) got a universally good reception at the Game Fair on the weekend. I could have sold it 10 times over for at least £100 a pop, if I'd had any more 
However, to paraphrase a well known adage - you can't please all the people all the time.
Feedback from the show: Some people liked it just as it was, but most had an opinion about something that should be changed to suit their requirements. I'll talk about rifle and shotgun users first.
Some shooters would have preferred it without the breast pockets, or at least without flaps and buttons that might impede shouldering a gun. Other shooters thought the pockets were fine, and useful for accessing while lying prone without having to lift the head and shoulders too much. Side entry pockets were suggested by some, and seem to solve most issues without presenting too many new ones. Arm pockets were either seen as reasonably useful, or at least tolerated if they didn't get in the way. Big lower pockets were universally popular, but opinions varied as to the best placement for them, depending on whether the wearer prefers a prone shooting position or not. No-one thought the hand warmer pockets were a bad idea, but giving them a fleece lining was requested. External poacher pockets are OK, and internal are too, if under the arms/chest, but are not popular inside the back.
Pit zips - the ones on the new UKSF smocks are good apparently, and most people suggested similar. The mesh under the arms of our Pioneer field shirt was also praised, so maybe a combination of the two would be a good idea?
Most people eschewed velcro-style fastenings in favour of buttons or stud fasteners, but there was no clear majority in favour of either, and those that liked one solution generally hated the other
A good suggestion from two independent sources was a quick release waist fastening of some kind, allowing the waist to be cinched tight with cords or flaps that clipped together at the front, but ripped apart if you needed to get out (or be got out) of your gear in a hurry.There was a similar divide over the hood - some people favoured a wired hood, some said they took the wire out. Shock cord was suggested by some, but those who liked wired hoods liked to be able to shape it, and you can't do that with shock cord. Built in peaks, drop-down veils/scrim, removable. rollable, zip away, lined, unlined, you name it - someone made a case for it. It definitely isn't going to be a one-size for all solution!
A lot of people saw a smock as a 3 season outer layer, and expected water and wind protection from it. Part of the reason that the smock has not gone into production yet is that the cotton we are using right now (for the shirts and trousers) is not weatherproof enough for comfortable winter wear. Laminated breathable membranes, including Goretex, were most peoples choice, coupled with a removable insulated inner liner and a rustle-free outer shell.
'Sniper Steve', as well as having a lot of useful opinions on all of the aforementioned, explained how he preferred a jacket to hang very long - thigh length - and to have a beaver tail, both of which prevent the jacket riding up and exposing the kidney area to cold. Similarly, when bringing the rifle to the shoulder from a prone position, even more freedom of movement is required around the arms than in a standing or crouching position.
A lot of this is of course common sense, and many garments on the market already reflect this. Some of the Sneaky-Beaky stuff by SASS, for instance, is right on the money, but I don't believe you can give people what they want until you find out what they want, and throw a few ideas back to see the response they get.
As far as the fishing fraternity were concerned, the main thing was waterproofing and insulation, everything else was secondary. In general, the majority preferred cleaner lines without buttons and flaps to snag. Probably, a smock isn't the ideal garment for their needs, and the preponderance of waist-length bomber and snowboard/sailing style jackets for anglers would appear to support my theory.
All in all, a very informative experience, and fuel for much arse scratching over the coming weeks. Thanks to all who stopped by to give their tuppence worth!
