Sasta Peski Ventile Anorak

I picked my Sasta Peski Ventile Anorak up from the Bushcraft store (many thanks for the great advice whilst there) on my way to a week in the Welsh borders that coincided with Storm Calum hitting the UK. I had been looking at the option of replacing my now defunct G’tex jacket for most of the summer with something that I hoped would be reasonably light, hardwearing, quiet and have a decent balance of waterproofness vs breathability. I had been concerned that Ventile wouldn’t prove to be as waterproof as I was looking for but decided to take the plunge based on web reviews and advice. I can only say that after the initial month of wearing, I am very happy with the anorak.

The anorak has performed surprisingly well during days spent stalking wildlife in torrential rain and wind. For comparison, I was wearing new F’raven G1000 trousers (untreated) during the same weather conditions and the Ventile material proved to be much more waterproof. Maybe worth noting, in the rain, the anorak become noticeably stiffer (I am guessing as the fibres swelled) but this wasn’t an issue in terms of function. I also experimented with purposely putting on too many mid layers underneath and pushing the pace uphill to build up a sweat (I tend to run hot) and found there was none of the clammy build up of condensation inside the jacket (as I experienced with G’tex).

The hood is excellent with the stiffened panel along the brim keeping the material from collapsing and providing a great field of view. It’s certainly big enough to put a helmet of large hat on underneath if you need to but didn’t get blown back off my head despite some strong winds. The chest pocket and handwarmer ‘tube’ behind it both functioned well and, for me, are at a convenient position on the front of the anorak. I have been wearing an over-belt with the anorak at times and there’s no problem with access to the pockets.

I can’t comment on the durability as it’s only a month old but so far so good. Other reviewers have mentioned the thin draw cords used on the waist band and hood, but these haven’t given me any problems. I have worn the anorak when tending wood fires too and been reassured that the anorak won’t melt if hit by sparks. In terms of weight, I don’t really notice the different between it and my old mountain G’tex jacket, so this hasn’t been an issue for me.

Overall, I can thoroughly recommend the Sasta Peski Ventile Anorak if you are in the market for this type of garment.

Versatile and functional

Like others on here, I’ve been humming and hahing about making the plunge into Ventile, having become more and more frustrated with Gore-Tex. I decided to go for it and have to say I’m delighted.

I haven’t had a chance to go the full winter hog - but from what I’m reading in other reviews here I won’t be disappointed. Instead, I’m going to comment on the other end of the weather spectrum, where Gore-Tex really lets me down.

Warm summer days with rain showers.

When it’s never quite worth putting on your Gore-Tex because you’ll sweat so much inside the thing you might as well get wet - then you remember how cold rain is.

But the Peski is a revelation. It’s been wizzing down here for a week or so, with some really windy days. It’s been so easy. Pop on a t-shirt and the Peski and you’re ready for anything. Windproof? Certainly. Dry? Yup. Condensation/clammy? Things of the past. Distant memories. It’s been great in some lovely little downpours and thunderstorms. It just does what you want it to. I can see this being with me all the time.

A note on sizing. And a big thank you to Andy at Bushcraft for some detailed measuring. I’m 195cm tall; I’m not heavily built so despite what Andy told me I went for the XL. Slightly too short in the arms and the back length was a wee bit short. In the winter I could see more layers making it a bit of a squeeze. So I exchanged for the XXL and am as happy as the proverbial pig. Bushcraft swapped the items in lightning fast time and I am one very, very happy customer.

Well thought through and functional design

I took a long time to decide on this jacket and did a fair bit of research on ventile versus other materials, I would recommend doing the same before buying. First impressions after using it in a few different circumstances is it is simple and brilliant, highly functional and very comfortable. Firstly the fit. I am 6ft and 13 stone and typically medium size so went for the medium, spoke to the helpful gentleman at the Bushcraft store who measured the jacket arm pit to arm pit for me and it is just about the same measurement across as a medium Fjallraven Greenland jacket that I have (~23"). Although I am a 40 inch chest the jacket is generous with ample clearance for layers underneath. I could maybe have gotten away with a small but I think this would make taking it off tricky. It would benefit from a couple of side zips and then it could have had a slightly more fitted cut. It's designed fairly long in the body too with convenient pull cords at the hem and the waist to keep the wind out, similarly it can be adjusted at the wrists with robust velcro cuffs. Here I would have preferred button closures for the wrists but the velcro does give way more range for adjusting. The sleeve length is generous allowing for full extension of the arm without exposing any skin - works well climbing rocky slopes and hills or climbing trees!

In terms of features the hood is awesome with multiple cords for adjusting and a storm visor which can be folded back for more visibility that gutters the rain away from your face -brilliant and does what it needs to. The kangaroo pocket is generous and well placed and there is also a handwarmer pocket just below the solar plexus - the perfect place in my opinion as its clear of any back pack straps, waist belts, or equipment belts and is a comfortable walking position. All the zips have sturdy pull tabs allowing for gloved zipping and the one at the neck can even be buttoned down to remove any pesky flapping. This jacket has been well thought through.

Something I would have preferred overall would have been leather pulls for the zips (they're plastic/nylon I think) and non-synthetic elastic cord but none of these things were dealbreakers and I was aware before I bought. In my opinion they all feel sturdy and well constructed.

In terms of performance I am impressed with the fabric so far- I spent an afternoon in the rain walking the moors initially the fabric beads water like most waterproofs and then stiffens as the fabric swells, I experienced no dampness or bleed. I haven't tested it in torrential or prolonged all day rain but it did get a pretty good soaking and in my opinion, performs way beyond waxed polycotton materials like G1000. Technically it is weather not rain proof. It is very breathable with none of the horrible sweaty feeling produced by Goretex. It is very windproof and adjustable in the right places to help. It has stood up well on some high windy outcrops in the peaks. Whilst wading a river I slipped and fell forward half way up to my arms and felt only minor wetting at the wrists and my arms were bone dry, the fabric dried very quickly afterwards. Whilst comfortable and quiet the fabric also feels tough and up for the job and I didn't have any fear of stray sparks off the fire. As other people have said it really works well with appropriate layering, a good wool layer being the thing in heavy rain.

All this said it is expensive but sings quality and I would have no hesitation to recommend. In terms of service the guys at the store have been excellent - the only way to get it quicker would have been a seven hour round trip to the shop!