Bluegrass Venture Vest

Choosing to wear body armour can come with something of a compromise. Either forgo the storage of a backpack, or wear one over the top, both of which aren’t ideal. Bluegrass’s Venture Vest aims to quell the compromise, offering up to Level-2 back protection with a very handy range of storage opportunities. While it’s become my go-to for many types of rides, it’s not quite perfect.

Bluegrass Venture Vest – Technical details

The Venture Vest is an over-jersey body protector that’s equipped with one Type B Level 2 back protector and one Type B Level 1 chest protector. But on top of those EN1621-certified inserts is a range of pockets, both zipped and unzipped, forming what Bluegrass calls a ‘hybrid protection vest’.

There are pockets all over this thing, with a zipped one at the lower back, paired with an open but elasticated straight-through stash. Towards the front, there’s a pair of similar pockets on either breast, and there’s an additional zipped pocket, handy for storing valuables close to hand.

Circling back to the back parts of the hybrid vest, that’s where you’ll find ample space to hold a hydration bladder of up to 1.5L in capacity. That hold is equipped with a Velcro hook to hang the bladder from, and there’s routing via elasticated bands to run the bladder’s hose through.

This is all closed thanks to its zipped sides, and adjusted for fit via elastic pull-cords.

Airflow is always a topic when it comes to body protection, but Bluegrass states that it’s covered here. There are mesh panels throughout the vest, all added to keep air circulating.

Lastly, the Venture Vest is available in three sizes to fit chest circumferences from 84cm up to 104cm. For reference, I’ve got the medium on test.

Bluegrass Venture Vest – Performance

Body protection is one of those things that I know I should wear, but I usually go without because it can be quite uncomfortable and rather sweaty, instead choosing to ride with something like EVOC’s Hydro Pro 3 when I want to carry extra fluids and tools. However, the Venture Vest has pretty much replaced it.

That’s because it’s a body protector and a backpack all folded into one. While at first glance its storage options aren’t terribly large, I’ve managed to pack it with absolutely everything I need for my usual rides. I’ll admit, I carry fairly minimally at the best of times, but in it I’ve managed to lug about 1.5L of water, a small pump, a tubeless repair kit, a comprehensive multi-tool, trail snacks, and even an inner tube all at once.

All of that has been arranged in its considerately chosen pockets, of course. But one I’ve become a particular fan of is the straight-through lower back pocket. When tired of wearing gloves, I’ve been able to stash them in that pocket without ever getting off the bike. I’ve hidden an inner tube in there too, and although it’s not zipped, it’s elasticated well enough to keep heavier objects from falling out.

As far as back protectors go, the Venture Vest is fairly minimal in its construction, which is a serious positive for me. It doesn’t boast shoulder protection or coverage to the flanks, but the protective inserts chosen provide just enough coverage, without hurting overall mobility. Generally, when I’ve ridden in it, it’s gone unnoticed, and really, it’s no different from wearing a vest-type backpack.

With its mesh panels and large holes cut into the chest protector, Bluegrass has gone some way to introduce breathability to the Venture Vest, and mostly, it’s appreciated. The move to make it an over-the-jersey piece is useful too, as it allows for whatever you’re wearing to continue wicking moisture. That said, it can still get pretty warm and sweaty underneath. It’s not as uncomfortable in that respect as other protectors, and when moving with a bit of speed, airflow can definitely be felt, but expect some sweat while wearing this.

Another couple of downsides are pretty minor, but it would be great to see them addressed. With a full 1.5L bladder, the back protector insert can curl away from the body a bit. After some body warmth has soaked into the protector, it does flatten a bit, but this is solely down to the volume of liquid. Perhaps a wider pocket would help fix this.

Then, it would be excellent to see some kind of magnetic hose tidy. As it stands, the bladder’s hose is routed through some elasticated bands, which leads the hose across the chest. The mouthpiece is then threaded under another elastic band. This can be a bit of a faff when whipping out the hose for a sip of the good stuff. Since I’ve bought one from HydraPak and it’s solved this issue, but given the price, it would be good to see one included.

Finally, the side zips can be pretty tough to close. No biggie here, really; they just take a touch of extra thought and alignment before pulling them up.

Bluegrass Venture Vest – Verdict

While there are a few body protectors that combine storage, there aren’t many quite like the Venture Vest. Ergon’s BP1 is similar and costs considerably less at £114.99. This protects only the back and comes with minimal storage.

Now discontinued, Scott’s Vanguard Evo jacket protector can still be picked up if you look hard enough. Though this just covers back protection and comes with storage for a hydration bladder, with an extra pocket for some smaller things. This is more affordable again at £174.99.

If you’re happy to forgo chest protection and you’re looking to boost storage, a back protector backpack is the way to go. Evoc’s FR Freeride Lite will set you back £169.99, but of course, protection isn’t quite as complete.

With the Venture Vest, Bluegrass has achieved a very complete hybrid of a body protector and backpack. While there are some minor flaws, it can replace the backpack altogether if you carry a little lighter, all while benefiting from increased protection around the torso. Although it can get sweaty, it’s comfortable enough for day-long rides to the point where it has capably replaced my backpack.