Warm When Wet Vest

[Daryl and Daryl]

I’ve been fooling around with closed cell foam clothing for at least 20 years.  Here’s my latest version.

Weighs about 6 ounces.  Warm when wet.  Windbreaker helps hold in heat, and creates the illusion that a muscular person resides within…………it’s a real chick magnet.

I also use use it as my sleeping pad and rain gear.

 

 

 

 

[Daryl and Daryl]

None of the photos showed up in my post above.  Will try again.

[Daryl and Daryl]

And again.

[Daryl and Daryl]

And again.

[Jerry Adams]

I’ve done that with bubble wrap

[Alan W]

Interesting idea.  Back in the 70’s some firms experimented with open cell foam in bags and clothing.  I almost bought a foam sleeping bag once.

[Dustin V]

How do you open/close it? Do you tape/un-tape it?

And have you tried a thinner pad? I know it would reduce the chick-magnet-factor, but it might be more supple. I guess it might fit better, but be less ventilated.

This looks like it would easily be multi-use as a sit-pad, etc.

[Daryl and Daryl]

 

 

And have you tried a thinner pad? I know it would reduce the chick-magnet-factor, but it might be more supple. I guess it might fit better, but be less ventilated.

This model uses 1/4″ foam.  Rather stiff.  Fairly hard finish.

1/4″ x 2=1/2″.  I consider this the minimum thickness for using it as my sleeping pad.

Stiffness combined with elastic fastening cords keeps the vest hovering about an inch off my body.  This helps with ventilation…..as you mentioned.

Fairly hard finish makes it easier to wipe water off than a softer surfaced foam and it is more durable.

So yes I’ve experimented with other types and thickness of foam but right now this seems like the sweet spot.   1/2″ thick foam also works well and gives me a 1″ thick sleeping pad.  I wear the vest most days on my 1 hour walk around the hood.  So it is bound to change in some ways as time marches on.

I, of course, was kidding about it being a chick magnet.  It is more like a chick repellent.  My wife, for example, will not allow me to wear it when we walk together.

 

This looks like it would easily be multi-use as a sit-pad, etc.

Yes, multi use for sure.  Warm when wet vest, sit pad, sleeping pad and rain gear…..all for 6 ounces.  I’ve used various closed cell foam float coats similarly but they can weigh 2bs or more.  My goal with the vest was to get most of the float coat benefits at the lowest weight.

[Dustin V]

Oh, I see; you don it poncho-style and use the cords to wrap it around you.

Can you wear it underneath a pack?

Have you tried it with a longer drop-tail? Might be a built-in sit-pad that way.

This is an interesting MYOG project, which I might try out someday when I make the effort to grab a CCF pad.

[David Thomas]

Dustin, he doesn’t have to open it himself.  All the babes tear it off him – they can’t help themselves when confronted with such high-fashion.

I’ve pondered this kind of vest as well seeing as how it can be a sleeping pad (or adjunct) when laid flat.  On a pack-rafting trip, it could also be a non-USGS-approved floatation vest with a web belt or cordage around the waist.

[Dustin V]

It’s understandable. His wife doesn’t want to have to carry a stick on walks to shoo away the interlopers.

I did think of PFDs when I saw this too, but they seem like they’d be too bulky and lumpy to sleep on.

[Daryl and Daryl]

Oh, I see; you don it poncho-style and use the cords to wrap it around you.

Yes!  Why couldn’t I think of this simple way to describe it.  Thanks.

Can you wear it underneath a pack?

Well I do wear it underneath my pack but my pack is different than most packs.

Have you tried it with a longer drop-tail? Might be a built-in sit-pad that way.

Current tail allows me to sort of lean/sit against a log.  More tail would be required for a full fledged luxury sitting pad.  I rarely sit that way so I haven’t experimented much with the concept.

This is an interesting MYOG project, which I might try out someday when I make the effort to grab a CCF pad.

Once you get the shape worked out to your satisfaction this project is easy-peazy.  I could make another one in about a half hour.

[Daryl and Daryl]

xx

[Daryl and Daryl]

 

adjunct

Yes, that’s the word I was looking for.

[Daryl and Daryl]

This looks like it would easily be multi-use 

Yes indeed.  Multi use from a forum perspective as well.  After I wring the last of the humorous comments and wording suggestions from this Make Your Own forum………I may repost it in the Multiple Use Forum.  They’d love to get their hands on an item like this.

I think this project has legs.

[obx hiker]

I think Jack O’Neill beat you to this one a few generations ago. Though the idea of using lighter closed cell foam is worth pursuing. After all the wetsuit idea was to have the suit absorb water but then keep the warm water trapped next to skin and thereby keep you warm while totally wet. Trouble is all that water is heavy and this is BPLight….

As an old surf dog I’ve always thought some version of this was an approach to the staying ‘warm when wet’ that was worth pursuing.

Instead of O’Neill wetsuits we can have Daryl WarmWear or something like that. And you can use the other 2 Daryls as models.

Hey and with one of those Brynje net undershirts you could even stay pretty comfortable.  And speaking of multiuse you can use the shirt to catch fish.

[BlackHatGuy]

“and creates the illusion that a muscular person resides within”

Or, you know, Frankenstein. A bit of green face paint and thick-soled boots would nearly complete the picture…

[Daryl and Daryl]

Yes!  That’s it.  Next Halloween I am Frankenstein.

Brynje net undershirts

I’ve tried them.  When wet they are very difficult for me to get off.  I’m not very flexible.

[obx hiker]

Sounds fishy. Are you scaly? Frankenfish

 

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