NOTE: Fieldsports Guardian articles can include affiliate links. If you purchase a product through our links, we may get paid a small commission from the retailer at no extra cost to you.
Check out the YouTube video here at:
Reviewing the MONSOON II ARCTIC SMOCK Ridgeline Clothing.
"Founded in 1994, Ridgeline of New Zealand has a world-beating reputation for producing functional, durable, professional workwear that really works, where you need it most — in the field. Offering hard-wearing, reliable, real-world performance in combination with our distinctive New Zealand style, Ridgeline gear offers both protection and rugged good looks — in equal measures."
As one of New Zealand's premium outdoor wear brands, Ridgeline clothing is becoming very popular amongst the Farming and shooting community here in the UK. Here at Fieldsports Guardian we decided to see what all the hype is about and put some of their products to the ultimate test to see if they really are worth the price tag.
We really liked the design and style of the MONSOON II ARCTIC SMOCK, so we took it all the way to Grindelwald, Switzerland to the Jungfrau region to put it to the ultimate test against the harsh conditions of the world famous Eiger North Face in temperatures as low as -12 degrees Celsius.
The smock also comes in jacket form MONSOON II CLASSIC JACKET with a full zip. They currently have three colours available which are autumnal orange, which is our personal favourite, rhubarb and teak. If you are quick to beat the queue, Ridgeline clothing currently have huge end of season discounts going on over on their website Ridgeline Clothing with up to 50% discounts.
FEATURES
Rugged waterproof, windproof and breathable smock.
3-layer construction.
Hydrostatic Head: 10,000mm.
Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate: 5,000g/m2/24hrs.
100% brushed polyester outer fabric.
Silent, rustle-free construction.
Detachable faux fur hood and collar.
Rugged front zip.
Stud-fastened storm flap.
Hip Zips.
Fixed adjustable hood with wired peak and chin guard.
Large external chest pocket.
Two large external hand pockets.
Draw cord adjustable waist.
Extra-long scooped back for protection.
Velcro-adjustable cuffs.
We put all of the features to the test on the MONSOON II ARCTIC SMOCK so that we could give you our honest opinion on whether Ridgeline Clothing is really worth the hype or not.
Is it Waterproof?
In one short sentence, yes, ABSOLUTELY! In Switzerland we encountered temperatures as low as -12 degrees Celsius, rain and heavy snow. The three layered construction kept us dry, even whilst sledging in the deep snow at Männlichen! The removable faux fur hood and collar provided extra warmth from the harsh wind as well as the storm flap providing extra protection from the wind. The Velcro adjustable cuffs were also perfect for keeping the wind out and worked perfectly in keeping the snow out whilst we were hitting high speeds on the downhill sledging.
We decided to choose the smock in the autumnal orange colour which is not only elegant and stylish, but we also thought that it did not look out of place wherever you wore it, whether that be on the snowy slopes of Switzerland, in the beating line on a game shoot or around the farmyard. However, if you don't want to stand out too much in the beating line or deerstalking, the teak colour option would suit perfectly.
Does it breathe?
The outer fabric certainly does what it says on the tin. Silent and rustle free which is exactly what we would want if out stalking deer, or perhaps waiting for a bolting rabbit. Most importantly, it wont annoy your fellow enthusiasts when you're rustling around on the beaters wagon trying to find where they hid the sausage rolls!
We did find that if you're layering up for extreme conditions like those that we came up against in Switzerland, the smock can get rather cosy inside. However, simply removing a base layer certainly helped with breathability. Also the rugged long front zip extends all the way down to the waist which could easily be adjusted to provide fresh air when needed.
Is it functionable?
The overhead design of Ridgelines MONSOON II ARCTIC SMOCK with the rugged long front zip incorporated, that runs all the way down to the waistline, proved to be extremely easy to put on and remove over many base layers. The studded storm flap served its purpose in keeping out the wind, rain and the snow on our trip to Grindelwald. We also loved the hip zips which when fully opened made it incredibly easy to put on over multiple base layers and the long curved hem at the back provided a dry seat on the sledge! Perfect for horse riding or riding a quad!
The smock has three generous sized pockets which we felt were adequate for our trip. We do however, personally, would prefer if the two zipped lower pockets was one big pocket instead of two separate pockets. Which we are unsure if the smock would keep its stylish looks if that change was made. Having said that, the pockets seem to have rugged zips, which were easy to use whilst wearing gloves and the chest pocket provided extra storage space.
So is it worth the hype?
We love, love, love it! Would we buy one? We already have! We love how versatile the MONSOON II ARCTIC SMOCK is from Ridgeline Clothing. Whether it's for walking the dog, holidays, in the beating line, stalking deer, ferreting, pigeon shooting, working on the farm or riding your horse, this smock suits all. After testing out numerous products with numerous brands over many years, there is always one conclusion, and that is that you cannot put a price on quality, comfort and remaining dry when it's needed...When will you buy yours?!
If you want to check out the Ridgeline Clothing brand, I have included the links to their website and the Monsoon Arctic Smock below.
You can see the full video of the Monsoon arctic smock in Switzerland over on our YouTube channel at:
As always we value your support here at Fieldsports Guardian. To help us continue to grow and bring you all the latest news, blogs and for exclusive access to future competitions, offers and giveaways, you can subscribe here completely FREE.
Comments