I need help with my trousers! Ventile/G1000

[xavierdoc]

My Deerhunter trousers finally died this weekend. They weren't designed for bushcraft, as evidenced by the numerous burn holes and newly formed giant crotch vent!

That said, they were quite cheap for a waterproof, breathable, non-shiny, quiet trouser.

I am looking for a replacement pair that will be breathable waterproof/resistant, tough, quiet and more sparkproof.

Shortlist so far (all except Forester are on the Tamarack website):

Fjallraven Forester: strong knees, not waterproof
Fjallraven Hunter Hydratic: waterproof, breathable but knees not reinforced, pricier.
Country Innovations Kestrel Ventile: Waterproof, breathable, Not as tough as G1000 but less melty?
Sasta : various options (some at same price as Forrester) of waterproof, breathable trousers but not spark resistant or tough?

Can anyone advise or share their impressions. The deerhunters lasted 5years (admittedly dieing a slow death for the last few) so I hope to get similar or better form their replacement.

Thanks

 

[Shewie]

I have a couple of pairs of Fjallraven Cape Horn which are G1000, I prefer the cut of them to the Foresters etc, they've stood up well to all sorts of hammer and do a pretty good job of repelling the rain.

I also have the Kestrel ventile smock which is the mutts nuts but I wouldn't ever consider a pair of ventile trews just because of the cardboard effect. Again the jacket has stood up well to some pretty hefty punishment so I would imagine the trews would be as good.

 

[SimonM]

Fjallraven G1000 - excellent material which can be water proofed by applying their wax then a few minutes in the tumble dryer. I have had a couple of their trousers including the Forester and rate them very highly.

HTH,

Simon

 

[John Fenna]

I practically live in my G1000 Iceland and Forrester trousers....but dont find them very waterproof unless they are heavily waxed.
I have some of Hilltreks Cabrach Ventile trousers which I find excellent - I have yet to find that they get too stiff for comfort in the rain, but they take a bit of time to dry once soaked. I have had several different makes of Ventile trousers in the past and like them, finding them fairly robust and comfortable for everday wear and more weather resistant and versatile than almost anything else - including some "waterproof breathable" trousers.
Harkilla and Seeland make some great waterproof trousers (not OVER trousers but trousers to be worn next to the skin as it were..) but these are warm to wear, not spark resistant and, at current rexchange rates, quite expensive...
If money were not object I would go for the Ventile option plus a cheap pair of slip on overtrousers or chaps, for when you want to kneel in bogs, monsoon conditions etc.
Hilltrek do a made to measure service that is good value if you are not a designers idea of a standard size.
For extended cold weather use the Harkilla trousers (various models) are well worth looking at - as used by thar bloke in "Alone in the Wild" if that is helpful.

Just to muddy the waters - a good cheap option are 5:11 combats (I got mine in a sale for around £11) with lashings of Nikwax cotton proof or similar, plus the cheap OTs for truely horrendous conditions.....though I do not find the cut as comfortable as my Ventiles or Fjallravens.

 

[Nonsuch]

Hilltrek made me a bomb-proof pair of double Ventile trousers with extra belt-loops, map pockets and press-stud gathering at the ankles. Excellent and amazing service as usual

NS

 

[DavidJT]

I have Barents version, similar to Forester, but a little stronger re-enforcement around the knees and seat. As Mr Fenna says, not that waterproof unless heavily waxed, and then the more wax you put on, the less breathable they become.