Choosing footwear for any fieldsport is ultimately down to personal preference and affordability. This is true for wildfowlers too. I have used a range of waders over the years and the following list of the best waders for wildfowlers is a selection that would be very useful. (You might also…
Shooting Clothing
We advise you on what to wear shooting. (Photo courtesy Campbells of Beauly)
Best shooting boots | Best waterproof shooting jackets | Best shooting smocks | Best shooting wellies | Best waterproof trousers | Best shooting jackets |Best tweed shooting coats | Best clothing for beaters and pickers-up | Best hunting trousers | Best shooting breeks | Best gaiters for shooting | Best shooting vests | Best shooting hat | Best hunting gloves | Best fleece gilets | Best clay shooting jackets | Best lightweight jackets for shooting | Waterproof shooting boots | Best Tattersall shirts for shooting | Best shooting socks |Best wildfowling jackets | Best shooting thermals | Best shooting shirts | Best shooting ties |Best clay shooting vests |Best tweed shooting jackets for ladies |Best camouflage jackets | Best rough shooting jacket |
What to wear shooting
Getting your shooting clothing right isn’t just a case of looking the part. You also want to make sure that you’re protected against the elements – staying warm and dry in winter and cool in summer.
In the first instance ask your host what the dress code is likely to be. If it’s a driven day then a tie is expected. If it’s an informal walked-up day then matters are likely to be different.
Should you wear a tweed cap?
Different clothes for different disciplines
Shooting etiquette demands different clothing for different disciplines. If you’re at a formal shoot then it’s going to be tweeds, or moleskins for less formal. If you’re stalking you might want to look at camouflage and your clothing will certainly need to be quiet and not ‘rustle’. What should you wear clayshooting? If it’s summer, maybe just a light gilet. But a cap is still important.
Clayshooting vest by Musto £95
What’s best to wear on your feet and should you wear a cap? Read on and find out the answers.
Here’s the information you need on choosing the right kit for shooting.
Best corduroy trousers in classic styles and colours
The best corduroy trousers, or cords, have long been a staple of a winter wardrobe. They are warm, comfy and come in a host of different colours. You can choose a fine needlecord, a standard cord or opt for thicker jumbo cord. Country types love their versatility – a pair…
The best Tattersall shirts for shooting
The best Tattersall shirts are design classics for shooting and a garment that no countryman or woman should be without. (For our list of the best shooting shirts see here.) Tattersall is basically a check or plaid pattern woven into cloth. There are are numerous patterns, as you’ll see in…
Moleskin trousers: we’ve picked out the best for country style
Moleskin has been around for centuries and moleskin trousers have long been a part of a country wardrobe, thanks to their warmth, comfort and durability. Despite the name, the fabric is not made from moles; it is actually created from densely woven pure cotton. Shooting Times contributor Matt Cross says:…
Harris tweed: a traditional weaver shows how this beautiful fabric is made
“It’s not all old. Brand new in 1970,” Donald John Mackay replied when I asked him whether his loom is an old one. “This’ll be it for me. I bought it in 1984, but I won’t need another.” Weaving Harris tweed Coincidentally, 1970 is when Donald started weaving Harris tweed.…
Best quilted jackets and gilets for country types
Quilted jackets are ideal to wear on their own to keep the chill off, or underneath a thicker coat for warming layering. Or you can opt for a quilted gilet to wear over a sweater or shirt and again under a coat when it’s chilly. (Read our tips on how…
The best tweed jackets: here are our top picks
It’s always useful to have a few good jackets and blazers to wear and a sports jacket in a Harris tweed or similar is a garment that you’ll put on again and again. The best tweed jackets will look good if you’re having lunch in a country pub, if you’re…
Best tweed shooting jackets for ladies
At last, designers and clothing manufacturers are waking up to the fact that country-loving females want to look smart and stylish in a jacket that is designed to blend in out in the field, walking the dog, watching the rugby and over drinks in the pub. We asked around some…
Women in the field – some advice on what to wear
It’s key to know what to wear shooting. Not only from a sartorial point of view, because you’ll want to have the confidence of knowing you’re looking your best, but also from a comfort point of view. You need to be able to swing your gun freely, stay dry, warm…
Rough shooting jacket – what are the best options?
Many shooters are introduced to the sport through either rough shooting or walked-up shooting, and it is often the starting point for the best Shots, as it is a perfect way to get fresh air, be out in nature, and get plenty of exercise, as you’ll likely spend a while…
Shooting suits made to measure: where to go for bespoke tweeds
Inheriting a pair of Purdeys or a grouse moor? That would certainly delight most keen Shots. But most Shots would rather wear shooting suits made to measure, created from personally chosen cloth than inherit great-grandfather’s old tweeds (think moth-eaten, ripped linings, mysterious stains). Shooting suits made to measure If you’re…
Camouflage jackets – our top picks
The type of camouflage jackets you are going to need can differ depending on the time of year, location or quarry you are hunting (check out our advice on how to choose the right camouflage). The basics will always apply: pick a camouflage jacket that will help you to blend…
Best clay shooting vests
What are clay shooters looking for in the best clay shooting vests? (Here’s our advice on what to wear clay shooting.) Clay shooter and Sporting Gun contributor Rhys Plum advises: “The vest is a piece of uniform that unites all us clay shooters. But it is also a great way…
The shooting kit that we’d all love to have
There are various pieces of shooting kit that are essential to trips out in the field. We’ve picked some top picks and some that are on the wish list. 1. The jacket Harkila Stornoway Tweed Shooting Jacket £369.95 This recently came out top in our list of best tweed shooting…
The best clay shooting jackets
You can be very exposed to the wind and rain on a clay ground and that’s when layers come into their own. So we’ve picked out a selection of the best clay shooting jackets around which would work well in a layering system. Whilst we’re on the subject of layers,…
The best tweed shooting coats
A comfortable, breathable, stylish shooting coat is a key part of shooting clothing. While technical fabrics have been on the march in recent years, tweed still has a place in the hearts of traditional country people. (If you’re looking for something smarter for a night at the local pub or…
Best waterproof trousers – our top picks for all-season hunting
If you’re thinking about what to wear when you’re shooting, at the top of your list should be a pair of good waterproof overtrousers. Living in the countryside can present a tricky set of challenges when it comes to clothing. Whether it’s hot and humid, windy, cold and rainy or…
Best wildfowling jackets – we put them to the test
Why we need the best wildfowling jackets It is 4am in mid-January. The Shipping Forecast warns of meteorological Armageddon from Gibraltar Point to North Foreland. Sleet like spittle taps the windows and a gusting north-easterly is making up its mind whether or not to remove the shed roof. In conditions…
The best clothing for beaters (and pickers-up)
We asked those in the know what they think is the best clothing for beaters. What to wear and what to avoid. (Read our beating on a shoot day rules for some more advice.) Liam Stokes, CEO of the British Game Assurance (formerly British Game Alliance) advises: “As a gamekeeping…
Hunting gloves – what are the best options? Don’t miss our top picks.
A good pair of hunting gloves can be the difference between a great day of shooting and a disappointing one. It’s easy to focus on the bigger ticket equipment like your gun or scope and forget that you actually shoot with your hands. If they are cold or wet, your…