Hinter + Hobart is a new brand from Mountain Warehouse designed to emulate the premium British heritage labels on the market already. The Stirling Cotton Parka for women is one of its hero products, a water-resistant mid-length wax parka coat that resembles the Barbour Meadow Jacket in its appearance and features, but at a more accessible price.
Like the rest of the new range, the Stirling comes in olive green (“khaki”) and brown, so looks very at home on a dog walk, at the stables, by the fire in the country pub and slung over the back seat of your battered Land Rover Defender. The wax coating is one of the lightest I’ve experienced, so this is definitely one for shorter adventures rather than heading out into a field during a heavy downpour to get the horses in. However, it is tough, resisting gorse-bush thorns and brambles when you need to squeeze through an overgrown footpath.
The windproofing is excellent, and the all-encompassing hood with detachable fluffy trim, kept me toasty warm during the cold snap in March. Its sherpa lining – a synthetic sheep fleece – means you can go fairly light on the layering, and underarm gussets prevent overheating.
Additionally, the parka style is fashionable and feels younger than the more traditional wax coats on the market, which unless you’re Kate Middleton, can make you feel a little mumsy. The heritage look is completed with antique-style brass zips and poppers, with a branded YKK zip.
Is it waterproof?
It is classed as water resistant, although it kept me dry on dog walks during moderate rainfall. Being lightly waxed, it doesn’t weigh you down so much as its waterproof counterparts – although I imagine it could likely be fortified with a wax spray.
Will it fit me?
This coat fits true to size, with room for thick woolly jumpers should you need them.
In summary, this new range delivers a great-value version of the more premium brand of wax coat, however I feel it lost an opportunity to improve the design even further. I missed having a side pocket to slip my hands into on cold days. A small amount of extra material and a couple of quid on the price tag would have enabled pockets underneath the existing button-up ones on the jacket that can only be accessed from above, and made dog walks easier, granting quick access to treats and giving hands instant shelter.
