I just ordered one of these Klymit vests on Friday, and it came today. I got the "Kamelion" because it was the one that I found the best discount price on in my web search. It is basically like an Army O.D. green color. It's not the weird chartreuse/gold color that it looks like on the computer monitor. If you look around diligently, you can find these things at some discount retailers for half the retail price. Mine only included the air pump, and the Argon stuff was not included, but you can buy it later if you want it.
My initial impressions are that it is pretty freakin' nice! Construction quality is very good, and displays high-end quality, IMO. I got the XL, and I have a 46 chest, and it fit me perfect. It hangs nice on the body like a windbreaker when deflated, and it pumps up to feel like a compression vest, which gets firm and supportive from the air in the chambers.
One downside is that it doesn't seem to deflate completely, so I couldn't get it totally flat for packing, but it's pretty flat. I will work on it to see if I can learn a better technique to get it fully deflated.
Inflation with the hand pump bulb takes some time to get it filled from dead flat the first time. It's not a "3 pumps and it's full" kind of thing. You probably need to do like 30 pumps or so to get it mostly full from dead flat. Good forearm muscle exercise!
It is not as stiff as a board when inflated unless you over-inflate it, and at the normal range of inflation, it's pretty comfy and relatively flexible. You won't really feel like you are in an inflatable full-body splint!
It's warm enough that you could get some sweat going if you are active and have it pumped up. You'll need to get a feel for how much insulation you need for your typical activities.
When it's pumped up to a comfortable level, it does tighten up a bit around your body, and this helps with the warmth. As soon as I pumped it up, I started feeling warm immediately. Just like I feel when I get in my down bag during the day in warmer weather. It's quick and it's warm. I don't have a cold weather test comment to give yet, of course. But initial impressions are that it will be warm as toast. You can twist the little deflation dial on the chest of the vest to let air out, and adjust the air level, and that works very easily and well. The air bulb stores in the pocket, and there are two nice zip pockets on the front for your hands. Also, 2 larger pockets inside.
The tops of the shoulders don't have air channels, so you can put your pack straps over your shoulders without crushing the air channels. The fabric seems quite durable and able to handle strap wear, and I wouldn't worry about that from what I can see about this fabric.
The neck is gaiter-style and goes fairly high up your neck, and I even have a long neck and it covers me. It's quite loose and non-restrictive, but there is a draw-string adjustment in the back of the collar that allows you to pull it as tight as you want around your neck to keep in heat, and there's a line lock on it. You can also fold the gaiter down like a normal shirt collar, and it looks and works okay in that mode too.
There is a draw-string adjuster with line-lock also around the bottom of the vest to seal that around your hips too. None around the arm-holes though.
I can't give you an accurate weight because my scale isn't working. Battery dead.
But it feels light. It's probably fairly accurately stated for the 13 oz weight spec in the spec sheet. It sounds like it's not too light, until you realize that it's a multi-purpose vest that can take the place of perhaps 2 other insulation layers, and also work as a sleeping pad augmentation.
Since I have a Klymit Inertia X-Lite 3/4 pad, I will use this vest pumped up as a pad under my legs for insulation and padding, just like as if I had a full-length inflatable pad. I think this is a good dual use for this vest, and I will use it for that.
So anyway, at first impression, I'm super happy with what I'm seeing in this new vest.
I plan to make it a part of my fall/winter gear, and I'll wear it instead of having it in my pack. Inflated or deflated as the needs dictate.
And it's not as expensive as you might first think. Look around on the web long enough, and you'll find some good prices.
As far as longer term impressions, we'll have to see as we go along.
