Stop Guessing: The Real Differences Between the Barbour Ashby, Bristol, and Bedale
The Barbour Bristol, Ashby and Bedale can look surprisingly similar online. All three share familiar Barbour wax-jacket ingredients, including a waxed-cotton outer, corduroy collar, handwarmer pockets, lower bellows pockets and a storm-front fastening.
The real differences become clearer when you compare the jackets properly. Fit, cuff construction, rear vents, internal pockets and overall proportions all change from one model to another.
The Barbour Bristol is the jacket we are concentrating on here. It receives less attention than the Barbour Ashby and Barbour Bedale, yet it occupies a useful position between Barbour's traditional and more contemporary wax-jacket designs.
The quick answer
Choose the Bedale if you want the roomiest and most traditional of the three, with ribbed inner storm cuffs and riding-derived rear vents.
Choose the Ashby if you prefer a neater contemporary shape and a slightly shorter body than the Bristol.
Choose the Bristol if you want a tailored Barbour with a little more length than the Ashby, a clean rear without riding vents and useful internal storage details of its own.
Barbour Bristol vs Ashby vs Bedale at a glance
On a smaller screen, swipe across the table to see all columns.
| Jacket | Fit | Compared back length | Rear vents | Inner cuff treatment | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | Tailored | 80cm – Medium | No riding-style rear vents | Open cuff with corduroy lining | Customers wanting a tailored wax jacket with slightly more coverage and a clean rear profile |
| Ashby | Neater contemporary cut | 77cm – Medium | Studded rear vents | Open cuff | Customers wanting a closer contemporary Barbour shape at a slightly shorter length |
| Bedale | Regular | 74cm – Size 38 | Studded rear riding vents | Ribbed inner storm cuffs | Traditional Barbour styling, layering and customers preferring a roomier shape |
The measurements above are useful practical comparisons rather than universal measurements for every size. The Bristol and Ashby figures are for Medium, while the Bedale uses Barbour's traditional chest sizing and is shown here in size 38.
What matters is the scale of the difference. In these comparable sizes, the Bristol is around 3cm longer than the Ashby, while the Ashby is around 3cm longer than the Bedale. The difference is noticeable, but it is not dramatic.
The Bristol: the Barbour people often overlook
The Bristol uses many of the details customers expect from a traditional Barbour wax jacket, but combines them in a more tailored shape.
The Barbour Bristol in Olive.
It is made from 6oz Sylkoil waxed cotton and features a corduroy collar, moleskin-lined handwarmer pockets, lower bellows pockets, a two-way front zip and studded storm guard.
The Bristol is officially positioned towards the tailored side of Barbour's range. That gives it a neater shape through the body than the traditional Bedale without turning it into an especially slim jacket.
Its extra length is worth noting, but it should be kept in perspective. At the sizes compared here, the Bristol measures 80cm from the base of the collar to the hem, compared with 77cm for the Ashby. Three centimetres is enough to alter the proportions slightly, but not enough to turn the Bristol into a completely different type of coat.
View the Barbour Bristol
The Bristol is available from Allweathers in Olive and Navy. The Olive version is particularly useful when comparing it with the Olive Ashby and Classic Bedale.
View the Bristol in OliveHow much longer is the Bristol really?
Length is one of the easiest specifications to overstate when comparing Barbour jackets. Product photography, different mannequin positions and the overall cut of each jacket can make one style appear considerably longer than another.
Actual garment measurements give a clearer picture.
On a smaller screen, swipe across the table to see all measurements.
| Jacket | Compared size | Collar to hem | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | Medium | 80cm | Longest of the three measurements |
| Ashby | Medium | 77cm | 3cm shorter than the Bristol |
| Bedale | 38 | 74cm | 3cm shorter than the Ashby and 6cm shorter than the Bristol |
What does 3cm mean in practice?
It is enough to notice when the jackets are worn side by side, but it is not a huge difference. Fit and shape can affect the visual impression just as much as the tape measure.
The Bristol's tailored body can make it look longer and cleaner than the roomier Bedale even though the measured difference between the compared jackets is only 6cm.
The Bristol details you notice when you actually handle one
The Bristol becomes more interesting when you move beyond overall length. Several smaller construction details separate it from both the Ashby and Bedale.
No knitted inner storm cuffs
The Bristol does not use the ribbed inner storm cuffs found inside the Bedale sleeves. Instead, it has an open cuff with corduroy lining.
The difference is easy to feel. The Bedale's knitted cuff closes more closely around the wrist, while the Bristol feels more open and straightforward at the end of the sleeve.
No Bedale-style riding vents at the rear
Turn the Bristol around and the back is clean, without the studded riding vents associated with the Bedale.
The Bristol has a clean rear without Bedale-style riding vents.
This is a more meaningful visual difference than a few centimetres of body length. The uninterrupted rear helps the Bristol look less obviously equestrian than the Bedale.
Extra detailing around the handwarmer pockets
The Bristol also has additional detailing around the handwarmer pocket welts. It is a small feature, but one that becomes apparent when the jackets are compared closely.
A useful wallet pocket and zipped inner pocket
Inside the Bristol, there is a wallet-style pocket positioned within the front zip stand as well as a separate zipped inner pocket.
That gives the Bristol useful secure storage without relying entirely on the large external bellows pockets.
Bristol vs Ashby: more similar than the measurements first suggest
The Bristol and Ashby share a broadly contemporary direction. Both feel neater than the traditional Bedale and both work well for customers who prefer less volume through the body.
The Barbour Ashby in Olive.
The length difference is modest. In the Medium measurements we are comparing, the Bristol is 80cm from collar to hem and the Ashby 77cm.
That 3cm gives the Bristol a little more coverage, but the decision between the two should not be based on length alone.
The bigger differences are in the detailing
The Ashby has stud-fastened rear vents, whereas the Bristol has a clean back. The Bristol also has its own internal pocket arrangement, including the wallet pocket inside the front zip stand.
Those details give the two jackets subtly different characters even though their overall dimensions are relatively close.
What about fit?
The useful practical point is that both jackets sit closer to the body than the traditional Bedale.
Fit terminology can vary between Barbour's official descriptions and practical retail experience, so we recommend paying more attention to garment measurements and intended layering than to a single fit label.
Prefer the Ashby?
The Ashby is a strong option if you want a neater Barbour wax jacket without quite as much body length as the Bristol.
View the Barbour Ashby in OliveBristol vs Bedale: fit and construction matter more than 6cm
The Bristol measures 80cm in Medium, while the size 38 Bedale measurement we are using is 74cm.
A 6cm difference is noticeable, but the two jackets feel more different than that figure alone suggests because their shapes and construction are quite different.
The Classic Bedale retains the traditional Bedale shape and riding-derived details.
The Bedale was designed as a riding jacket and retains several features associated with that purpose. It has a roomier regular fit, studded rear vents and ribbed inner storm cuffs.
The Bristol takes a cleaner approach. It is more shaped through the body, uses an open corduroy-lined cuff and does without the Bedale's rear riding vents.
The fit difference is particularly important
The Bedale gives more of the traditional Barbour sense of room through the body. That can make it especially useful for customers who want space for knitwear or other layers.
The Bristol is more tailored. Customers moving from a Bedale to a Bristol should therefore compare chest measurements as well as length rather than assuming that the slightly longer body means there is more room everywhere.
The cuffs reveal their different priorities
The Bedale's hidden knitted storm cuffs fit closely around the wrist. The Bristol's corduroy-lined open cuffs are simpler and less enclosed.
Customers who particularly value the Bedale's traditional storm-cuff arrangement should regard this as a more important difference than the small variation in body length.
The rear of the jacket tells the same story
The Bedale's rear vents reflect its riding origins. The Bristol removes that feature altogether, giving it a cleaner and less obviously equestrian appearance.
Prefer the traditional Bedale?
The Classic Bedale in Olive makes the comparison particularly easy alongside the Olive Bristol and Ashby. The standard Bedale is also available in Sage.
View the Classic Bedale in OliveWhat about the Classic Bedale and standard Bedale?
We have used the Olive Classic Bedale in this comparison because placing it alongside the Olive Bristol and Olive Ashby makes the visual differences easier to assess.
The Classic Bedale and standard Bedale are not simply identical jackets in different colours, so this article is not intended to treat their specifications as interchangeable. For this comparison, the important point is the traditional Bedale shape and construction.
If your decision is specifically between the Ashby and Bedale, our dedicated Barbour Ashby vs Bedale comparison looks at those two jackets in more detail.
Which jacket should you choose?
The differences are clearer when you stop looking for one specification that decides everything.
The Bristol is not dramatically longer than the Ashby, and the Bedale is not dramatically shorter. Fit, cuffs, rear vents and overall styling are at least as important as the tape measure.
Choose the Bristol if...
- You prefer a tailored Barbour shape.
- You want slightly more body length than the Ashby.
- You prefer a clean rear without riding vents.
- You like an open cuff with corduroy lining rather than a knitted inner storm cuff.
- You value the additional internal wallet and zipped pockets.
Choose the Ashby if...
- You want a neater contemporary Barbour shape.
- You are happy with slightly less body length than the Bristol.
- You prefer the Ashby's familiar rear vent arrangement.
- You want something that sits clearly between a traditional Bedale and the slightly longer Bristol.
Choose the Bedale if...
- You prefer the traditional roomier Barbour shape.
- You want plenty of scope for layering.
- You value ribbed inner storm cuffs.
- You like the riding-derived rear vents and traditional Bedale character.
- You prefer a shorter jacket overall.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Barbour Bristol much longer than the Ashby?
No. In the Medium garments compared here, the Bristol measures 80cm from the base of the collar to the hem and the Ashby 77cm. That makes the Bristol around 3cm longer.
How much longer is the Bristol than the Bedale?
Using the measurements supplied for this comparison, the Bristol Medium measures 80cm and the Bedale size 38 measures 74cm from collar to hem. That is a difference of around 6cm.
Does the Bristol fit like the Ashby?
They both sit towards the neater side of Barbour's wax-jacket range, but they should not be treated as identical. Check the individual garment measurements, particularly if you intend to wear substantial layers underneath.
Does the Bristol have knitted storm cuffs?
No. The Bristol has open cuffs with corduroy lining rather than the hidden ribbed storm cuffs found inside the Bedale sleeves.
Does the Bristol have rear riding vents?
No. The Bristol has a clean rear without the riding-style vents found on the Bedale. The Ashby also has stud-fastened rear vents.
Is the Bristol slimmer than the Bedale?
The Bristol has a more tailored shape, while the Bedale has a roomier regular fit. Customers who use a Bedale for substantial layering should therefore check the Bristol garment measurements carefully before choosing a size.
Can you add a hood or liner to the Bristol?
The Bristol is designed to accept compatible Barbour hood and zip-in liner options, which are sold separately. Check the exact accessory and sizing requirements before ordering.
Which is best for layering?
The Bedale generally provides the most traditional room through the body. Customers intending to wear substantial knitwear beneath a Bristol or Ashby should check the relevant garment measurements before ordering.
Final verdict: the Bristol is about more than length
The most useful lesson from comparing these three jackets is that length is only part of the story.
Using the garments measured here, the Bristol is 3cm longer than the Ashby and 6cm longer than the Bedale. Those are genuine differences, but they are relatively modest.
What makes the Bristol distinctive is the combination of that slightly longer body with its tailored shape, clean rear, corduroy-lined open cuffs and useful internal pocket arrangement.
The Ashby remains an excellent choice for customers wanting a contemporary Barbour shape, while the Bedale continues to make sense for those who prefer traditional proportions, generous layering room, knitted storm cuffs and riding-derived details.
If you are choosing between them, compare the actual measurements rather than relying on product photographs alone. Once the exaggerated visual differences are removed, the right decision usually comes down to fit and the smaller construction details that matter to the way you will actually wear the jacket.
Written by Darren Phillips
