Any interest in lightweight, Apex insulated vests?

Go for it!

Vests work well in an UL layering system that uses base/mid layers with wind and rain shells. A puffy layer is great for cold rest stops and camp, but with a long sleeve mid-layer and wind shell, you can get by without arm insulation above 20f of so and it will keep the cold fabric off your shoulders standing around in cold rain. I wouldn’t be adverse to throwing on a vest over my long sleeve base layer for a cool morning breakfast and breaking camp. I would sleep in it too.

I have a Patagonia Micro Puff vest that delivers great warmth for the weight and volume and would make a good model for your vest. The XL size shown is 25″ across the armpits and 30″ back length with a general barrel shape, snap neck, elastic hem, and the big bellows inside pocket that is self-stowing. Note the soft side of the Velcro tab on the pocket is on inside and out for use as a pocket or stuff sack. Quilting is on the inside only, leaving a smooth outer shell (sewn through would work as well I think and a zippered neck would be okay too). It weighs just 7.2 ounces, which I think is amazing for a 100g level fill vest. For comparison a  60g fill Nano Puff vest with a full zipper and hand pockets is 8.5oz in a medium.

Very interested in this, but with a hood too….with a drawstring

Thank you for the encouragement and feedback Dale.  I tentatively think that I could get the weight for an UL, medium sized model down to around 5.5 oz for the active only model.

Daniel, hoods add complexity and time.  I might be willing to do a custom job here and there, after i make some of the more basic models.   What would be easier and quicker (thus also cheaper), would be to make a more open face, pull on, balaclava like piece to go with it.

Justin,

Yeah it’s kind of a weird thing to want on an insulated vest but I’m largely interested in using the item as a sleeping piece paired with a quilt……hence the hood/drawstring request. I dislike having to keep track of 2 items (vest +baclava) as opposed to a single piece.

I made a UL prototype using a medium sized sleeveless shirt and it came in at 5.9 oz, but that was using 2 layers of nylon tulle for the inner of the insulation panels, and cutting out part of the back of the wicking polyester sleeveless shirt (which while it cuts down on weight some, probably won’t reduce back sweating by much realistically speaking and so i’m not going to do so in the future).

I’m almost finished with a 2nd lightweight prototype, more based on Edward’s and Adam’s suggestion.  Instead of the insulation being sewed on the sleeveless shirt and having a velcro or zipper opening, there is a one piece insulation panel that can be attached to the sleeveless shirt or taken off quickly and easily.

I didn’t use tulle on this version, since velcro (a combo of minority regular kind and majority of “snagless”) is involved for the attachment system–instead i used a very breathable, low thread count, 30D ripstop 1.1 oz nylon as the inner.  I could see the velcro sticking to the tulle and tearing it up pretty quickly.

I’m toying with the idea of adding a UL nylon (.66 oz/yd2 membrane fabric), attachable storage sleeve so that one can take off the insulation panel and quickly stuff it into the sleeve and not worry about trying to get it into one’s backpack, or trying to stuff it into one’s regular pockets.  Would add about .5 oz to the total weight.

Like the storage sleeve idea or not?

I plan to offer an attachable back panel for camp/rest/sleep use as an extra, adding about 20 dollars to the base price.

When i finish the 2nd prototype, i will start a MYOG thread (later this Monday most likely) and put up some pics.  I found making the 1st prototype was harder than i thought it would be and took more time than i thought.  It was kind of a PITA, especially sewing a non stretchy fabric to a stretchy fabric.  While i almost always make some mistakes on the 1st prototype when doing a sewing project, made a little more than usual.  (it will be heavily discounted).

The 2nd one is easier and quicker, and i also generally like the idea more.  I think i’m going to stick with that design as the basic one.  It will reduce the base price since it takes less time.

I understand Daniel.  I will keep you and the request in mind.  I’ve only made two hoods ever (and non insulated), and so don’t have much practice with it. I’ll keep an eye out for a good pattern, which would help.

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/front-insulated-apex-vests-prototype-1-2/

I forgot weights.  I’ll update the MYOG thread with weight pics.

Decided i’m going to try a 3rd prototype, a SUL version.  I don’t have all the supplies though.