Active vest

Take a look at the patagucci piton hybrid vest.

I've read about the Piton Hybrid, but not checked it out in person. Looked at the Adze, but definitely don't want it(though I'm in lust over the hoody version that I have zero practical use for).
Not sure about windproof panels up front like the Piton Hybrid or Arc'teryx Trino and am leery of them. I rarely mind the wind unless it's really howling-in which case I'd have the Ferrosi or even a shell on, anyway. I spend most of my winter outdoor time at low elevation in TN's Cumberland Plateau, and high winds are rarely a consideration.

My first thought was a Marmot Driclime vest; the Stride vest seems to be the current model:

http://marmot.com/products/details/stride-vest

Should be able to find that Stride locally, and maybe the Piton Hybrid, so I'll give them a look.
I'm 5'7" and technically XL in the chest, though in most brands a Large actually fits me fine. Everything I've looked at by Marmot in the last couple of years has been extremely long on me in both the body and the sleeves, though. I gave a friend one of their Powerdry baselayers. The cuffs came to my fingertips! 'Course sleeves won't be an issue here…

You can look on eBay for a Jagged Edge Fleece Vest. They are nice vests.

Powerdry (R1 weight), powerstretch, or windpro (quite breathable)

A 100 wt fleece will also work in a pinch

Personally i dont buy fleece vests, i just wait till the sleeves wear out and chop them … Its usually the sleeves that wear out first climbing … This gives extra life to old gear

;)

Owen, the BD Coefficient vest checks all your boxes. The smooth face layers well, and adds a tiny bit of windproofing. It does pill fairly fast, and the lycra content makes it dry slower than I'd like.

A 100wt fleece long sleeve with the sleeves cut off would also work, but might be a bit sticky when layering over it.

I've found WindPro to be the perfect balance if you need basic wind-resistant and high breathability. I don't own the vest but I own a hat and it's really great stuff.

Try "Cabela's vest" in Search.

The selection may be a surprise.

I use a Patagonia R1 1/2 zip pullover that way. It melds perfectly with windshirt or rain shell. I carry it as my hot summer extra layer. 8oz in size large. Of course they are discontinued, but I found a new one on eBay. Full zip versions are pretty easy to find.

I have used a Power Stretch vest as well. I had a Marmot that was the same weight. Not as tough though.

Icebreaker makes full zip wool versions, but they ain't cheap! Wool should help with pack strap wear, maybe with a little nylon mixed in?

Regarding pilling and wear: you can buy 200w vests so cheap that it doesn't matter. Thrift stores are chock full of them. Abuse them and recycle again :) I have an Eddie Bower full zip that I wear around town that is 10oz in large.

Step outside the hiking gear box and consider a classic wool sweater vest. That will give you good wear and breathability. LL Bean has a "commando" style Merino wool pullover with shoulder reinforcements: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/78007?feat=84049-pprrtop (now I want one, darn it).

I could see someone coming up the trail wearing an Argyle vest…..

I'm getting the chance to test a vest from Ministry of Supply: http://ministryofsupply.com/products/aurora-vest

Part of my goal is to tell them how to make their marketing information a little more transparent to the "technical" crowd. But anyways, it's a water/wind resistant synthetic insulated vest that doesn't look very thick. Check it out if you'd like. I'll tell my thoughts soon.

Max,

That vest is $208.00. What are you going to tell the marketing dept about that?!?

208 dollahs is more than dead bird or patagucci atom/nanopoofay vests

marketing strategy … sell to hipsters for walking (carrying really) their little dawgs

;)

My favorite vest is the Montbell Thermawrap Vest. 6.6 ounces, excellent, efficient thermoregulation.

Thanks, guys. I'm still pretty much zoned in on the CoEfficient at this point.
The R1 suggestions are particularly well-taken, but since Patagonia discontinued the vest, I really don't know about that one.

The last couple of days would have been ideal for testing out such a vest, since the temps were fairly typical of our "winter" here, and I was giving it a lot of thought.
It was upper 20s in the mornings, with daytime temps ranging throughout the 30s. The Cap2/Ferrosi combo was great starting and ending the day/s, but too warm several times throughout, while the Cap2 was not quite enough when I wore it alone at 34-38F.
If those morning starts had been in the upper teens, the vest certainly would have been welcome, too.

'Course I've been making do just fine for years with basically the same thing over a huge range of temperatures, but after enjoying the switch in baselayers from Cap1 crew to Cap2 zipneck, I figure why not try to be comfortable ALL the time?

My wife happens to have this CoEfficient vest. The added warmth while on the move is nice. Indeed, it's one of the only vests with a wicking fabric like Power Dry. Rab has one to I believe.

"A 100wt fleece long sleeve with the sleeves cut off would also work, but might be a bit sticky when layering over it."

If we're considering mods, how about an old Houdini with the sleeves cut off? Breathes well, light, quick drying, can be layered over, and lots of thermoregulation by adjusting the zipper.

Windshirts don't get much play around here, presumably because they collect moisture(as has been my experience).
We have very high humidity. When I tested my Marmot Ion some years ago, it was with a short walk wearing it over an original Capilene(before #s) top at ~42F. The whole inside was beaded with moisture in less than 3 miles. Might as well wear a trash bag.
My windproof "breathable" vest leaves me wet everywhere the vest covers in short order, too.

I checked out Cabelas like Connie suggested, and they have a Powerstretch vest with a hood that's really interesting, camo pattern aside. I'm kind of surprised there isn't more demand for hooded vests, but suppose that's from thinking strictly in terms of my own use.

I took a Melanzana Microgrid crew neck, cut the sleeves off and put a full-length zipper in. perfect! just enough more, but able to vent so I don't wet out so easily. Fits nicely under a Patagonia Houdini wind shirt when I need it.

Diane: "I took a Melanzana Microgrid crew neck, cut the sleeves off and put a full-length zipper in. perfect!"
That sounds great. Giving me ideas about Terramar's full zip grid fleece jacket that STP has for $20.32 with a(doubly extended for today) 45% off coupon.

I have the bottoms and crew neck top, and love them both.

Sounds good, Owen, especially at that price. I didn't want a collar on mine. Collar and cuff buildup is a pet peeve of mine when layering.

I have two vests I use for high activity stuff (trail running, snowshoeing, x-country skiing)- first is the R1, discontinued, but I seem them frequently for sale here, geartrader and ebay. For milder temps (20-32), this added to a base layer and under a windshirt if necessary, works well. Grid Fleece simply works, a vest in Capilene 4 would be a worthwhile item imo-listening Patagonia?

I recently purchased an Arcteryx Atom vest, had to send the size Large back (everything I wear is Large???) to get a Medium. I've used this vest several times in colder weather (below 20), very warm for the weight and does a pretty good job of breathing. Often after a couple of hours into a long run, my core starts to drop and I feel a chill coming on-adding a vest does a good job of stemming this

When u chop da sleeves

Save em for arm/leg/ankle warmers

;)

What if you have quads like a linebacker and 'cankles'?