What Is Ventron? The Waterproof Fabric Explained

Ventron is the waterproof-breathable fabric used in the Trailpeak range, rated at 10,000mm. If you have looked at a Trailpeak jacket and wondered what Ventron actually is, whether it is genuinely waterproof, and how it measures up against the Gore-Tex benchmark, here is the clear version.

What is Ventron?

Ventron is the waterproof-breathable fabric built into the Trailpeak waterproof range. It is rated at 10,000mm, fully seam-sealed and windproof, and it is made using GRS certified recycled fabric. In other words, it does the core job of any good waterproof, keeping rain and wind out while letting body heat escape, and it does it at a genuinely accessible price. It is designed for everyday wear, commuting and hiking rather than extreme mountain expeditions.

How Ventron performs

The headline figure is that 10,000mm rating. That is a hydrostatic head measurement, the amount of water pressure the fabric holds back before it lets moisture through, and 10,000mm sits comfortably in fully waterproof territory for everyday use, walking and hiking. It is not a marketing half-measure: the Trailpeak shells are described as fully waterproof and windproof, with sealed seams and a sealed front zip so water cannot sneak through the stitching or the zipper. Underarm ventilation zips let you dump heat on a climb, and an adjustable hem locks the fit down when the wind gets up. If you want to understand exactly what that mm number means and how to read it, we break it down in our guide to waterproof ratings explained.

How Ventron compares to Gore-Tex

Gore-Tex is the industry benchmark, a premium microporous membrane with a long track record, several performance grades and availability across many brands. Ventron is a different proposition and does not pretend otherwise. It is a straightforward, dependable, fully waterproof fabric aimed at everyday protection and value, rather than the last few percent of breathability for hard alpine days. For the commute, the dog walk, the school run and general hillwalking in Irish weather, Ventron keeps you dry and comfortable for a fraction of a premium shell's price, with the added appeal of being made from recycled fabric. If you plan to work hard for hours in sustained mountain rain, a higher-end membrane earns its keep.

How Ventron compares at a glance

Here is the full range side by side, so you can place Ventron against the alternatives without leaving this page.

The one figure there, the 10,000mm on Ventron, is a hydrostatic head rating: the water pressure a fabric holds back before it lets moisture through. We explain the whole scale in waterproof ratings explained. For a closer look at any one, see our guides to DryVent, FUTURELIGHT and Omni-Tech.

What sets Ventron apart at its price point is the recycled fabric: the whole range is made using GRS certified recycled material, so you are not trading environmental considerations for an affordable jacket. It is a straightforward combination, fully waterproof, recycled and good value.

What you will find it in

Ventron runs right through the Trailpeak waterproof range, so you can build a full wet-weather setup around it. The men's and women's Trailpeak waterproof jackets pair the 10,000mm fabric with pit zips and an adjustable hem, and there are matching men's and women's waterproof overtrousers in the same Ventron fabric for when the rain really sets in. All of it uses GRS certified recycled fabric.

Is Ventron any good, and who is it for?

Yes, for what it sets out to do. Ventron is a genuinely waterproof, seam-sealed fabric that will keep you dry through Irish rain without you having to think about it. It suits anyone who wants reliable everyday protection, commuters, dog walkers, casual hikers and families, at a price that leaves room in the budget for the rest of your kit. If you are a serious mountain user chasing maximum breathability over long, hard days, a premium membrane will serve you better, but for the vast majority of wet-weather wear, Ventron is more than enough jacket. And as with any waterproof, keeping the outer fabric's water-repellent finish alive with an occasional reproof does more for real comfort than the name on the label. If you are choosing a jacket from scratch, our full guide to choosing a waterproof jacket walks through the whole decision.