{"id":4287,"date":"2021-10-28T11:23:23","date_gmt":"2021-10-28T09:23:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/?p=61523"},"modified":"2021-10-28T11:29:15","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T09:29:15","slug":"best-gardening-jackets","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/best-gardening-jackets\/","title":{"rendered":"Best gardening jackets"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Daniel Griffiths\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 28 October 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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It\u2019s time to wrap up warm, stay safe, comfortable and dry and enjoy gardening even if the elements have other ideas. And to do that you\u2019re going to need some trusty over-the-top workwear.<\/p>\n

Of course you could make do with an old jumper or that cast-off jacket (with holes at the elbows) but once you\u2019ve tried bespoke, purpose-built gear you\u2019ll never go back.<\/p>\n

Modern workwear combines natural materials such as wool and leather with hi-tech composites such as neoprene in combinations tailor made to keep you warm, dry, and mobile.<\/p>\n

There are five basic considerations that your perfect jacket needs to provide:<\/p>\n

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Stay warm<\/h3>\n

The first consideration, as autumn arrives and temperatures slide to become winter, is to stay warm. With daylight becoming an ever-rarer resource as the seasons roll over it\u2019s important to make the most of your days and get those big gardening jobs done! Getting cold when working isn\u2019t just uncomfortable, it increases your fatigue levels and makes you less able \u2013 both physically and mentally \u2013 to keep going. Combined with decreasing light from an early-setting sun and you could be *feeling* like you\u2019ve put in a full day\u2019s work, but in reality you\u2019ve only been active for a couple of hours.<\/p>\n

\""Rab\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Smart new materials can keep you warm with the minimum of bulk.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Suddenly tasks like giving the lawn that final mow for winter starts to take all day when it took you an hour in summer\u2026 And big autumn jobs like erecting a fence run past that weekend you set aside and start to drag on for weeks\u2026<\/p>\n

The trick is to stay warm and active and don\u2019t let your body fool you into cutting your day short.<\/p>\n

Stay dry<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s great weather for ducks\u2026 But gardeners not so much. Damp days in the wrong gear will cut your gardening activities short or \u2013 if you\u2019ve not something truly waterproof to wear \u2013 prevent them from starting altogether. And getting wet isn\u2019t just uncomfortable, do it too often for too long and you\u2019ll get ill.<\/p>\n

\""Drawstring"\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Being able to tighten up collars, cuffs and hems keep the wind and water out.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

And getting wet makes you cold. Your body heat leaves your body and goes to work trying to evaporate the water you\u2019ve soaked up, while non breathable fabrics will then trap this moisture and heat causing you to stew in your own steam. At best your muscles will tire and you\u2019ll call it a day, or at worst you\u2019ll catch a chill and potentially lose the whole week.<\/p>\n

Modern waterproof, breathable workwear let\u2019s you keep working in comfort, whatever the weather.<\/p>\n

Stay flexible<\/h3>\n

Simply repurposing your old Sunday best as \u2018gardening clothing\u2019 is tempting but isn\u2019t conducive to getting the best out of you in the garden. Not only are those holey, worn clothes obviously less warm and less waterproof than modern \u2018pro gardening\u2019 alternatives but make you less physically productive too.<\/p>\n

\""Modern\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
With clever tailoring, today\u2019s jackets move with you and get out of the way of those physical chores.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Your old smarts simply aren\u2019t designed for repetitive actions such as bending and stretching with sleeves and trouser legs designed to house and contain the body rather than allow it move within it. Movement within such clothing creates friction that will ultimately wear you out \u2013 no tools or gardening jobs required \u2013 meaning that at the end of the day less apples get picked and less lawn gets raked.<\/p>\n

Modern workwear on the other hand is cut to allow kneeling and bending, stretching and lifting. It\u2019s aim is to be as invisible and unobstructive as possible, stepping aside to get you closer to the job in hand.<\/p>\n

Stay stylish<\/h3>\n

And \u2013 great news \u2013 you can do it all in style. Today\u2019s waterproofs are nothing like the old oily workwear your grandparents might have worn. Now you can tend your allotment one minute, pick the kids up from school the next, and meet friends for coffee all without a change of garb (and all without looking like a scarecrow).<\/p>\n

\""Stylish\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
There\u2019s no need to look a scruff. Now you can get the job done in style.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

And if you\u2019re looking for a little colour then the days of drab greens and browns are far behind us. And bright colours aren\u2019t just on trend, if you\u2019re working solo out in the wilds you can stay safe and get seen should an accident happen by sporting your choice of warm oranges and reds to bright industrial-style fluoros.<\/p>\n

And keep gardening fun<\/h3>\n

Feeling comfortable, getting the job done and truly achieving something isn\u2019t just good for your garden, it\u2019s good for your mind and soul too. Gardening isn\u2019t about manual labour, feeling uncomfortable, feeling tired\u2026 It\u2019s about feeling good through creating something beautiful. So do yourself a favour and wear the jacket that let\u2019s you do the job properly.<\/p>\n

\""Stylish\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Look great and feel good in your choice of colour and styles.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Here\u2019s our pick of ten of the best that meet the above in style:<\/p>\n

Belstaff Fieldwood<\/h3>\n
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