Ventile

[BellyTank]

Good stuff, HJ!

Is the "ventile liner" the "windshirt" of previous posts?
Could you describe it?

Let's see if the string vest, under your "shell" doesn't suck up the water like
a wick...

String T-shirt style undershirts- Swedish and Danish, are available here as surplus and are a great skin/under-layer. They are, of course, quite stretchable and conform to a range of sizes. I have worn mine beneath my Swedish Army woolen undershirt, which is of the non-itching variety,
by virtue of being knitted from fine, worsted yarns. (I have seen these being marketed on a specialist, outdoor website for the grand price of £60!)The string vest probably helps by keeping the wool off the skin. Very warm but not sweaty.

Actually, these Swedish woolen undershirts are very, very good-
plenty long, with a buttoning, cotton placquet, rib knit cuffs and thumb straps.

We await your next installment...

Re- the size of the Swedish Anoraks- I have 2, which seem like a useful size,
for a longer, looser Anorak but, as I mentioned, their relative cheapness
and generous size lends them well to becoming sewing machine fodder, if a smaller, shorter example is required. Enough cloth left over to make a hat, perhaps... I need to make one of them smaller,
more akin to the Cadet Smock size.

I guess, re: size/length of Anoraks, there are different requirements for a windproof shell-climbing activities, for example, could use a smaller, shorter, snugger variant and walking, or general cold weather, outdoor pursuits, could benefit from a larger/longer one, with more layering room and flexibility of use.


B
T

 

[norton]

This has been a very interesting and educational discussion, but it looks like there will soon be a product that will allow any cotton to compete with the water proof/breathable properties of ventile - liquid glass.

 

[H.Johnson]

Yes. Note how the humble shirt has now become a sophisticated drop-liner. That's how 'hype' begins...

I suspect you might be right about the capillary action, but there's only one way to find out...

I'm 'pushing the envelope' here in terms of the amount of insulation I'm wearing compared to lightness and packability. I want to see if I can get down to one woollen layer under the windshirt/dropliner rather than two. Don't ask me why - it's that crazy pursuit of lightness.

You know you have it bad when you start using one of those toothbrush heads that clips to the end of your finger to save the weight of a handle and you collect those little tubes of toothpaste from hotels to use on mountains...

Good stuff, HJ!

Is the "ventile liner" the "windshirt" of previous posts?
Could you describe it?

Let's see if the string vest, under your "shell" doesn't suck up the water like
a wick...

String T-shirt style undershirts- Swedish and Danish, are available here as surplus and are a great skin/under-layer. They are, of course, quite stretchable and conform to a range of sizes. I have worn mine beneath my Swedish Army woolen undershirt, which is of the non-itching variety,
by virtue of being knitted from fine, worsted yarns. (I have seen these being marketed on a specialist, outdoor website for the grand price of £60!)The string vest probably helps by keeping the wool off the skin. Very warm but not sweaty.

Actually, these Swedish woolen undershirts are very, very good-
plenty long, with a buttoning, cotton placquet, rib knit cuffs and thumb straps.

We await your next installment...

B
T

 

[H.Johnson]

Don't you just love reading stuff by people who know what they're about?

An interesting contribution on dressing for cold weather (down to -30C)
and layering with traditional clothing:

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50528


B
T

 

[BellyTank]

I'm 'pushing the envelope' here in terms of the amount of insulation I'm wearing compared to lightness and packability. I want to see if I can get down to one woollen layer under the windshirt/dropliner rather than two. Don't ask me why - it's that crazy pursuit of lightness.

You know you have it bad when you start using one of those toothbrush heads that clips to the end of your finger to save the weight of a handle and you collect those little tubes of toothpaste from hotels to use on mountains...

Minimum of base and middle layers-

Interesting- I pushed that same envelope today in the cold (about -8c and dry)with the meagre combination of: the string T-shirt and Swedish army wool undershirt, (this combination really is a winner)under "the cadet smock"(not the Swedish Anorak). Long socks and (vintage as you like)a pair of lightweight Edwardian wool trousers (very high waist)and hiking boots complete my outfit. Warm enough. A thin woolen head-over/toque, thin woolen gloves and (not that I wore it) a woolen bobble hat were my temperature control devices.
This was my least bulky winter outdoor ensemble ever.
I might have suffered if it was windy, as I was in quite an exposed area,
above a frozen body of water.

I will add, that I was very close to home.

Don't you just love reading stuff by people who know what they're about?

Yes!


B
T

 

[H.Johnson]

We think alike...
Swiss trousers in my case and Smedley's merino undies with a Brynje vest, but a similar set of ideas.

WRT wind, don't underestimate the cadet smock...

 

[alden405]

Ive just got my mits on a BAS ventile smock from Snugpak
It will be my winter push bike windshirt
im very happy with it

 

[number6]

BAS ventile jackets

In the 1980's there were two ventile jackets issued by BAS .
A single layer 'Base anorak' for general use plus a 'Sledging Anorak' for field work , this latter anorak had a two layer back which had a diamond pattern of stitching to keep the two layers together.
The modern BAS ventile anorak was a development of the base anorak, better pockets were seen as essential so the old style kangaroo pocket was ditched in favour of four bellows pockets.

 

[Dudleydoright]

And what wouldn't I give to get either of the old BAS smocks? Especially the sledging one !!

I prefer the kangaroo pocket myself.

Dave

 

[pipvh]

I think it does have to be a kangaroo pocket. The Westwinds BAS smock is just too... pockety.

From a non-Antarctic surveyor point of view, that is.

 

[Creeping Past]

I think it does have to be a kangaroo pocket. The Westwinds BAS smock is just too... pockety.

From a non-Antarctic surveyor point of view, that is.

I think we need to get weaving on BT's suggestion and start an ideal anorak thread. I'm stuck at work and pressed for time otherwise I'd be right on it.

 

[Dudleydoright]

Leave it with me ..........

Although there might be multiple phots posts as we have this and the Antarctic gear thread and teh 'Anorak Brad Pitt blah, blah , blah.....

Dave

 

[nobodyspecial]

Just want to second the notion of the Brynje mesh base layers - that stuff is fabulous. I'm only aware of one source in the US, Reliable Racing Supply, but well worth the money.

 

[norton]

Just want to second the notion of the Brynje mesh base layers - that stuff is fabulous. I'm only aware of one source in the US, Reliable Racing Supply, but well worth the money.

Is this what you're talking about? I wear the shirt under a wool long underwear shirt.

 

[Dudleydoright]

I know what you're saying but I have to say that I like the idea of using the old style kit in the old style. I'll take the so-called discomforts and enjoy them as I'm looking to have a vintage experience and want it warts and all. It's a kind of experimental archaeology I suppose .....

Interliners etc are all modern things and that's cool but if you're REALLY into vintage kit, well, use vintage kit.

Once I get my clothes making skills up to speed, i'll start making anoraks in a couple of materials, made the old way to the old, simple designs. Watch this space but don't hold your breath !

Oh,
I've seen the Titan smocks. They are a great design and cut. I've bought one with the idea of getting it dis-assembled and used as a pattern for making one in ventile .......

Dave

 

[nobodyspecial]

Here are the Brynje products (the Reliable Racing Supply website is down at the moment).
http://www.brynje.no/public/index.php?set_language=en&cccpage=webshop_l1&set_z_qm_product_grp1=6

I have Brynje mesh bottoms and they are great. I have merino wool mesh tops which I think were made by Devold and both are excellent base layers.

I've not used the Wiggy's fishnet base layers. I had a Wiggy's sleeping bag once, but eventually sold it on ebay.

 

[norton]

They look to be very similar, although Brynje has much more variety.

 

[Creeping Past]

All this talk of polypropylene is veering quite some way from Ventile...

In case you missed it, gents, we're digging the natural fibres here

 

[pipvh]

To get us back on track to some other cotton wonder-fabrics:

I've come across plenty of references to Grenfell (presumably Mr Johnson's mysterious 'G' cloth) when researching vintage outerwear, but also occasional ones to 'Oxford cloth.' What is said Oxford cloth - a specific creature like Ventile, or a broader and now defunct term for something along those lines?

 

[BellyTank]

From their web site-

BRYNJE SUPER THERMO NET

* Designed for Fall, Winter and Spring.

* The insulating factor of Super Thermo is greatly enhanced when
combined with a fairly snug fitting mid layer. While excess moisture
escapes through the net matrix the mid layer covers the net keeping
a regulated warm cushion of air next to the skin.

* For full wind protection wear a loose windproof shell over the mid
layer garment.

This was exactly what I wore yesterday, in -9C.
I was thinking right! But it wasn't Brynje, it was inexpensive, Scandinavian surplus.
Cotton.


B
T