Greenspot® SV Light Jacket

I’m very pleased with my new jacket, well worth the wait for it to be made.
The quality is as with previous products I’ve bought from Hilltrek, excellent, and the fit is just right.
Being single Ventile I was expecting it to be showerproof, but having it caught out in a heavy downpour last night can say that it’s that and more, not letting any water in.

A fabulous jacket for Scottish cycle commuting. Customised to my size and with added reflective tape it feels great on, has practical pockets for phone etc and has already stood up well to the warm(ish), cold, wet and wind we expect in the average week. Even better to be natural fibre and made in Scotland as well - added feel good factor every time I put it on.

Jacket purchased to replace a series of goretex cycling jackets. Expect this jacket to last many years. Jacket been admired and is comfortable.

If you're like me and you just wear one long sleeve layer in the summer this is the best jacket for that I'm aware of. I get this jacket in the L34 Ventile option cause that's lighter and just wear it with nothing else inside.

Would be much improved with a hood, which is pretty essential if you get caught in a shower. Also rather short in the body meaning trousers get really soaked in a shower. Measurements come up pretty tight!

Right, this is going to be a long review. This is mainly aimed at cyclists thinking about using Ventile for the first time.
For people like me, who have worn synthetic fabrics for my entire outdoor life, the idea of a cotton waterproof takes some understanding. I also think that a cycling jacket is a very good application for Ventile because many cyclists are very happy wearing showerproof garments even in heavy rain, accepting that some dampness is inevitable on a bike, even with supposedly fully waterproof garments. Also, there's very little movement in the upper body, so the stiffness of the fabric when wet won't be a big issue.
The jacket weighed 500g, heavier than claimed, and means that this is definitely a "wear" rather than "carry" jacket. I cannot imagine many cyclists wanting to wear any Double Ventile jackets weighing nearly a kilo. 500g is a reasonable weight for a winter outer jacket for cycling.
Firstly the jacket is totally windproof, far more so than any synthetic windproofs, probably equivalent to 3 layers of pertex. This windproofness is immediately noticeable and makes the jacket as warm as a thin softshell. Secondly you can immediately feel the difference in breathability compared to any kind of membrane, once you start working. Even a softshell or windproof membrane feels clammy in comparison. Thirdly, the water repellency is superb and long lasting.
Once the jacket is saturated with rain it becomes stiff and solid, which isn't particularly pleasant feeling, and the jacket gets colder to wear, but the base layer worn underneath doesn't get any damper than wearing a gore tex - probably drier than wearing a gore tex.
So this jacket seems to replace a thin softshell. Ideal for 10 degrees and below. It got a lot of use during this really cold spring. You put it on and wear it all day. You never suffer from your base layer getting progressively damp from condensation. Showers just run off, in heavy rain it's not particularly pleasant to wear, but underneath you're no worse off than wearing gore tex. When compared back to back with an expensive Gore soft shell, the soft shell got clammy after an hour, with a drop in warmth due to a damp baselayer - with Ventile the baselayer stayed dry and warm.
Unfortunately when working really hard parts of the jacket can get wet with sweat and go rigid. Also a fully saturated jacket takes a long time to dry. These are the biggest issues with the fabric.
And now for the details.
The front pockets are great, and add a double layer to the chest. The fit is pretty relaxed, but due to the stiffness of the fabric compared to synthetics it doesn't flap when riding fast. The tall collar is absolutely fantastic! The chunky front zip is perfect for easy ventilation. The not so good bits - it doesn't really have a cycling cut, with the arms too short and front too long, even when riding a fairly relaxed touring bike. I really think the cut should be updated. I'm definitely not a fan of the super minimalist velcro cuffs.
As well as cycling I've used this jacket for walking and kayaking. The water repellency was perfect even when subjected to constant paddle drips. All it needs is a matching ventile hat for use off the bike.
In summary this is my go-to jacket for various activities in cool conditions. It could be better for cycling with an imptoved cycling cut. Ventile is a very interesting concept for cycling and I think cycle tourists and commuters could very much enjoy this jacket, once they understand the behaviour of ventile (after wearing synthetics for over 30 years, this takes some time).

Excellent cycling jacket- better design than the older version. Massive capacity chest pockets and the cut of the jacket is ideal for freedom of movement especially the arms so good for off road and on and of course it's Ventile! Better than all the modern shell fabrics. Thank you.

I bought this in Blaze Orange for use as a cycling commuter jacket. So far nothing but praise. Really well made. Showerproof - plenty enough for my 20 minute commute. None of that plasticky feeling of synthetic water resistant jackets. Recommended!

Having had a Braemar Smock for some years I decided to treat myself to a Greeenspot SV for an upcoming cycling trip to Spain. I've yet to put it to a major stress test, but so far it's proven absolutely superb in light rain - windproof,, waterproof, lightweight and very, very comfortable. Just as good for cycling as the Braemar was for walking! Hilltrek managed to provide a customised version very quickly (thanks Susan) and it came with personal delivery. A quality bit of kit at a very competitive price.