Mark Bolam

Some great stuff to ponder already fellas, thanks, and keep it coming! You all seem to have a good grasp of what I’m after.

There have been plenty of threads about waterproof jackets for work. I’ve had a few both for work and general outdoors stuff. I spend a lot of time outdoors, and I’m after something that really works well, and wil have longevity. This isn’t particularly for work, I still have my Pfanner which is good, although not as good as I’d hoped. I have a North Face Paclite Circadian and a Ridgeline Pintail smock, which now both leak like sieves despite reproofing. This will be mainly for camping, dog walks, mooching around up the woods and hopefully boarding again. I’m a big layer fan, so nothing too bulky. I’m not interested in ex-army Goretex or any of the ‘rain’ jackets that the dealers on here all sell. I want something genuinely waterproof with a decent hood that will stay waterproof, hopefully for a few years. I’m thinking about something like the Arcteryx Theta AR or similar. Very expensive, but I’ve spent so much on jackets that have let me down over the years I’m prepared to bite the bullet. Any reviews of really good jackets welcome. Please do read the criteria I have specified, and I’m also not interested in anything in hi-vis as I still shoot a bit. Thanks.

Tack Josh!

They’re a pain to price as well. Always sounds like a lot of money for a small tree if you want to take the time to do it properly. Looks good to me Maria.

My two little Goblins on the way back from the woods.

Well Petzl don’t make the Ropewrench, so if you did that you would definitely fall to your death immediately.

It looks like something I would find in my workshop the morning after drinking a slab of Stella in there.

Bob I’ve telt DEFRA on you. Be nice to Gary Prentice. He’s promised to smuggle in a few treats for you in the next 15 years. I’d wash them first, like.

Same here Carlos. It’s a very job specific call.

I heard you used to make your groundie climb up and bring the saw to you.

I’m bolloxed then, I’ve got loads of those.

I'm not bothered because it's all in cash anyway.

I'm not VAT registered but I tell domestic customers I am when I've finished and charge them an extra 20%, which I keep. It's a really nice little earner.

Buy off ebay - buy twice.

Flames. Better than Pornhub. Is there a better sight in the winter?

It’s probably fine, it’s your life. Climbers coming on here saying they can’t afford the basic essentials leave me pulling that weird face. Every real climber on here will know the one.

Yeah, mine too!

What a crock of shit. If DEFRA fell into a bucket of tits they'd come out sucking their thumb.

Hopefully rural areas will be swarming with crack units of gun-toting cops to police this genius plan. They might catch a few thieves while they’re at it.

Crab apple.

I'm looking forward to selling black market air dried logs. They will never take me alive.

You sound like a switched on bloke who isn’t afraid of graft. Give it your best shot mate. If it doesn’t work out you’ve got skills you can fall back on.

I’ve always been a bit of a bisexual when it comes to Husky and Stihl. I just want the saw that does the job best. Normally one seems to steal a march on the other with certain size saws. It seems both manufacturers have really nailed it with these two saws, which is great news for us cutters!

Rupe’s advice above is pretty sound. Working for an outfit while you learn the ropes will pay off long term. It will be poorly paid and soul destroying at times, but you’ll learn more in 12 months grafting for a pro outfit than you will from any amount of courses.

That looks really smart John.