The humble gilet will enable you to keep your core warm and give your arms more freedom of movement. It would allow you to securely hike, climb, run or paddle to your heart’s content. Some gilets are thickly-padded and best worn as a standalone outer. Others are significantly slim with an athletic cut and versatile approach. Wear them over a base layer or slip them under a waterproof jacket. Most gilets feature baffles filled with warming insulation either down or synthetic around the torso.
You should select a superior warmth-to-weight ratio or synthetic for better value and improved insulation when wet. Opt for a body warmer made from fleece or a soft-shell material if you need something completely different. Remember to check the fill power including a rating system for down insulation that measures compressibility and loft. Moreover, a higher fill power indicates better quality down and a greater warmth-to-weight ratio. Other vest features to look out for include zippered hand pockets, elasticated arm openings, waist draw-cord, DWR finish, and comfy collar.
Top Quality Gilets
Rab Cirrus Flex 2.0
It is Derbyshire-based brand Rab rarely misses the mark, and the cirrus flex 2.0 vest is no exception. It’s warm, lightweight, packable, good-looking, and fully-featured, everything you want from a gilet. The horizontal micro-baffles are filled with Prima-loft silver luxe. It is made with 100% recycled synthetic insulation that is fast-drying, water-resistant, and clump-free.
However, the sides of the vest feature stretchy panels of Thermic fleece for added comfort, breathability, and freedom of movement. The fit is athletic and slim, meaning the cirrus flex 2.0 works well as a standalone outer or under a waterproof, and the warmth boost you get is noticeable without being stifling. Other useful features include two hand-warmer pockets, an adjustable waist hem, and an integrated stuff sack built into the left-hand pocket.
Shackleton ross down
It is highly technical and has a split personality. This gilet is an expertly-engineered item of exploration clothing to wear up a Himalayan peak or on an Arctic expedition. It’s a superb gilet and a really a favorite item because of its ludicrously lofty price. This jacket is impressively cheaper as the 850 fill power goose down is warm and ethically sourced. However, the Japanese-made ripstop nylon shell fabric is 100% recycled. First-rate features include a wonderfully soft fleece lining at the collar and chin, two external chest pockets for your phone or valuables, and elasticated trims at the waist and arm openings for sealing in warmth.
Haglofs roc down vest
Swedish brand Haglofs is perfect if you’re looking for technical outdoor gear at the lowest weight possible without compromising on performance. This ultra-light DNA threads through every aspect of the roc down vest, an excellent down-insulated gilet with 3 major advantages over its competitors. It is a lightly-insulated and thin vest that provides just a hint of warmth, a versatile approach that’s suitable for a range of conditions. This gilet feature 800 fill powers down insulation with special hydrophobic treatment. It stays dry for up to 5,000 minutes of exposure to wet conditions. The 20-denier Pertex shell fabric is wind-resistant and shower-proof, further protecting the down.
There are some other attractive gilets and you can get one at an attractive price including Columbia powder lite vest, Montane alpha vest, The North Face 1996 retro Nuptse, Klattermusen nal vest, and Element mini jack.