Barbour Northumbria Review Thornproof or Sylkoil? | Wax and Tartans

Full overview of the original Northumbria and the Classic Northumbria .

Massive thank you to County Clothes for loaning me the Classic Northumbria for this video!

___________
Wax and Tartans
Insta: @waxandtartans

[trechen]

My Border I've had from new is over 30 years old. Unfortunately I didn't look after it and needs a number of repairs and a wax. The work involved would be somewhere around the £200 mark. I love it to bits. Worn it every year since and pushed it through impenetrable Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Brambles, Barbed wire. You name it this jacket has been through it. I managed to get hold of an old style Northumbria 3 years ago and have been wearing that (mostly). The main differences I found are.
The weight - The Border is significantly lighter and if, like me, you cover a considerable number of miles on the dog walk you'll notice it.
The warmth - The Northumbria is noticeably warmer due to the lining, of course. Again, on long dog walks I tend to over heat and sometimes my back gets clammy even when the jacket is unzipped. This also alters the weight distribution on the shoulders and does feel awkward.

The fit - Due to the built in thicker lining in the Northumbria it is actually a tighter fit then my Border.
I find that I can 'layer' more clothes under the Border jacket then the Northumbria.

Both very very good jackets (mine both made in England).

But for me, where I live and what I need the jacket for Border wins. That's solely because I live in the South of the UK and cover miles with the dog.

Northumbria wins when the weather is cold/very cold, live up North maybe. I did take it to Scotland in October and it was perfect.

Great video . Enjoy your jacket..

[northernthrifter]

Vintage everytime for me, I'm currently sporting a mid 90s border in navy.
I'm definitely going to be getting a vintage thornproof Northumbria for next winter, I've had other wax jackets previously but now I've got a couple of Barbour's I don't wear anything else and probably won't until the summer.
I love your videos almost as much as my border.

[KazeHorse]

Just been given one of these by an old farmer family friend.

Was so impressed by it that I decided to find out a bit more about them. Glad others appreciate it also and thank you for the info!

[emilc]

Great jacket. I have a c40 Northumbria from 87, it is getting a re-wax this weekend! Cheers

[tc]

Hi there, I like the comparison. I have a 2 crest Northumbria which means it’s from between 1982 and 1987. Wear it with the teddy button-in linning and a Liddesdale underneath when it’s really really cold. Next to my “new” and a really old Beaufort my favorit jacket. It’s a heavy jacket but it’s fun to wear. And the pockets are really big and take about anything.
The used prices are way beyond 20Pounds though. I bought mine in 2019 for €80, - in very good condition without holes or repairs. At the moment the asking prices online are between €60 and €135 depending on the condition (01.03.2021).
Everybody, enjoy your barbours!

[christopherkruse]

Just found a „new“ Northumbria (without Classic). Never worn. My size (48). Sage, McKinnon-wool-acrylic-tartan, studs for the A295 lining. I asked Barbour, when this jacket was made or when the original Northumbria was discontinued. They said they don’t know.

The old Northumbria is really the best jacket (for cold days) they ever made. A Northumbria and an unlined Durham takes you through the whole year.

[clooperman]

l've worn Barbour thornproofs for over 50 years and while the original Northumbria is good the later waxed jackets have gone a bit soft, ie cottoned lined pockets that if they get wet inside take a while to dry, on my Waxed Berwick l put some dog biscuits in the pocket which were a bit oily and this seeped into the cotton lining and was bad enough to make me cut out the linings in both pockets, unfortunately the best thornproof Barbour made is no longer available, and that is the Solway Zipper, my uncle bought one in 1961 l think an was still wearing it 50 years later, absolutely bombproof.

[Sman-egzs]

Thanks for posting this, many years ago I had a barbour jacket with red tartan like the one you showed. it may have been an imitation, as I don't recall the royal crests on the label. It was a good jacket but I neglected it and it deteriorated after a few years. Now I want another.

[WoldsEndPhotography]

I bought a brown Northumbria in the early 80s, it had to go back to Barbour once as the zip jammed which made it quite difficult to get out of. It was returned with some quite obvious patches over a few holes it had developed but although not pretty it still keeps the rain out. It has been my fishing jacket all this time so has not had an easy life. I do find it becomes a little stiff in winter compared to lighter weight jackets. I have just bought an old Border jacket for casual use. I tried a new Northumbria but it just wasn’t the same.

[dougthedynamo]

Hi, just bought a Northumbria, totally get the used look of better, it looks far too clean and unmarked next to my other barbours! I found that it is made in Bulgaria, inside the Velcro inside pocket are a pile of black labels, on the back of the last one it says made in Bulgaria.
Looking forward to giving this coat my own “worn look” over the next few years!

[honestguy]

Ive just change from a 20 y.o. Border to a barely worn used Northumbri, newer model with zippers for the waiscoat/ linen. And i like it better.Only thing is I will change the storm cuffs with regular jumper ones to make it the perfect Barbour

[simonsays]

nice vid .. the northumbria is on my list ... i have a border . a gladwell . corbrigid .. and a lutz ... love them all ..

[npet]

Good video footage there :-) I've an old A400 and a newer Classic cotton lined . The A400 is quite warm . Beauchamp A186 is terrific too . Bought one new back in '03 in Chester . It was expensive and didn't sell for long .

[xix]

Just got one of these from eBay for 55 looks brand new dates from the 80s did I get it at a good price ?

[stephenlegg]

I have a Border from 1992. It has the same lining as the newer one you showed.

[sirdjorgostarcopper]

Is it possible to lengthen the arms? Im tall i got long arms.
Nice video

[minwatchreviews]

Do the jackets break in or “loosen” over time?

I’m right in between a 38 & 40, with the 38 fitting better around the mid torso but being tighter across the back when reaching forward. The 40 looks oversized but better in the upper torso

[keitharmitage]

I think the lining is wool, great vid thanks.

[sevrin]

Great review, I have a Vintage 80's Northumbria I picked up on ebay, I was wondering, do you know if the game pocket inserts from a Border will also work in a Northumbria ? atb Sev

[martinshannon]

Original every time! Great review....one of the best Barbours...(got a few)This ones a keeper