Old Friends and New Favourites

Beating in drizzle? Wax. Peg in a north-easterly? Tweed. Long stalk on soggy ground? Gore-Tex every time.

Some mornings call for wax on a wet dog walk, some of us still reach for traditional tweed on shoot days, and we can always rely on Gore-Tex to keep us dry when heading up the hill in a hailstorm (or what feels like one at least).

The truth is, these are three fabrics that define our country sports clothing. Old friends and new favourites, they each have their own place and tell their own story. So, how do these fabrics compare, and why do they matter in modern country sports clothing?

Stick with us as we unpack their strengths, their story, and why the best country sports wardrobe often combines tradition with innovation.

 

Tweed: The Fabric of Field Tradition

Why Tweed Remains Essential for Country Sports

Let’s start with the fabric that feels most at home on a peg.

Long before modern membranes and microfibres, there was tweed: the original technical fabric, spun for life on the farms and out in the fields. Iconic and traditional, tweed has a history as practical as it is unpretentious, and it has earned its place in country sports clothing for good reason.

Much more than just heritage, from its origin in the Scottish Borders, where tweed was first designed for farmers, gamekeepers, and estate workers, its features can be traced back to its rural roots on the land today. A dense wool cloth, tweed as a fabric is naturally wind-resistant, waterproof, breathable, and insulating. Built to withstand everything from wind-whipped glens to damp grouse moors, this hard-working fabric has kept generations of sportspeople warm and dry out in the field for centuries.

Today, modern tweeds like the Harkila Kenmore often blend this traditional wool with technical fibres, giving the wearer warmth without the weight and adding extra durability. Time has also created sleek, contemporary designs, such as the Hogg of Fife Kinloch collection and the Roslin Ladies range, refining tweed into its modern-day, tailored, and functional fieldwear familiarity.

With both innovative technical advances and features that can be traced back to its roots on the land, tweed still remains the go-to for driven game days and traditional country sports attire today. Whether it’s a classic shooting coat, breeks, or a tailored waistcoat, tweed carries a timelessness that still holds its own in the field.

 

Wax Cotton: Weatherproof Heritage

Wax Jackets for Wet Days in the Field

A good wax jacket has seen more windy riverbanks, muddy miles and autumn shoot showers than most of us care to count. Collar up, loyal companion at heel, and a wax hat to finish, these garments have been part of country sports attire (and a staple in the Land Rover) for decades.

Much like tweed, wax is more than just tradition, and there’s a reason it can be found in just about every countryside wardrobe. Longevity is what really sets it apart; it’s a fabric built to last, made to mend, and a countryside classic, offering natural wind and waterproofing that can be maintained for years.

Unlike complex technical fabrics, wax cotton is repairable through re-proofing; it can be patched, re-waxed, and still keep going strong, making it one of the most sustainable choices in country sports clothing. Wax cotton not only offers performance and protection, but, when cared for correctly, ages with you, weathering through the years and never feeling out of place in the field.

The Hoggs of Fife Caledonia Waxed Jacket is a perfect example: durable and dependable, while hats, waistcoats and over trousers make for full head-to-toe protection for years to come. Perfect for a bright day beating, an afternoon fishing, and for calling at the pub on the way home, these modern designs have refined the wax classic, but without losing its hard-working heritage.

 

Gore-Tex & Modern Membranes: Performance Without Compromise

Why Gore-Tex and Technical Fabrics Matter for Country Sports Clothing

When you’re working with sodden ground or facing driving rain all day, that’s when modern membranes like Gore-Tex® step up to the challenge.

If tweed is heritage and wax a workhorse, then Gore-Tex® is certainly innovation. The fabric that finally made ‘100% waterproof’ a reality, Gore-Tex combines a waterproof membrane with breathability that lets sweat escape, while keeping rain firmly out. Not only is it waterproof, but it is also light, durable, and flexible, making it ideal for active country sports like stalking, rough shooting, and long days on the moor.

While Gore-Tex is the official name for the universal gold standard, many country sports brands have their own equivalent, such as;

• Harkila and HWS

Harkila’s own equivalent, used for example in the Härkila Orton Tech HWS Jacket, is built around a high-performance membrane that balances full waterproofing with silent movement - exactly what you want for a driven day or a wet morning on the moors.

• Seeland and SEETEX

Seeland’s own equivalent, take the Seeland Woodcock Advanced Ladies Jacket for example, strikes a similar balance: a versatile high-performance fabric option built to handle long hours in the field without weighing you down.

• Deerhunter and Deer-Tex

One of our favourites, the Deerhunter Pro Gamekeeper Jacket, is powered by Deer-Tex® Performance Shell® technology. The Deerhunter equivalent makes it completely windproof, waterproof, and breathable, yet still warm, soft, and quietly durable.

For me, the best waterproof kit doesn’t shout about technology; it just works, and these pieces prove that innovation doesn’t replace heritage,  it simply adapts with it.

 

Respecting Tradition, Embracing Performance

Country sports fabrics have always found a balance between the old and the new, respecting where they came from, while adapting to where they’re going, and today’s fieldwear proves that tradition and technology aren’t opposites, but rather, complementary.

Heritage fabrics, such as tweed and wax, remain central due to their rich history, longevity, and years of proven performance. Meanwhile, technical innovations like Gore-Tex have refined how we stay dry, warm, and mobile, earning their place alongside tweed and wax as a country sports essential.

You might start a season in tweed, finish it in Gore-Tex®, and spend every day in between in wax cotton. In the end, it’s not about choosing one over the other, but about having the right tool for the job, so you can stay warm, dry, and focused on your sport.

Want more modern classics built for the British field? You can explore our full range of tweed, wax, and Gore-Tex country sports clothing from trusted brands including Hoggs of Fife, Harkila, Seeland, and Deerhunter on our site.

Or, if you’re looking to give your technical fabrics some TLC, check out our guide on how to care for them, so you and your gear can stay field-ready.

 

About the Author

Matthew Holland

Matt Holland is passionate about sharing tips on enjoying the British countryside. From field sports to woodland walks, Matt is a proud enthusiast of all country pursuits, with a keen interest in country sports and the heritage, traditions, and tales they offer. Living and working in the beautiful Cheshire countryside, Matt combines his love for rural life with practical advice, helping others make the most of the seasons while embracing the thrill of country sports and the beauty of country life.