UKC

hi all,
i was just looking at getting a new insulated vest and didnt want a down one. so i was wondering what people thoughts were.
i've been looking at the arcteryx atom lt vest, rab generator and the haglofs barrier vest.
cheers

In reply to kayakmonkey: bump

In reply to kayakmonkey: Bought my dad a Rab Generator for Xmas, excellent quality, really light/packable and according to him pretty warm on a relaxing post Christmas Dinner walk

In reply to kayakmonkey: I've got an Arcteryx LT Atom Hoody Jacket. I suspect all three of the vest you list will be very similar. Differences are more likely with hoods and sleeves and how these fit etc. Not much you can do with a vest really.

The Atom Jacket is very light but you need to wear it as a layer, on top of a thin fleece and under a waterproof jacket. Its not completely windproof, which is good as its fairly breathable.

A down vest or jacket is significantly warmer for same weight, but of course down so no use in damp / wet.

In reply to kayakmonkey:

Have you considered the Patagonia Micro Puff Vest?

In reply to kayakmonkey:

I got the Haglofs Barrier Vest a few weeks ago and ever since have pretty much lived in it! So warm and comfy for the size and weight of it. I've used it over and under my softshell this winter and around town and its just brilliant. I like the close fit under the armpits that many don't have. Plus its about £30 cheaper than other brands!

Can't go wrong with it in my opinion.

In reply to kayakmonkey:

I briefly had the Rab Generator Vest before selling on (too small) and I found the elasticated waist very irritating as the vest was constantly riding up and pulling the layers beneath it up with it. I also didn't like the shiney appearance of the vest, it felt (and looked) a bit like it was made from a bin bag (the build quality was sound though).

I'll be trying the Haglofs vest myself..

In reply to cha1n:

I too, had and sold a Rab Generator vest. I suspected the very flimsy outer fabric wouldn't stand up to a lot of abrasion from rucksack straps.

In reply to Glyno:

+1

In reply to kayakmonkey:
Anything filled with the amazing, moisture resistant Primaloft.

In reply to kayakmonkey:

me too.

If I can convince myself that the Coreloft is as good as Primaloft I think I'll go for the Atom LT. Does anyone have experience with this one?

I'm tall and skinny, and the Arc'teryx fit looks really nice. Also it doesn't have an elasticated waist, so I'm hoping it won't pick up all the other layers as previously stated with the RAB Generator.

In reply to kayakmonkey:

North Face redpoint vest is good, polartec, nice weight and fit with high collar.
I didnt like the Hagloffs barrier vest I tried on, poorly cut with a beerbelly look. I'm sure arcteryx will be hard to beat but as ever your paying over the odds.

In reply to jazzyjackson:

Well for a brief moment I thought £90 was a bargain because everything else from ATyrex is so much more.

No you've reminded me about the Redpoint Vest, I'm not sure I can justify the ATOM LT :'(

In reply to kayakmonkey:

Mammut Stratus vest is a really good bit of kit. It fills the gap nicely between the Rab (shell too flimsy, fit poor) and the NF Redpoint (too heavy). Its got ripstop outer, high collar good fit and packs really small.

Love mine.

Darren.

In reply to kayakmonkey:

Tried on the ME Compressor Vest today.

Really nice all round. Zip caught on first attempt. Don't know if the Atom Lt would be better quality but it's a minor point.

Mammut Stratus looks good, but how warm is it? (not being primaloft)
I'm trying to work out why it's significantly cheaper than the Compressor and the Atom Lt.

In reply to kayakmonkey: not sure about vests, but in terms of the jacket versions of those (and similar), after my own research, and friends who own a few of them, the rab generator stands head and shoulders above the rest, perfectly warm and the fabrics do their jobs excellently, super light and packable, cant fault it., cant fault it.

In reply to Steeve:

I just have some reservations about the fit. Not keen on the elasticated waist and the round shape, or the bin bag look.

Maybe I'm being fussy, after all they are fairly cheap.

In reply to Daniel Heath:
it seems to me that primaloft has a "fluffy" less dense layer where it has frayed away from the main matting. the new rab gear leaves room for that, rather than just leaving room for the thickness of the primaloft as it comes.
so you actually get more loft for the same amount of primaloft. this, with the two layers of windproof pertex make it warmer than it should be for the amount of primaloft they put in.

hence the bin bag look.

the elasticated waist, together with the wrists, also helps to trap a warm layer of air underneath, aswell as within the jacket.

obviously though, if this is just for strutting round town in slim euro cut gear that hides your belly, it might not be the best option...

In reply to Steeve:

Convincing stuff Steeve.
Careful or you may cuase me to buy to pieces of Rab gear in one day :P

To be honest I don't even like Gilets, so this is not for the street.
But I do like a slim fit because I'm skinny.

In reply to Daniel Heath:
earlier today someone told me they'd bought some rab gear on my advice, I should start charging commission...

whats it for? you might be better off with something else.

Ive never liked gilets myself, Im waiting for someone to make Tshirt style thick mid layers...

In reply to Steeve:

To wear under my thick softshell when it's cold and I'm not moving fast.

In reply to kayakmonkey: you might get a better range of motion, and just as much warmth from a slightly thinner full length mid layer, as you wont have as much bulk around your shoulders, but you will have well covered arms. have you looked at a Patagonia nanopuff or the marmot variant?

In reply to Steeve:

Does a vest reduce range of motion?
Insulated sleeves feel pointless under my softshell and they tend to ride up as well.

The Nanopuff looks short and wide (unlike me)

The Variant looks really cool but I've really no idea because there's nothing else like it and I don't expect to see one in a shop near me.
Any experience?

In reply to kayakmonkey:

I've had a Barrier vest for 2 (or maybe 3) years now and it's, quite frankly, great. I think it's the fit that makes all the difference. The offerings from Patagonia and Rab didn't feel right on me, especially around the shoulders. I wear mine a lot as a sneaky midlayer yet shows no signs of wear or age. I'll happily buy the same again when it dies.

In reply to kayakmonkey:

I've ordered the Atom Lt. Will post my thoughts when it arrives.

In reply to kayakmonkey: I second the patagonia micro-puff. Excellent bit of kit and can take a battering.

Euge

In reply to Euge: The patagonia micro puff is a really ace piece of kit. I also noticed that Outside have them on sale.
http://www.outside.co.uk/cgi-bin/psProdDet.cgi/6122||~@c~@b~Patagonia|45|us...
Enjoy.

In reply to kayakmonkey:

I've had a Paramo Torres vest for the last three years and it's probably the most versatile piece of kit I've owned. Get it one size too large and it makes a great belay vest, as it packs up into its own pocket

In reply to droites:

Feck.. that is a bargain... even tempted to buy a another one.

E

In reply to Daniel Heath:

Arc'Teryx Atom Lt just arrived.
Perfect in every way haha.
Looks awesome as well.

I think their sizes are quite big, but I contacted Arc'Teryx before the buy to ask the heights of the sizes, so I knew I'd be a small.

Would recommend, but I can' say if it's £30 better than all the other options!

In reply to Daniel Heath:
For what it's worth - and I might as well record my thoughts on this thread for future viewers:

I'm not convinced the Atom Lt is actually that warm. Now it's hard to judge this really, but I think the ME compressor might have been better because it felt thicker in the shop. But the plus side is it has been perfect for cold runs, and completely breathable.

I just think the Atom is £90 for the posh construction and the brand.
I think the ME Compressor is £90 because it's warm.

Dan

In reply to kayakmonkey: Go for the RAB c Nesbitt String I'd say.

In reply to Neil Morrison:

or perhaps this sporty number?

http://www.maplin.co.uk/heated-gillet-264177?c=froogle&u=264177&t=m...

In reply to Fishmate: Nice, hat, gloves and insoles as well and stylish to boot