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It is always nice to have a coat in the wardrobe that transcends riding wear (despite the stylishness of the genre these days) and looks really smart for outings to shows, while walking the dog and even to town.
Something that makes you feel a little bit extra special away from the yard and means that those sneaky hay seeds and the inevitable slight aroma of muck can well and truly stay where it belongs: in the stable.
For me, Joules’ Portwell Waterproof Raincoat With Hood proved just such a coat, and I was like a kid in a candy store when it arrived last April for testing.
I had no intention of taking this raincoat anywhere near any one of my four equines initially — neither my mares Bella and Panda, nor the giant 17hh Apollo, and especially not Dill, the Welsh section A who does a good impression of a bulldozer when he spots anyone walking across his patch.
No, this coat was special and it was going to be treated as such for the time being.
April is my birthday, and as luck would have it the Portwell landed on my doorstep on the actual morning of a trip out with my family to celebrate.
Key features
After inspecting it, and loving the internal check lining, as well as the lovely quality feel of the 74% cotton outer, and the adjustable waist with internal toggles that made it instantly flattering, we headed to Chawton (yes, beyond horses I equally love English literature and Jane Austen) with me sporting the Portwell.
It passed muster perfectly for such a day out, providing just enough warmth for an obligingly clement spring day, but with no rain clouds threatening, the hood stayed stowed away.
Disaster struck on the way home, though (and perhaps I shouldn’t admit to this in case the Joules team is reading), but the Portwell ended up mistakenly sharing a box with a sandwich wrapper and drink carton detritus left over from our picnic lunch. This was the fault of my eldest son, who thought he had stowed it somewhere ‘safe’.
On discovering the various sauces that had stuck to it once home, I was virtually inconsolable and I headed to the washing machine before I could even contemplate sorting out the horses’ evening bedtime routines.
After a worrying wait, the Portwell emerged — and it was, well, neutral, again (its original colourway as it had emerged from the box that morning). I couldn’t find any evidence of unwelcome additions. Phew!
Performance
Since then this lovely raincoat has been the one I’ve reached for on spring and autumn days, and I’ve taken it on holiday too, as it packs neatly away in a suitcase and doesn’t take up much room.
It actually came into its own when it rained cats and dogs while away in Oslo, and while the Portwell became saturated I stayed dry inside. That roomy hood with its storm peak performed exceptionally well, too, to keep my face unexpectedly dry.
In order to put the Portwell into a horsey context, I got cosy with my cob, Panda, for a quick photoshoot, but even the few muddy specks from her coat (she does live out 24/7, after all) vanished in the machine afterwards.
Conclusion
Therefore, all things considered, I can’t think of a single negative to say about the Portwell, but there are so many plus points, perhaps one of the biggest being that this raincoat is available in sizes up to a 26.
There will always be the dilemma of deciding which colour to plump for, and this classic staple is already selling fast on the Joules website, so anyone with a desire to add one of these to their wardrobe had better hurry up and click ‘add to bag’!
Key information
Colour options: Black, navy blue, burgundy, dark yellow, neutral
Highlights:
- Vast range of sizes
- Waterproof with taped seams
- Hood with storm peak and drawcords
- Adjustable waist with internal toggles
- Storm flap to the back
- Concealed zip and popper fastening
- Front pockets with popper fastenings
- Adjustable cuffs with poppers
- Half-body lining
Size options: 6 – 26
RRP £89
