which ventile smock?

[robevs73]

I am thinking of buying a new ventile smock, I like the westwinds arctic smock and the hilltrek double layer smock. I want the over the hard style smock as it will also be my winter cycling coat.
I have 2 westwinds ventile garments and they are good kit but the hilltrek looks better value for money but I don't know of anyone who has one to compare.
Any help wuld be appreciated.
Rob.

 

[woof]

Something i'm interested in Rob. I did buy a hilltrek smock about 6yrs ago. When it arrived, i found that one of the seams had'nt been stiched properly so i sent it back & had a refund. I like the look of the west wind snow sled & the country innovation.

Rob

 

[Limaed]

Here's another contender: http://www.firemore.com/garments/05_mt.html

I've had one for a couple of years now and it's been great. I think they would do a double ventile if you required it.

 

[robevs73]

I have a country innovations smock but its to small for me and I am not keen on the lining (its up for sale at the moment).
Good to know about the dodgy stitching!
I didn't think about snow sled.

 

[robevs73]

I like the snowsled but £290 for the double layer ain't cheap!
I have short arms so would like shorter sleeve but they want £25 on top for that, I may give them and westwinds a ring tomorrow.

 

[woof]

I like the snowsled but £290 for the double layer ain't cheap!
I have short arms so would like shorter sleeve but they want £25 on top for that, I may give them and westwinds a ring tomorrow.

I'll be interested to hear how you get on. C/I are at Rutland water on the 17/18/19th, for the bird fair, so as its not far from me i'll go over & see if i can try one on. Westwinds looks to be a couple of hours away, so not that far.

Rob

 

[sandbender]

I am thinking of buying a new ventile smock, I like the westwinds arctic smock and the hilltrek double layer smock. I want the over the hard style smock as it will also be my winter cycling coat.
I have 2 westwinds ventile garments and they are good kit but the hilltrek looks better value for money but I don't know of anyone who has one to compare.
Any help wuld be appreciated.
Rob.

I have a Snowsled 'classic' smock, A Bison smock and a SASS smock of many many pockets. Of the three the Bison gets the most year round use, but I reckon the Snowsled is my favorite.

 

[robevs73]

Thanks. My bison is an xl and a bit big for me , its 9 years old and as water repellant as a teabag now!
Well used is an understatement!

 

[Nonsuch]

Rob I would say Westwinds are better made than Hilltrek (stitching can be sloppy), but they are more expensive. On the other hand, Hilltrek will make up a smock to your exact specifications (double/single layer, sleeve length, pockets, wired hood etc) for less than a Westwinds. I have no experience of Snowsled.

If you were willing to look at full-zip "smocks" SAS-style, then undoubtedly the daddy of them all is the SASS-Kit Ventile smock - shoulders and hood doubled for waterproofness, others single layer for drying, sleeve length as you require, superlative workmanship.

 

[sandbender]

"...If you were willing to look at full-zip "smocks" SAS-style, then undoubtedly the daddy of them all is the SASS-Kit Ventile smock - shoulders and hood doubled for waterproofness, others single layer for drying, sleeve length as you require, superlative workmanship..."

Are they still available? I read somewhere that the company was only producing repro ww2 gear these days. Nice jackets, you could live out of all those pockets.

 

[Nonsuch]

Their website is off-line so I am not sure. I think you might be right. There are plenty of them out there second hand. Yours looks just like the one I have.

 

[sandbender]

"... Yours looks just like the one I have..."

If you ticked all the boxes for every possible pocket option, then yes, it probably is.

 

[robevs73]

No answer with snowsled and westwinds are off until Monday. Typical!

 

[Steve13]

Have you looked at the Bergens smock , not ventile but water resistant cotton, dries quicker , more comfortable, and at around £150 a lot less money

I got one from Tamarack 12 months or so ago , liked it so much I sold my ventile jacket

 

[H2497]

I think SASS Kit have run into a problem of not being able to source MTP fabric, so cutting out their ability to retail to soldiers. A pity as friends who have used their smocks rate them.

 

[woof]

Have you looked at the Bergens smock , not ventile but water resistant cotton, dries quicker , more comfortable, and at around £150 a lot less money

I got one from Tamarack 12 months or so ago , liked it so much I sold my ventile jacket

Steve, do you have any website details ?.

Rob

 

[woof]

Lol !, only read the first line of your post !.

Rob

 

[woof]

Looks like its uncle Rays site for the Bergan, as tamarack don't seem to list it anymore.

Rob

 

[robevs73]

Looks like a double layer classic smock from snowsled is a front runner, got to phone tomorrow to confirm details and try to get a good deal.

 

[woof]

Sounds good Rob.

Rob