Well, I opted for the 2x Ventile Greenspot jacket, even though I was really interested in a smock. It won't be here for 6-8 weeks, so won't be able to report for a while yet. I wanted the jacket because it will be primarily used as a commuting/general purpose jacket, and a zipper is more convenient for me in those situations. If I were buying a specific use garment I'd rather go with the smock.
And based on the interesting notes from Andy about color impregnation, I opted for dull, drab Olive green, because, for my use, it's more versatile. If I want to be seen - I do - I'll employ a vest of some sort over the jacket when it's truly dark. Thanks to you guys who chimed in with thoughts, impressions, and opinions. BTW, Dave over at Hilltrek is very helpful, and prompt with his responses to my many questions over the internet. On Friday, August 31, 2018 at 2:05:14 AM UTC-7, ascpgh wrote: > > John, you're right and I've lost my mind! Ghosts of previous shells that > needed pit zips any more have addled me. Only dropping the front zip has > been necessary to get all the venting needed (duh, that was the primary > attraction of Ventile to me). > > Sorry for the confusion. It clearly has been warm enough that I've been > without my Braemar's use for some months. > > Side note: Farmer's Almanac says it's going to be very cold and snowy > here. I'll be in it daily for long stretches soon. > > Andy Cheatham > Pittsburgh > > On Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 11:21:29 PM UTC-4, John Bokman wrote: >> >> Andy, I didn’t realize the Braemar had pit zips? I don’t see this detail >> on their specifications page. Pit zips would certainly help in airflow no >> matter what the fabric. >> >> You have the DV or the Hybrid? >> >> On Aug 30, 2018, at 10:02 AM, ascpgh <asc...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> I didn't option my Braemar with side zips, I get how they could be >> helpful when getting out of the smock/anorak. Available on the >> customization options for 50 BSP. As airflow is concerned, with my neck zip >> down and the pit zips opened up, ventilation is not an issue. Certainly not >> for the complication and $65 of the option. I vote with entropy; avoid >> unnecessary complexities to assure prolonged baseline function. >> >> I am very pleased with my garment and simply ecstatic to have found >> something that is not synthetic, crunchy, stiff, and noisy. My experiences >> with technical shells has been highlighted by inferior water repelling >> performance, poor vapor ventilation, and lack of sustained function or >> durability under regular use. I think my 2-3 year cycle of disappointment >> with shell jackets is over now. >> >> I picked red as Patrick did for the visibility practicality. I have both >> a reflective mesh Nathan safety vest and reflective Tuvizo belt/shoulder >> strap rig to wear on top if my visibility concerns are greater than that. >> >> Andy Cheatham >> Pittsburgh >> >> >> >> On Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 8:57:06 AM UTC-4, John Bokman wrote: >>> >>> Thanks Patrick and Andy for your assistance. Very interesting about the >>> coloration of cottons. I had no idea. >>> >>> I’m not one who would wear “neon” green or yellow, but I’m partial to a >>> “warm” color like orange or red to be seen on the road. >>> >>> Guys: Do you have size zips for your smock? I would suspect they’d not >>> only help with removal but with allowing more airflow? >>> >>> I assume with the weight of the smock being over 2#, I would only need a >>> thin layer underneath and I’d be plenty warm. Most of my rain season (8 >>> months a year) riding is done at (wet) temperatures between 35-60 degrees. >>> >>> Any additional comments on your products and use are welcome as I try to >>> make choices. I’m sick and tired of burning through plastics, no matter how >>> “advanced” or “improved”. >>> >>> On Aug 30, 2018, at 4:46 AM, ascpgh <asc...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> John, that's the item I have now, their Braemar smock, in red. >>> >>> Fluorescent colors in fabrics are a bit more susceptible to UV >>> degradation of the pigments that produce the fluorescent color effect. The >>> base fabric dictates the necessity of chemical characteristics of a >>> coloring dye, cotton is one of the hardest to accommodate. If interested: >>> https://www.aatcc.org/media/Read/Newsletter/archive/2013/01A/The_Perils_and_Pitfalls_of_Dyeing_Neon_Colors.PDF >>> >>> Back in my late '80s outdoor retail days, when fluorescent ("neon") >>> colors ruled ski gear, we had a one day in the window policy for displays. >>> They were rotated to even the exposure and the merchandisers had worksheets >>> that were kept by the displays near the UV blocking windows because we >>> observed fade from brief display in direct sunlight despite the glass >>> choice, even non-fluorescent colors. >>> >>> In that same era Grant wrote in the 1991 Bridgestone catalog about >>> color: >>> https://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/1991/pages/bridgestone-1991-17.htm >>> >>> Andy Cheatham >>> Pittsburgh >>> >>> On Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 12:19:14 AM UTC-4, John Bokman wrote: >>>> >>>> Thanks Patrick! >>>> Interestingly, the 2x Ventile is the same weight as Cotton Analogy. I’d >>>> rather buy all cotton “all things equal” unless there is a clear reason to >>>> do otherwise. I like the smock option best, BTW. Less zipper, perhaps >>>> slightly more cumbersome to put on, but the kangaroo pockets are a real >>>> bonus for me. (I’d upset to the side zips, as well.) >>>> > On Aug 29, 2018, at 9:12 PM, 'Deacon Patrick' via RBW Owners Bunch < >>>> rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com> wrote: >>>> > >>>> > John, I’d recommend double ventile or cotton analogy for what you >>>> just described. Single layer soaks through where horizontal, such as >>>> sleeves on a bike, or sitting and enjoying a pipe. For blaze orange (or >>>> red, which I prefer, because it is equally visible, but not flourescent >>>> and >>>> thus bikey/racy and so people seem to be friendlier), I’d email them. >>>> > >>>> > With abandon, >>>> > Patrick >>>> > >>>> > -- >>>> > You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in >>>> the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> > To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/Ajcfuk3Bwjs/unsubscribe >>>> . >>>> > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>>> > To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com. >>>> > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >>>> >>>> > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/Ajcfuk3Bwjs/unsubscribe >>> . >>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com. >>> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com. >>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> >>> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/Ajcfuk3Bwjs/unsubscribe >> . >> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >> rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to rbw-owne...@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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