By Reviewer
from Mt. Laurel, NJ on 01/12/2008
Pros:
Attractive Design, Durable, Lightweight, Versatile, Warm
Cons:
Difficult zipper, Poor Fit
Best Uses:
Bad Weather, Daily Use, Going Out
Describe Yourself:
Bargain Shopper, Casual, Experienced backpacker, High-end shopper
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Best Uses:
Daily commuting, day hikes, outdoor chores, casual outings
Probably not a good choice for extended backcountry trips
Pros:
1. Very good, warm (approx. 300 weight) fleece lining in upper two thirds of vest body and around neck
2. Lower third has a nylon lining, probably to allow easy movement over lower torso
3. Extra high comfortable collar with fleece lining
4. Excellent, generous hand warmer pockets also lined with the same thick fleece as body
5. Heavy gauge two way zippers (note: zippers are on the left side of the zipper track – maybe a European thing)
Cons:
1. The cut of the vest in the lower body is very large. It is at least as large as the chest if not bigger which makes the vest just hang poorly on my body.
2. The two way zippers are difficult to use. I thought maybe it was me so I compared them with other two way zipper outdoor garments that I own. The only garment and zippers I had problems with were on this vest.
Observations:
Bellows pockets are not reinforced and are somewhat thin. They are OK for a cell phone, small notebook, etc. but probably would not hold up if used to carry tools or anything with hard edges. Although they snap closed, I probably would not keep my wallet in one of these pockets.
For clarity, I am a male, 5’6” with a 38 inch chest, 30 inch waist, and I like clothing that has a tailored or fitted cut. I ordered a small hoping to achieve this type of fit but this vest seems to have a cut that is almost opposite to my body type. If you are a male with a less drastic difference in measurements between upper and lower body, or you like oversized clothing, then this would be a very good purchase. If you want a more tailored fit, you should look elsewhere.
This is the first garment made of waxed cotton that I have every tried. I like the external shell material and it is a nice change from over marketed fleece. Unlike some other water resistant garments designed for spending extended time in wet weather, all waxed cotton garments require periodic re-treatments with wax dressing and as such may not be as well suited for extended “outward bound” adventures. That is not a drawback of this vest, only something to be kept in mind.
Price: $139.95
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