Stoney Creek is a manufacturer from New Zealand that has been making high performance technical clothing since 1994. Its products are now available in the UK either direct through the company’s web store or via some select retail stockists having launched at the Game Fair Last summer.
The Stoney Creek product range is vast and covers everything from coats and boots to camping equipment and knives and even a complete range of clothing for children. I tested the Suppressor jacket over the recent shooting season. It is a ¾-length jacket offering 100% waterproof and windproof performance. As with other manufacturers, Stoney Creek products work on a layering system and you build up the products you wear based on your activities and need for warmth. The products are split into layers: base layer (thermal layer of t-shirts, long johns, etc), mid layer (shirts, t-shirts, hybrid trousers), insulation layer and then the outermost rainwear layer. The Suppressor is a great jacket for keeping you dry and on its own is perfect for early season work but – as the temperature drops – you will need to add a fleece layer to keep you warm.
I found the jacket very robust and, even though it is not promoted as being rip-proof, it did a great job against the thorns and brambles encountered when picking up. It’s made of a fabric called ‘Huntlite’, which is virtually silent in use, 100% waterproof and 100% windproof so would be perfect for deer stalking. The jacket utilises a hydrophilic membrane, which means it is highly breathable and I found that, even under high levels of physical activity, moisture escaped and I still felt dry. It was reassuring to see that Stoney Creek partners with Teflon for water and stain repellancy and YKK zips, both quality names that you expect to see in a jacket at this price.
There were some great features on the jacket which I really liked. First, is the silicon dots on the shoulders, which are designed to stop your your rifle sling from slipping off your shoulder when climbing over gates or obstacles. Secondly, the poppers above the front pockets which you pop into place to keep open when shooting. Most other manufacturers use fabric strips and this idea is much neater and easier to use.
The design of the hood is also very clever: it has a wired peak and double adjustment so you can really enclose it around your face and it’s fleece-lined too. These are useful features when sitting out in the wind and rain as it makes you feel more comfortable in extreme weather! Stoney Creek products come with a two-year warranty as standard which gives consumers peace of mind when buying.
My first impressions of Stoney Creek gear is very positive: the product is good, performs well in extreme conditions and is priced competitively. Stoney Creek gear looks set to take the UK by storm and with keepers that I know also swearing by the kit, the brand seems to have got everything right. Take a look at the website where you can find detailed information on the company and its extensive product range and also buy online.
- Mark Brown, Keeping the Balance
First printed in Keeping The Balance magazine Spring 2019 edition
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