Hiking Vest

I think I'd have to vote against vests in general... I really like the large, multiuseness of a pack, and generally have many pockets and belt-implements anyways for small stuff.

As far as the sweating goes, when the weather warms up, and sweating becomes less of a survival issue, I will return to a backpack (Probably, i've yet to become emotionally attached to this hippack, and I am to my old pack... ). I sweat under it, and a lot sometimes. I used it cycling and hiking, and once carried 5 gallons of H2O for a bunch of stoopid city-girls on a 100+ day. Lemme tell you, It's not a stranger to sweat. It just became a whole new story when I stopped, took my skiis off, started my car, and noticed it was _cold_.

I am wary of a camelback for very cold weather, the old one I had would freeze up after one downhill ski-run, and I never skiied in very cold (sub-zero) weather. I have my doubts as to how effective they'd be at -20... Anyone with experience?

As far as freezing water bottles, the experience I had with mine, I had pre-heated water, and a partially insulated holster. The top of the last-used bottle froze (The spout where you get the water from) the rest was a bit chunky, but liquid. I really dislike the idea of salting my water, but I don't know how much it'd make a difference...


Stryver
 
Vests have been a minor fixation of mine for more years than I'd like to remember. I've never been a devotee of carrying a lot of weight in the vest and I prefer instead to use a pack or a fanny pack for anything that has significant weight.
There are many options for warm weather vests or for vests that you think will wet out because of sweat or inclement conditions. I don't find that mesh backs are an adequte solution to sweating because when I sweat it's not just where the mesh is but also in the shoulders and elsewhere. I'm more concerned about wetness in cold climates rather than hot, where the deficiencies of cotton can be fatal. If you need insulation, all the usual hiking gear companies have an assortment, but not many pockets.
Sierra Designs makes an excellent multipocket vest out of artificial fibres similar to nylon. It's light and tough.
Integral Designs out of Alberta can custom make a vest to your specs.
If you like the Safari look, Tilley makes two kinds of vests out of "Expedition Cloth" which is a poly/cotton blend that does pretty well with moisture. However the big one, the "VOMP" is too warm for me and fairly heavy. It does have some great features like padded shoulders and a removable padding for the neck.
Orvis has a "ventile" vest which is supposed to be uniquely hydrophobic cotton, but I can't vouch for the vest; I have a pair of ventile pants that haven't yet been in the bush.
Finally, if you don't mind cotton, Willis & Geiger made a good one that does pretty well in hot weather. The company is gone now but a few of those vests might still be out there cheap.
 
Stryver, been there, done that with freezing Camalbak tubes and mouthpieces. You're talking to a guy who for the last 5-6 years has participated in a New Year's Day ride, in Michigan, regardless of the weather.

There are insulated sleeves available to cover the drinking tube of so that they don't freeze. Also, most people I know who use Camelbaks in very cold weather (myself included) have learned to drink what they will, then, with your teeth still holding the bite valve open, blow some air into the tube, driving the water away from the end of the mouthpiece, and into the main tubing which is insulated.

One guy I know, the fella who passed the above tip on to us, has competed in several Iditasports, and he's never related any sort of serious freezing of water supplies other than a bit of frost left over from his saliva on the bite valve.

------------------
Don LeHue

The pen is mightier than the sword...outside of arm's reach. Modify radius accordingly for rifle.
 
Don,

I do the same thing. Last week I was in sub freezing weather and with a camelback (snowshoeing
smile.gif
). I had the insulated sleeve on and after each drink blew the water back into the bag leaving only air in the tube. The bag is insulated and I have never had a problem with water freezing in it...even at night. Note: if you leave water in the tube...even if you have the insulated sleeve...it will freeze. You must blow it back out and into the bladder.

------------------
Greg Davenport
http://www.ssurvival.com
Are You Ready For The Challenge?
Are You Ready To Learn The Art Of Wilderness Survival?

 
Don/Greg--

I'd not thought of that, I may ponder another camelback after all.... Anyone have experience with the 'zoid' line? Are they substantially better than any others in cold weather, or should I just get whichever other one I want and get a sleeve for the tube?


Stryver


 
Hi All,

I just discovered this forum and thought I'd weigh in. I've been considering a vest for some time now simply because it seems like it would provide a method of carrying my essentials and concealing my handgun without limiting access to it.

Its not my intention to start a long debate as to the relative merit of a handgun in the wilderness, or what type is superior. I have already worked through those questions for myself and am simply trying to be discreet without compromising access.

Generally when outdoors, I use a Mountainsmith fannypack, which is very adjustable and has pouches for two nagalent bottles. However, with all the fancy adjustments on the waist belt, there is no way to add an additional pouch or even thread on a holster.

Although I can (and have) placed my handgun inside the cargo pouch, this is not terribly accessable.

Using a backpack, fanny pack or the like all interferes with anything I might want to carry on my trouser belt. Small pouches attached to my trouser belt seem too small and a pain to thread on and off.

I appreciate the discussion regarding the shortcommings of vests, especially the cotton concerns and sizing over cold-weather clothing.

E
 
Hi All,

I just discovered this forum and thought I'd weigh in. I've been considering a vest for some time now simply because it seems like it would provide a method of carrying my essentials and concealing my handgun without limiting access to it.

Its not my intention to start a long debate as to the relative merit of a handgun in the wilderness, or what type is superior. I have already worked through those questions for myself and am simply trying to be discreet without compromising access.

Generally when outdoors, I use a Mountainsmith fannypack, which is very adjustable and has pouches for two nagalent bottles. However, with all the fancy adjustments on the waist belt, there is no way to add an additional pouch or even thread on a holster.

Although I can (and have) placed my handgun inside the cargo pouch, this is not terribly accessable.

Using a backpack, fanny pack or the like all interferes with anything I might want to carry on my trouser belt. Small pouches attached to my trouser belt seem too small and a pain to thread on and off.

I appreciate the discussion regarding the shortcommings of vests, especially the cotton concerns and sizing over cold-weather clothing.

E
 
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