options for a light syn vest?

Take a look at the Montbell Thermawrap UL. It's about 6ozs in a large and performs well as a torso insulation layer in my clothing system.

Mike,

Slightly heavier at about 8.7oz but the Rab Generator Vest is an absolute class piece of kit.

thanks- I'll check both those out- any tips on fitment on either piece?

Mike,

My Thermawrap Parka allows me room for a baselayer + a light fleece, if I wanted. I haven't done this, but there's that little extra room.

I'm 6'1", ~180 lbs for reference. I wear a Large.

Montbell = GOOD!

EDIT: While I reference the parka, the vest shares its fit.

Atom LT vest has the fleece sides that are nice for dumping heat. Worth looking at if it's for running and high aerobic activities. 7.8oz based on manufacturer claim. As for fit, look at their size guide and assume it is spot on. So I have a small and have a 38 chest and can layer pretty much just a base under. Maybe squeeze a thin fleece too but not much else. In other words their "trim fit" clothes fit exactly as the measurements state with little extra for layering.

Mec uplink vest 60g/m PL1

60-100 maple syrup dollahs

http://www.mec.ca/product/5029-920/mec-uplink-vest-mens/

;)

http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=2002&p_id=2301171&gen_cd=1

Yep, +2 on the Montbell vest. I've had mine on every trip over the past several years in about every season that I backpack. Great when you are moving, and over a Houdini you can take it down nicely to about freezing (if you are moving that is).

How well does it breathe? I've been wanting a fleece vest for just a little bit more warmth while snowshoeing, but I am finding it really hard to find a lightweight grid fleece vest. I am modifying a Melanzana fleece pull-over by chopping off the sleeves and inserting a zipper for a custom piece, but I have wondered if I will just have to compromise with a synthetic vest. Seems to me that the DWR fabric would make it more sweaty to wear.

guess there were more options out there than I thought, glad I posted the thread! thanks

those all look like solid choices; I'm going to look at all of them, but the Atom w/ the stretch panels might be just what the doctor ordered

Diane- I have a R1 vest, weighs 8.2 oz in Men's Large, it's grid fleece and breathes well- little heavier than the newer offering grid of say Cap 4- I use it a ton in the winter- running, snowshoeing, skiing It would work for my intentions, but it wouldn't fit in my small pack-too much volume

For more comparison, The North Face Thermoball vest is 8.2oz in large, measures 24" across the armpits and 28" back length.

MYOG, but you then have a lot of choices with material selection, exact fit, etc. Should be a relatively easy MYOG project as far as insulation pieces go, especially these days with APEX being easy to work with.

+1 Montbell Thermawrap UL

Very light, compressible, and warm.

Love it.

I know you're looking for a vest, Mike, but this is a very light synthetic jacket, I think < 6oz, made for exactly what you're describing.

http://www.trekkinn.com/outdoor-mountain/berghaus-vapourlight-hypertherm-full-zip-blue-aster—spring-green-man/138537/p?utm_source=google_products&utm_medium=merchant&id_producte=548882&country=us&gclid=CjwKEAjwwdOhBRCG0fPrlfO1gGUSJAC1FmHXY_vV3-2cRcmTg7L2qtCzQCftV_YDS_yNRf9_zabaVBoCNjLw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Not a puffy, but has anyone used the marmot stride vest? It's a driclime vest, basically a very light wind shell lined with fleece. Website lists it at 5.3 ounces.

I found a good buy on the Atom and ordered one, of course soon after I found an even better price on the Rab Generator- if anyone is looking they have them on STP, w/ a 35% coupon it comes to under $60

I have that Atom vest. Kept on thinking it was probably a bit of a luxury when I bought it. Turns out a synth vest is now the most used isolation piece I have. Either by itself, or to supplement an Atom LT Hoody. The hoody can be a bit cold sometimes by itself, but never I want to carry the weight of a full other hoody, so synth vest under or over is great.

On the go I prefer the Atom vest to a fleece because I can just layer it over my wind shirt, instead of wind shirt off, cold flash, fleece on, wind shirt on. Then the reversal later on.

The Atom (or Generator, or others I guess) just layer under or over anything real quick, nothing to snag on, are reasonably light and compact, and just get rid of a lot of faff. Which is probably why I use mine all the time.

Ito- good to hear :) I'm sure you've experienced this running, but when I'm out for longer periods in cool weather (especially cool/damp weather) I can feel my core temp slowly dropping. I often find myself running faster just to try to warm up! Having a vest in my quiver (pack) should help significantly.

Mike

Mike,

Would a Polartec Alpha vest make more
sense if its for running, as if you did
wear it while moving you be less likely
To sweat it out.

Stephen-it might, I just looked it up- guess I'm out of the loop a bit w/ the newer stuff coming out :)

Mike

To be honest when running I've not had it on for long periods. Only early morning, in and out of the shade, above 3000m.
I've had some sweat bead up on the outer layer of the atom. It was totally fine.

I run hot during strenuous activity. I would never be able to wear a R1 fleece for example, unless it is well below -10˚C (14F).
So for my normal conditions I would look for something thinner. But this really depends on your local weather and your body.
When it's cold and I know I need it long, in general, during running, I use a thicker base layer with sleeves cut off, or a super thin chameece fleece vest by Montbell (don't think they sell it anymore in the US though). Put that on above my base layer and under my (insanely breathable) wind shirt.

I've had the torso cooling effect but only when it was humid or raining and I wasn't wearing my hardshell.
Tricky because it can sneak up on you. Got a bit hypothermic once because I didn't notice how cold I had actually gotten. Changed into my hardshell and pushed on. When I arrived at the hut I couldn't write (Japanese) anymore and wore all my dry insulation layers and was shaking for hours. Perhaps I should have worn the vest?

Mike,

I got a Rab Strata Alpha jacket a few weeks ago
and its far more breathable than my Coreloft
and Primaloft gear, obviously its not as warm.

I recently started a thread on down vests. Is a synthetic vest more versatile than a down vest, despite the (small) weight penalty?