Fortis Story 001 - Ben Turpie

3 seasons. One Fortis jacket and pair of trousers. And they’re still going strong.

We often talk about making outdoor clothing that’s designed to be used, repaired and kept in service for years. But our customers can prove it far better than we can.

This Fortis Story began back in 2013/14, when Ben Turpie was searching for waterproof clothing that could genuinely cope with a hard day’s work.

After getting through three coats in a single hunting season, he discovered Fortis, or Country Covers, as we were known then.

More than a decade later, the jacket and trousers he bought are still going!

Three coats. One hunting season.

Ben needed waterproof clothing that could stand up to some serious use.

After ripping a brand-new coat on its very first day out, with no way of repairing it while maintaining its waterproof protection, he eventually found himself on his third coat of the hunting season.

Something had to change.

Ben found Country Covers in around 2013/14 and first dealt with Ollie’s father, who sold him a Falkland Jacket and trousers.

Those same two garments went on to see him through seven seasons working as a hunt terrierman, followed by another six shooting seasons.

“I only have these two items as I can’t replace something that still works.”

Used hard. Repaired when needed.

Thirteen seasons of hard use are inevitably going to leave a few battle scars.

After his first season, the trousers came back to Fortis with some small rips and worn hems. Instead of replacing them, we repaired them and added extra protective panels around the ankles and fronts of the legs to better suit the work they were doing.

The jacket has also returned to us for repairs on a couple of occasions over the years.

For us, that’s exactly how good outdoor kit should work. It’s there to be used and when something does happen, a repair can give it many more years of life.

“All repairs needed were caused by me and no fault of the clothing itself.”

From the highest parts of Dartmoor…

The ultimate test came when the kit moved with Ben to Dartmoor.

Long days hunting across some of the highest parts of the moor meant facing wind, rain and everything else the British weather could throw at it.

And after all those seasons, the kit was still doing the job it had originally been bought to do.

It hasn’t all been hard days on Dartmoor, either. The same jacket has found another use keeping Ben warm in the stands at Exeter Chiefs during freezing mid-winter games.

Same coat. Slightly different job.

“Hunting on the highest parts of the moor in all weathers is a test for any waterproof clothing and I never got home wet and cold.”

Good outdoor clothing shouldn't be something you're afraid to use. It should go to work, get muddy, pick up the occasional battle scar and, when possible, be repaired rather than automatically replaced.

More than a decade after this particular Fortis journey began, the original jacket and trousers are still in use.

Although there is one Fortis garment Ben admits has made it onto the wish list:

A waterproof SAS Smock.

What's your Fortis Story?

Some Fortis garments have been out there for years, working, shooting, farming, walking, travelling and accompanying their owners through more British weather than we could possibly document ourselves.

We want to hear where yours has been.

If you've got a Fortis Story to tell, send us your photographs and tell us about your kit, how you use it and the adventures you've had together.

Share your fortis story