BobOne
09-23-2005, 05:30 AM
I don't see any Medium-Tall sizes...can't wear a sleeved upper body garment with "regular" sleeve length and "Large" is too large. Guess I'm in a minority. But I need a versatile vest most anyway.
In my ideal vest, I'd want it to be cut trimmer. I'm not a fat guy and the ones I've seen hang like they're cut for fat guys. If it's a matter of less-deep pockets, I'd rather have less thickness because my stuff isn't usually that thick...if it is, I don't usually want it in a pocket, and an outside pocket would probably be fine (better) in that case. Nothing thicker than a double-column magazine auto pistol is necessary. I want a way to snug the vest against my body with some sort of system that will leave some flex for movement but will keep things close...maybe spandex straps in slots? Can you construct it such that I could take it to a tailor and cheaply have it made more v-shaped to fit my torso?
I don't need so many pockets really...but I'm particular about where they are and what size they are and I need quite a few and of somewhat unusual and changing sizes. But I do like the idea of hiding most of the pockets inside a smoothish exterior...but external pockets are nice too, and break up the bumps from the stuff in the internal pockets. I'd rather have a flexible system with add-on pockets that goes inside a vest frame, probably, than preassigned inside pockets. I don't have much need for dedicated cord paths...simplified routing is better and wires are a very short-term solution at this point. They aren't needed for much more than video headsets, and that limitation won't stand for long.
I dislike pockets on the rear of upper-body garments...too much bulk there and I'll likely wear a backpack if I need one. If there are no tradeoffs, it might be nice to be able to carry a very small laptop at the lower back in some circumstances. I do need handwarmer pockets, cut as low to the bottom hem as possible so wrists will go in straight, while still having enough entry lip to somewhat retain the occasional keychain while not making the hem too long...the vest should cover the belt at the true waist, but stop before it has to flare out for the hips. One large flap pocket covering each handwarmer pocket, without too much bellows is best for the other external pockets.
I'd prefer dark navy blue to either black or khaki. Khaki shows marks, and black draws a bit much attention. Blue is the dark masculine color that's not a "tactical" giveaway...although if you make something close to my ideal vest, I'll buy one in each color anyway. Only in the hottest weather would I commonly wear the khaki, but it'd be best for then. Greys can be OK too, along with dark navy...think men's suits.
Cotton is pretty good for the outside in hot weather but I had a 60/40 cloth vest that was very cotton-like and probably more durable, especially for a given weight. I haven't seen your coolmax mesh 4.0 vest liner yet but it sounds great for the inside if it's 1) not fuzzy...anything fuzzy feels hotter; and 2) not hard or otherwise irritating on bare skin. The vest really needs to work over bare skin, and over a light shirt in the hottest weather, with no abrasion even on hot sweaty skin. This calls for the coolest possible liner, sacrificing wicking if need be. I've had a vest with smooth nylon lining, and that was the best so far for heat despite the lack of wicking. Fuzzy around the collar would especially not be good. Keeping the weight down is good.
It would add a great deal of versatility if the garment can tolerate the rain, and cotton won't do that...you stay cold. The 60/40 was an improvement over cotton with DWR. Waxed cotton can be pretty good, but maybe a microfiber that looks like a natural material would be the most versatile pick.
It needs an extra-large collar that will come up a bit over the chin when flapped up. I had a vest like this and have been wishing for something like that ever since...this collar seriously extended the comfort range. That garment also used thinsulate, which for a non-removable liner vest, was the best I've found for hot weather...I could leave the vest open and it would not be too hot due to the smooth liner and the non-puffy slightly boardy fill leaving airspace around my body.
Velcro has very limited application...it loads with lint, is too noisy, and is clumsy and unsatisfying from a feel standpoint. The exceptions mostly fall into the area of items that need to tear away quickly. Zippers are a necessary evil at least for the one in front...I don't see much need for a two-way but maybe I'm missing something. But use one that's big enough and has a big-enough tab and that's quiet. Give it a flap to hide and seal it that uses snaps or preferably buttons or toggles. Buttons and toggles are satisfying where nothing else really is...feel and appearance wise. Magnets are dangerous with magnetic storage...that's way too risky, aren't these for people with electronic devices? If you can get the front to seal reasonably well, I'd prefer buttons or toggles for the main closure...just have to use the right ones and optimize any buttonholes so they are secure and work smoothly.
An attachable fuzzy warm liner that will attach closely to a vest optimized for warm weather might work, but it might be best to just add a separate layer under the vest if it messes with pocket access much...and since I'm asking for movable pockets, you can't anticipate where to attach a liner so it won't mess with the pockets, right? How about cutting a thin synthetic vest to go underneath the main vest, mostly disappear, and attach at roughly the 4 corners of the back, with more attachments that will hold it to the edge of the main vest around to the front at times when the most important thing is for the whole garment set to quickly clear a holster with one sweep for a clear draw.
Someone announced an inflatable insulation for garments recently...maybe that would help.
In my ideal vest, I'd want it to be cut trimmer. I'm not a fat guy and the ones I've seen hang like they're cut for fat guys. If it's a matter of less-deep pockets, I'd rather have less thickness because my stuff isn't usually that thick...if it is, I don't usually want it in a pocket, and an outside pocket would probably be fine (better) in that case. Nothing thicker than a double-column magazine auto pistol is necessary. I want a way to snug the vest against my body with some sort of system that will leave some flex for movement but will keep things close...maybe spandex straps in slots? Can you construct it such that I could take it to a tailor and cheaply have it made more v-shaped to fit my torso?
I don't need so many pockets really...but I'm particular about where they are and what size they are and I need quite a few and of somewhat unusual and changing sizes. But I do like the idea of hiding most of the pockets inside a smoothish exterior...but external pockets are nice too, and break up the bumps from the stuff in the internal pockets. I'd rather have a flexible system with add-on pockets that goes inside a vest frame, probably, than preassigned inside pockets. I don't have much need for dedicated cord paths...simplified routing is better and wires are a very short-term solution at this point. They aren't needed for much more than video headsets, and that limitation won't stand for long.
I dislike pockets on the rear of upper-body garments...too much bulk there and I'll likely wear a backpack if I need one. If there are no tradeoffs, it might be nice to be able to carry a very small laptop at the lower back in some circumstances. I do need handwarmer pockets, cut as low to the bottom hem as possible so wrists will go in straight, while still having enough entry lip to somewhat retain the occasional keychain while not making the hem too long...the vest should cover the belt at the true waist, but stop before it has to flare out for the hips. One large flap pocket covering each handwarmer pocket, without too much bellows is best for the other external pockets.
I'd prefer dark navy blue to either black or khaki. Khaki shows marks, and black draws a bit much attention. Blue is the dark masculine color that's not a "tactical" giveaway...although if you make something close to my ideal vest, I'll buy one in each color anyway. Only in the hottest weather would I commonly wear the khaki, but it'd be best for then. Greys can be OK too, along with dark navy...think men's suits.
Cotton is pretty good for the outside in hot weather but I had a 60/40 cloth vest that was very cotton-like and probably more durable, especially for a given weight. I haven't seen your coolmax mesh 4.0 vest liner yet but it sounds great for the inside if it's 1) not fuzzy...anything fuzzy feels hotter; and 2) not hard or otherwise irritating on bare skin. The vest really needs to work over bare skin, and over a light shirt in the hottest weather, with no abrasion even on hot sweaty skin. This calls for the coolest possible liner, sacrificing wicking if need be. I've had a vest with smooth nylon lining, and that was the best so far for heat despite the lack of wicking. Fuzzy around the collar would especially not be good. Keeping the weight down is good.
It would add a great deal of versatility if the garment can tolerate the rain, and cotton won't do that...you stay cold. The 60/40 was an improvement over cotton with DWR. Waxed cotton can be pretty good, but maybe a microfiber that looks like a natural material would be the most versatile pick.
It needs an extra-large collar that will come up a bit over the chin when flapped up. I had a vest like this and have been wishing for something like that ever since...this collar seriously extended the comfort range. That garment also used thinsulate, which for a non-removable liner vest, was the best I've found for hot weather...I could leave the vest open and it would not be too hot due to the smooth liner and the non-puffy slightly boardy fill leaving airspace around my body.
Velcro has very limited application...it loads with lint, is too noisy, and is clumsy and unsatisfying from a feel standpoint. The exceptions mostly fall into the area of items that need to tear away quickly. Zippers are a necessary evil at least for the one in front...I don't see much need for a two-way but maybe I'm missing something. But use one that's big enough and has a big-enough tab and that's quiet. Give it a flap to hide and seal it that uses snaps or preferably buttons or toggles. Buttons and toggles are satisfying where nothing else really is...feel and appearance wise. Magnets are dangerous with magnetic storage...that's way too risky, aren't these for people with electronic devices? If you can get the front to seal reasonably well, I'd prefer buttons or toggles for the main closure...just have to use the right ones and optimize any buttonholes so they are secure and work smoothly.
An attachable fuzzy warm liner that will attach closely to a vest optimized for warm weather might work, but it might be best to just add a separate layer under the vest if it messes with pocket access much...and since I'm asking for movable pockets, you can't anticipate where to attach a liner so it won't mess with the pockets, right? How about cutting a thin synthetic vest to go underneath the main vest, mostly disappear, and attach at roughly the 4 corners of the back, with more attachments that will hold it to the edge of the main vest around to the front at times when the most important thing is for the whole garment set to quickly clear a holster with one sweep for a clear draw.
Someone announced an inflatable insulation for garments recently...maybe that would help.