Ventile Smock

[Saint-Just]

I am slowly coming to the conclusion that I need a decent waterproof in my life.
It is not impossible that this recent penny drop is loosely related to walking the dog in the recent downpours, where my Rohan coats proved to be on the lower limit of what one might describe as adequate.

I would like it to be a smock, which lead me via Google's diligence to a double ventile one from Hilltrek, the Braemar DV Smock; which of course generated more question:
1) thoughts, and other suggestions?
2) how do any of the ones you recommend sizes?
3) a spare one that you don't really need?

Cheers!

 

[noddy]

I looked at that Braemar for a long time. If I had the cash to, I'd still buy one just for the hell of it. But, from experience double ventile is good and warm, very effective against rain and wind. My hesitation is that I'd get too hot in one.

I have two of their Greenspots, one for each city They are very adaptable for year round; with an appropriate hat

If you are thinking bigger, I have a DV parka from Snowsled which I find also pretty adaptable, weatherwise - bit bulky, but a good option because of the voluminous pockets.

I sold my single ventile smock to Ben1 (I think) many years back. I recall he went over to Paramo ... which reminds me that double ventile is very durable, single can be fragile.

 

[Beachlover]

I'm pretty sure @BorderReiver is a Ventile advocate.
I had one of the first Survival Aids ones back in the day and loved it. Sadly it was stolen along with my mate's car that I'd left it in. I've had a single layer one and it was crap.

 

[Saint-Just]

Yes, I understand it’s double or nothing if rain may be involved.

 

[MaC]

It also needs drying out if it gets wet though.

I do like ventile, but I live in a sodden wet climate, a decent cagoule, that shakes off the worst of it and dries off the rest quickly is a good thing.

I grew up with school cloakrooms with radiators running under every rack because gaberdene overcoats, wool blazers and ventile jackets all needed a lot of drying. They might be comfortable wet while you're wearing them, but putting them back on cold and clammy damp is not fun.

Dogs need walking a couple of times a day; will you manage to dry out the ventile between walks ? Day after day after day ?

Honestly a good brolly is a good thing

 

[Jaggededge]

I love my cheap golf brolly from sports direct. Have a couple in the car for emergencies.

 

[Saint-Just]

Oh I do take a brolly too. But we’ve had a fair bit of a breeze recently and I’d be playing Mary Poppins somewhere over Poland today if I had used it on Thursday.

 

[BorderReiver]

I'm pretty sure @BorderReiver is a Ventile advocate.
I had one of the first Survival Aids ones back in the day and loved it. Sadly it was stolen along with my mate's car that I'd left it in. I've had a single layer one and it was crap.

Love it, as long as it's double and I can get back to a warm dry place where I can dry it overnight. Single would work with a thick wool jumper under it, but the drying proviso applies even more

 

[MaC]

Oh I do take a brolly too. But we’ve had a fair bit of a breeze recently and I’d be playing Mary Poppins somewhere over Poland today if I had used it on Thursday.

Aye, there are days when even the guaranteed vented brolly is just a kite waiting to happen.

 

[BorderReiver]

I keep getting emails from Frahm trying to sell me jackets. They look and sound totally bombproof but want Electricity Company money for them.

 

[Stew]

It also needs drying out if it gets wet though.

I do like ventile, but I live in a sodden wet climate, a decent cagoule, that shakes off the worst of it and dries off the rest quickly is a good thing.

I grew up with school cloakrooms with radiators running under every rack because gaberdene overcoats, wool blazers and ventile jackets all needed a lot of drying. They might be comfortable wet while you're wearing them, but putting them back on cold and clammy damp is not fun.

Dogs need walking a couple of times a day; will you manage to dry out the ventile between walks ? Day after day after day ?

Honestly a good brolly is a good thing

Dogs don’t need walking a couple of times a day…..

 

[Stew]

I have a single layer snowsled smock. If doubles are more hardwearing, they must be like tanks as my single has lasted really well!
It does let wet through eventually and the rigid fabric when wet is a bit annoying but they are solid. Mine is basically just on allotment duty these days though.

 

[MaC]

Dogs don’t need walking a couple of times a day…..

We had collies....they 'needed' walking at least twice a day. We had spaniels..... ye gods but they could walk all day, the collies just ran all day.
Even the guide dog puppies needed walked twice a day. Our last one was a cross between a labrador and a curly coated retriever.

I still have the mindset that dogs need a lot of walking

I like ventile; it's hard wearing and pretty much spark proof, but it does rub wear at cuffs and where cords go through.

 

[noddy]

I have a single layer snowsled smock. If doubles are more hardwearing, they must be like tanks as my single has lasted really well!
It does let wet through eventually and the rigid fabric when wet is a bit annoying but they are solid. Mine is basically just on allotment duty these days though.

They are. Tanks, I mean.

I am wondering Stew, did I sell it to you rather than Ben? The one I had was a Snowsled too, maybe it had leather cuffs as a special. Would have been about 2010, I parted with it.

 

[Stew]

They are. Tanks, I mean.

I am wondering Stew, did I sell it to you rather than Ben? The one I had was a Snowsled too, maybe it had leather cuffs as a special. Would have been about 2010, I parted with it.

No, not me. I bought mine off someone on uk climbing for £50. No idea the year but I think I was still at uni 20ish years ago.

 

[benp1]

I have a large hilltrek smock, might have been from you...? Sadly I need a medium now as I've lost weight. I have a snowsled double ventile jacket as well, also a large

I have a (medium) howies ventile jacket as an everyday jacket that fits much better, and looks smarter. Seams let in water when it's heavy rain but it's good for showers

Seems to have a lot of wet weather jackets! Biking, hiking, dog walking etc. Currently enjoying a country innovation jacket when the weather is bad. Paramo is also good for this

If anyone wants to swap a medium for a large let me know!!

 

[Greg]

I've got a Montane Extreme Smock, obviously not ventile, but the smock part of it is a ball ache for day to day.

I'd also advocate for a waterproof trouser to go with what ever you decide. Wet legs are most annoying.

 

[Saint-Just]

I have a large hilltrek smock, might have been from you...? Sadly I need a medium now as I've lost weight. I have a snowsled double ventile jacket as well, also a large

I have a (medium) howies ventile jacket as an everyday jacket that fits much better, and looks smarter. Seams let in water when it's heavy rain but it's good for showers

Seems to have a lot of wet weather jackets! Biking, hiking, dog walking etc. Currently enjoying a country innovation jacket when the weather is bad. Paramo is also good for this

If anyone wants to swap a medium for a large let me know!!

Might be on the receiving end of your large one if you’re so inclined as not sure if I need L or XL anyway. Not as a swap as I ‘d have to have stolen any medium I could send you but if you’re selling we can talk

 

[noddy]

Waterproof trousers - or as they call them over this side, shorts.

 

[Jaggededge]

When at work I make a skirt out of a black bin liner to keep my legs dry from coat run off. I sweat too much in waterproof trousers.

 

[MaC]

When at work I make a skirt out of a black bin liner to keep my legs dry from coat run off. I sweat too much in waterproof trousers.

If they are work trousers, then why not spray with the fabsil stuff that makes them showerproof ?
There are lots of versions of the spray, and most don't show any discolouration to the fabrics.

We used to do it to the hems of our flares to stop them soaking up the rain. Works on jeans too

 

[Renton]

I wear a 3/4 length wax cotton stockman for walking the dog at the moment. The length keeps most of the water off your legs and even takes the muddy footprints of overenthusiastic fetch partners away from your clean trousers.

Id be tempted by full length but Ive had this one for a decade, since the bb days, with no signs of wear