Vest or jacket as midlayer?

[skizix]

I've never understood vests. When it is cold outside, what gets cold the quickest? Your extremities. So, let's design a a clothing item that is designed to keep your core warm, but your arms exposed.

Your extremities get cold first because your brain is smart enough to prioritize keeping essential organs in your core at operating temps. And so as your body overall starts to lose too much heat, your brain begins to gradually shut down circulation to extremities first. I.e. wearing a vest will (counter-intuitively) keep your extremities warm.

Think about wearing super heavy insulation on your arms and legs, and nothing on your core (and let's say a non-insulated windproof shell over that, taking wind/evaporation out of the equation), vs. that same weight of insulation in vest-form, and nothing on your extremities (but same shell). Which do you think would keep you warmer?

[nyskirat]

It depends on what I'm doing.

Any bootpacking/skinning I'll rock a Merino Wool base, R1 or similar variant from another brand, vest, and shell. Easy to take layers off, easy to put them back on.

Lift-served? Depends on the weather. Will usually rock a merino wool base, then a nanopuff or similar, and a shell as a top layer.

I find that I often sweat when skiing, regardless of layers, and freeze on the lift ride back up.

[galibier_numero_un]

^^^ that definitely looks interesting. Can't afford it tho. Any other suggestions for windblocking insulated jackets like that?

As for vests: I haven't tried one but feel my arms would be freezing.

I get it, I found a smokin' deal on one two years ago.

Another option (if there's room under your shell) is any puffy you find a good deal on.

Stating the obvious, it's 2 zippers to manage heat with on the lift, but other than that, it's equivalent.

... Thom

[utagonian]

My usual set up:
30+F--Base merino shirt (200ish) and merino sweater (260ish weight) and shell
20-30F--Add 700 fill Marmot Zeus vest (cheap and warm)
10-20F--Substitute Arc'Teryx Atom LT for vest, if windy and low teens I might add a merino 320 weight vest under the Atom
<10F-- Down vest AND Atom

A vest is superior to a coat most of the time for the mobility increase and pit zips in shell are super effective for a quick cool off. The two layers of merino keep my arms plenty warm.

[The SnowShow]

^^^ I have to say I'm surprised about the down vest between 20-30f. I'd think you'd be swearing like crazy.

I'm definitely thinking of trying a vest for lower temps though.

[utagonian]

Ya, it can be, especially closer to 30 but an unzipped vest doesn't add that much warmth. I also use the vents in my helmet for regulation.

[OregonDead]

I'm a vester. Love them for mid-layers and outer layers too when it's not precipitating. Pretty much always throw one in my bag. Favorite for a mid-layer when skiing is my L. L. Bean primaloft packaway vest.

[Kenny Satch]

Consider something like a Rab strata flex jacket. It gives you the best of both worlds

http://www.thealpinestart.com/2015/0...jacket-review/

[Supermoon]

Consider something like a Rab strata flex jacket. It gives you the best of both worlds

http://www.thealpinestart.com/2015/0...jacket-review/

Is that Media 310's climbing site? "Cons: none" is always a big red flag.

Jacket does looks sweet though.

[Kenny Satch]

Is that Media 310's climbing site? "Cons: none" is always a big red flag.

Jacket does looks sweet though.

Fuck I hope not. Beg pardon if it is.

Kevino sold me one last year and I love it. Honestly I have nothing negative to say about it. I've used it from skiing to playing ice hockey on an outside rink. Very versatile.
Kevino if you're reading this, thanks again