Endura Venturi II – opinions ?

My Altura Attack is dying -(

Needing a new proper winter shell (I have a Stealth for the cold rides, and an Altura Crosslite as a light summer shell)

So far thinking that the Venturi tops the bill but before splashing £150 notes keen for feedback…the magazine reviews are alll good !

This may not be much use, but I’m going to tell you anyway…

I had the Venturi I 3/4 trousers, which were replaced under warranty (the second time) for the Venturi II version.

Like the jacket, the shorts seemed to be made from an unbranded PTFE fabric instead of eVent – and they were far less breathable and got much more clammy inside.

So much so that I was relieved when they also fell apart and my third warranty replacement was the original version again.

interesting, thanks. wonder if jacket has same issues ?

Let me clarify Iain, warranty returns were all for failure of seam on bum.

Unlikely to happen to jacket I suppose.

ah, thanks. I have quite a lot of Endura kit and like it. I haven’t had much in the way of reliability issues that plague many, apart from the crappy poppers on humvee shorts.

Stealth jacket is great and mine is coming into it’s second winter looking just about perfect apart from the silicone waist gripper stuff peeling off, and it’s been washed probably a dozen times, but for current temperatures of 8-12 deg, and wet manky conditions it’s too warm, hence need to replace winter shell

I have lots of endura kit and really wanted to like this jacket, but for me the neck was too small in a given size (its narrow to stop rain running down your neck) and with the material being quite rigid it was strangling me. I tried 2 separate jackets and on both the velcro for the cuffs came away from its backing when I tried to adjust it instore. Not good.

If that doesn’t put you off, the Flyte is the same material with a storm flap over the zip but without front pockets, hood option or the second set of pit zips. Evans had loads of last years Flyte which have a central pair of pit zips. This years model does not have any pit zips. Its also £100 rather than £160.

which have a central pair of pit zips

how does that work then, do you have to ride with your shoulders all schrunched forward?

interesting that Flyte same material as I went and tried a Flyte at lunchtime. The one I tried had 1 set of pit zips. seemd a good jacket too, and was £100

Flute is better vfm especially if you can find one with pit zips. Unless you can’t live without a hood.

I bought a Venturi II in Dec 2009.
Initially, the waterproofing aspect was great, but since then it has deteriorated very badly. The jacket soaks-thru completely now, rendering it totally useless.

I have read various articles with regard to care for eVent materials as follows:
http://www.eventfabrics.com/care_and_maintenance.php
As a result, I purchased the NikWax wash-in cleaner/proofer :

http://nikwax.com/en-gb/products/productdetail.php?productid=4&activityid=-1&itemid=-1&fabricid=-1

and also the Grangers XT proofer

http://www.grangers.co.uk/productview.cfm?ID=6

and used both products on the jacket as directed.
I also cool-ironed the jacket as instructed on the care label but it has all been a total waste of time and money.

Also, the collar draw cord has come unstuck and pulled-out, and the seam on the inside/Napolean pocket has come away so now the pocket does not have a bottom to it.

I noted that it says PTFE on the wrist of the jacket – does this mean that it is not eVent materials then?

I emailed lynne@endura.co.uk with the problems I had but didn’t get much of an answer back, I have re-mailed them today, as this jacket cost a LOT of money and has been a woefully bad purchase – quality is terrible, I’d never buy another Endura one unless this issue gets resolved.

In fact, I’m off to buy a Gore Bike Wear Fusion GT AS Jacket (this better not be another huge waste of money!) in the hope that this will be much better.
Meantime I am requesting a warranty return on the Endura jacket – I notice that I cannot find any warranty info at all on the Endura website – wonder why that is?

Fergal

Iain its a Venturi II I’ve got. I’m pretty happy with it, despite it not being eVent it seems better made than the previous version (stronger zips, better cuffs) and its a heavier jacket than the previous one. I’ve had it about a year and its survived a couple of unplanned interfaces with the ground and trees to.

As for overall waterproofing its hard to tell. I can remember the previous version getting completely soaked through. I can’t remember being in the same situation in the new one (but I might just have managed to avoid serious downpour but that seems unlikely)

Does the Ventura II have pitzips?
As it’s on my shortlist for my next jacket, due to pictures suggesting it does…
As I’ve decided, for me at least, pitzips are a minimum requirement for any waterproof jacket.

I’m happy with my Venturi II. I have had to reproof it but then it’s had a lot of use. Seems breathable too.

EDIT: Yes it has pit zips.

My Venturi jacket has pit zips (under-bicep) and also side-zips (near the hand pockets) for allowing air to flow in.
Has anyone used these guys for re-proofing?
http://www.lancashiresportsrepairs.co.uk/reproofing.htm
Sounds like it may be worth me giving them a go to reproof my Venturi jacket before spending €230 on a new Gore jacket..

edd – what re-proofing method did you use?

Cheers for the pitzip confirmation.. means it gets to stay on my list and maybe add the flyte too if I can find it with PZ’s.

As for reproofing.. nikwax tech wash, then nikwax wash in reproofer on my eVent altura Attack jacket.
Seems OK afterwards, but then as it doesn’t have pitzips it always been a damp jacket when you get warm… though now I’ve run out of nikwax, I’m tempted to try the grangers stuff.

fergalk – Nikwax tech wash followed by Nickwax TX.Direct spray-on.

thanks edd, might give it another re-proofing with those products and see how it goes

Hi,

I’ve had my Venturi II jacket since Xmas – it’s great.

I use it as my main mtb jacket (thanks to underarm vents) as well as a general non-biking waterproof and it works a treat.

I’ve ordered the new TX Direct 11.1 waterproofing wash-in version, which sounds like it’s pretty good.
Meantime, I got a response and an RMA # from Endura so the jacket is going back to Endura to fix the breast-pocket seal and the neck draw-cord which has pulled-out, it’d be nice if they replaced it with a new one though….

Splashdown – is your Venturi jacket PTFE or eVent fabric?