| I have the Endurance separates, which is to say the shell and fleece. It’s what I bring bikepacking. I have long arms/torso and have no complaints about the fit, although it’s not cut like dedicated cycling gear. For daily commuting/utility I have a Shower’s Pass jacket, which is no help to the OP because s/he wants to avoid plastics/laminates. Honestly the Paramo stuff might not be suitable either, since it’s also made of synthetic materials. But it doesn’t rely on typical membranes or PFC-based treatments to function, so might be worth consideration. As much as I want to like Ventile products I haven’t found them to be breathable enough in humid conditions, so depending on locale would steer the OP away from it.
Jay Lonner Bellingham, WA
On Feb 21, 2025, at 10:44 AM, John Bokman <jpbco...@gmail.com> wrote:
Jay, this is interesting. I own a Hilltrek garment. It's the double layer Ventile jacket Greenspot. I bought it with the intention of using it for my "everything" jacket. However, it is far too heavy to use on the bike. It does keep water out, but when saturated it becomes stiff as a board and even heavier. It is now my dog walking jacket. the biggest disappointment with the jacket, however, is the sleeve length. They are far too short for cycling. I carefully measured myself before purchase and even communicated with Hilltrek's owner about fitment. Still, the sleeves are too short. That's a tough pill to swallow when purchasing from across the pond. In sum: excellent fabric and quality of construction. Truly the jacket will last as long as I need it to. But fit can be problematic. I suggest anyone interested to really dig into the fit before ordering. Especially since they're all potentially bespoke at no extra cost (which is good because they're already expensive enough!).
However, let it be said I also own another Hilltrek product: a gilet (vest). It has proven to be really good for me. Great single ventile fabric, so lighter, and more flexible when saturated. It does very well as a windblock and does quite well as a water deterrent. In fact, while it does wet out after time, I much prefer the single ventile fabric.
Paramo: pray tell, which model do you use for biking? I know there are multitudes of opinions on Paramo, like everything else. After living in the PNW for 30 years, I've come to one conclusion: if it's truly wet, I will become wet, regardless. What's important is staying warm and comfortable while wet. I believe the inner layers (baselayer, wicking layer, insulating layers...) are more important, ultimately, than the "waterproof" layer.
John Oregon
On Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 2:15:57 PM UTC-8 Jay Lonner wrote:
A few years ago I bought a Hilltrek Kintail shirt featuring their “extra lightweight” Ventile, thinking that it would be good for 3-season use. Unfortunately I still find the fabric to be too heavy and clammy for my tastes. When I hiked the West Highland Way a few years ago I found that the locals hadn’t heard of Hilltrek and were instead a fan of another UK-based brand called Paramo. (Hilltrek actually carries Paramo at their sister website www.hillgear.scot.) Paramo uses PFAS-free fabrics that can be refreshed with Nikwax products. My wife and I each bought one of their jackets (actually she bought two) and have been very pleased with their performance. There’s an inevitable tradeoff between waterproofness and breathability, and having tried many different clothing brands and wonder fabrics over the decades I’ve found Paramo’s materials and designs to be an excellent match for conditions in the maritime PNW.
Jay Lonner Bellingham, WA
Sent from my Atari 400 I just ordered a Hilltre Greenspot ventile jacket. It'll take 6-8 weeks before I get it, but I'm looking forward to a jacket that has a long lifespan and isn't made of plastic. It'll probably get here too late to see how well it works with the wet Seattle winter, but I'm optimistic.
Eamon Seattle
Hey all,
My Patagonia shell just bit the dust and I'm looking to replace it with something less plasticy. I recently bought a bespoke waxed cotton coat that I love, but it's more suited for urban activities than time in the woods.
Does anyone have jackets they'd recommend for day rides and S240s? I know I can't get waterproofness without plastics, and I'm okay with that. Water resistance is good enough for me.
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