The right shooting coat can transform your day in the field from an endurance test to pure enjoyment. When it has an effective liner, your body temperature won’tenter your mind. When the outer fabric has the right amount of stretch and allows total freedom of movement, you won’t think twice about reaching for that high bird. When pursuing driven pheasants through a November squall or standing on a peg on a bitter December morning, staying warm, dry, and comfortable isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. A sodden, shivering Gun is a miserable one, and misery rarely leads to consistent shooting.
Today’s leading manufacturers pour enormous resources into cutting-edge technology, delivering coats that are simultaneously waterproof, windproof, breathable, and lightweight. Understanding the numbers matters: waterproof ratings, measured in millimetres, tell you exactly how much punishment a coat can withstand – the higher the figure, the drier you’ll stay. ‘Breathability’ refers to how well the fabric allows moisture vapour to pass through from the inside to the outside. It’s essentially the fabric’s ability to let your sweat evaporate rather than trapping it against your skin. Again, the higher the number, the more breathable the fabric.
The marketplace brims with choices, from traditional tweeds with modern technical linings to space-age synthetics that wouldn’t look out of place on Everest. The challenge lies not in finding a good coat, but in identifying the perfect one for your specific needs, budget, and shooting style. Here, we’ve done the hard work for you, analysing five outstanding options side by side.
Browning Parka Norfolk
- RRP: £315.95
- Brand Origin: USA
- Waterproof Rating: 10,000mm
- Breathability: 10,000mm
- Fabric: 100% cotton outer with a Z-Lining Pre-Vent membrane and polyester lining
- Pockets: 6
- Colour: Dark Brown
- Warranty: 2 years
- Hood: Detachable, adjustable hood
- Sizes: S–3XL
- Weight (Large): 1.55kg
- USP: It successfully combines traditional hunting heritage and classic oiled cotton aesthetics with modern waterproof technology, offering shooters the best of both worlds – timeless style with reliable contemporary protection under Browning’s trusted American hunting brand legacy.
- Contact: www.browning.eu
Härkila Pro Hunter Shooting GTX Jacket
- RRP: £589.99
- Brand Origin: Sweden
- Waterproof Rating: 30,000mm
- Breathability: 30,000mm
- Fabric: Breathable, soft Airtech outer with a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane
- Pockets: 8
- Colour: Willow Green
- Warranty: 5 years when you sign up to the Pro Hunter Society for free and register your purchase
- Hood: Detachable
- Sizes: EU46–58 (UK 36–48” chest)
- Weight (Size Medium): 1.31kg
- USP: ‘Apparel of the Year’ winner at the Great British Shooting Awards 2024
- Contact: www.harkila.com
New Forest Performance Field Coat
- RRP: £189.95 (currently reduced to £119.95)
- Brand Origin: UK
- Waterproof Rating: 10,000mm
- Breathability: 5,000mm
- Fabric: Polyester twill
- Pockets: 10
- Colour: Olive Night
- Warranty: 12 months
- Hood: Detachable
- Sizes: XS–4XL
- Weight (Size Medium): 1.5kg
- USP: The design combines all of New Forest’s bestselling jackets – essentially taking the most popular features from multiple successful jackets and combining them into one comprehensive design.
- Contact: www.newforestclothing.co.uk
Beretta Tempesta Hunting Jacket
- RRP: £315.95
- Brand Origin: Italy
- Waterproof Rating: >10,000mm
- Breathability: >10,000mm
- Fabric: Durable water-repellent-treated microfibre
- Pockets: 5
- Colours: British Green and Brown Bark
- Warranty: 12 months
- Hood: Removable; designed to ensure a clear field of vision
- Sizes: S–4XL
- Weight (Medium): 1.3kg
- USP: A precision-engineered jacket that applies Beretta’s craftsmanship and field-testing expertise to create a coat for those who prioritise stealth, movement, and Italian quality.
- Contact: www.e.store.beretta.com
Stoney Creek Suppressor Jacket
- RRP: £299.99
- Brand Origin: New Zealand
- Waterproof Rating: 10,000mm–39,727mm
- Breathability: 16,000mm
- Fabric: The quiet, brushed tricot outer fabric has been DWR-coated, which actively sheds water. An internal hydrophilic membrane blocks 100% of rain and wind, and breathes exceptionally well.
- Pockets: 5
- Colour: Bayleaf
- Warranty: 2 years
- Hood: Adjustable, stowable hood with wired peak
- Sizes: S–7XL
- Weight: 1kg (average)
- USP: Anti-slip silicone dots across the shoulders to keep your pack or rifle secure
- Contact: www.stoneycreekoutdoors.co.uk