I don't know - Maybe the use of the phrase Modern Classics been over-used, but the Ventures come close to it bing justified here.
I've seen it covered in mud and gack on the back of some seriously hardcore mountain bikers, tearing past old boys wearing the same jacket over a Paramo windshirt, who've stopped to nag me for leaving my rope across their path while wearing the same-again. Ventures combine the excellent waterproofing of the tried and tested eVent fabric with durability. Teflon thread is supposedly woven into the reinforcements on the shoulder and bum, making it very durable when carrying a pack or sitting on a dirt-slathered saddle. I've worn mine whilst playing with barb-wire and lugging stile posts up the side of Bleaklow, and the laminated cloth's done a great job of preventing the hardshell from puncturing and turning the Venture into an expensive looking sieve.
The two pockets are adequately deep and sufficiently lapel height to be accessible with a pack on, whilst being eVent on both sides and so nicely waterproof. They're let down by the pocket zips which, whilst being equally waterproof are also a pig to open if you have even the thinnest of gloves on.
The hood does its job, just. Its not deep enough and won't articulate enough for you to turn your head like some of the classic Mountain Equipment hoods. Anyone buying a Venture might want to splash out on a minimalist baseball cap to wear under the hood, its seems to rectify the lack of movement, as does a thick woolly hat
The pockets zips and the average hood are the two main negative points. The positives far outweigh them - the eVent fabrics far tougher than similar Goretex and its feels less clammy on the skin when you're in the thunderstorm. It can be bought as a standard size and used as a good almost-4 season hardshell, or undersize as a higher sitting waterproof for fell-runners, cyclists and climbers. They are very light due to lack of features, they've got nice union-jacks on the zips, and they're getting cheaper as newer, more funkier hard-shells come out.
Almost my favourite waterproof.
(Written by: Requiem)