hunter clothing

Camouflage designs have their place, and I use some on a regular basis; yet some shooting expeditions call for a more subtle approach. The very effectiveness of camo in many scenarios is a moot point in any case, and I’ve found the best policy against rabbits, for example, is stealth above all, with the pattern or even colour of clothing not necessarily vital to success.

Heretical views? Maybe to some; but there’s no doubting the appeal of some ‘smarter’ shooting attire. 

The Hunter Collection

Suddenly Jack Pyke is everywhere so there’s certainly some good marketing going on here. I decided to take a closer look at their Hunter collection for myself, but, ringing the changes, steered away from the camo offerings, in favour of the rather tasteful Olive Green spec.

The Hunter Jacket, from Jack Pyke, in keeping with many of its rivals, is available in a wide variety of sizes and patterns; and I opted for the Jacket in XXL, which for the record cosseted my fairly large 6ft odd frame perfectly.

Cosseted is the word too, since both the jacket and trousers are constructed from what the manufacturers term ‘Stealth Breatha-tex’ fabric. This stuff feels incredibly soft and cosy to the touch, yet amazingly still manages to be waterproof, windproof, and breathable. The internal membrane of the fabric apparently evaporates any sweat to the outside, ideally keeping you comfortable within. An aerated internal layer (used for the trousers too) brings added comfort.

‘Noise-free’ is a given and all part of the intended design brief; which, I hasten to add, seems extremely well researched, given the plethora of features crammed in.

A full-length double opening main zip, internal zipped pockets and a concealed lightweight hood are just for starters. The Jacket includes a three sided zipped flap at the rear, which can be fully opened to form an extra waterproof seat, or just partially accessed as a washable game bag.

The sleeves are nicely designed too, including elasticated inner cuffs and Velcro outers, which can both be opened up to vent as necessary, or pressed closed for extra warmth. Large front pockets include internal elasticated strips, which can be used for ammunition or to hold a variety of small objects safely.

TROUSERS

The perfect accompaniment to the Hunter Green Jacket, is the Hunters Trousers, which are fashioned from identical hi-tech material. Features here include a fully elasticated waist and adjustable drawstring. Again, for the record my 38 waist felt fine in the Xlarge spec supplied. The cut is quite spacious in the leg, so plenty of room to manoeuvre here without any awkward restrictions.

Large pop-down cargo pockets appear halfway down each leg, whilst open top pockets are easily accessed. Where this design really scores though, is with the fully opening leg sections. A full length zip runs from the knee down, with Velcro straps at the ankle, meaning the trousers can be comfortably fitted around over-sized boots etc. with ease.

All in all, a great set for the outdoor sportsman who needs a highly durable outfit. ‘Tough, practical and fully featured’ is how their ad runs, and I reckon that sums up this gear perfectly. At £79.95, this impressive shooting jacket represents very good value for money.

The Hunter Jacket from Jack Pyke is available in Olive Green, as seen here, English Woodland Camo, and English Oak Camo. and it can be supplied in small up to XXXL. The Jack Pyke Hunters Trousers are available in English Oak and Hunters Green with an RRP of £54.95.

For stockists and a free catalogue, call 01234 740327 or email at [email protected]   More information is available from the company’s website at www.jackpyke.co.uk