Vest or Pack

J

joeshredd

Joined
May 8, 2002
Messages
2,254
Big question for y'all... Does anyone have any experience hiking with some sort of vest to carry everything?

By vest I mean either the photographers vest like Banana Republic used to make, and everyone else copied, or the "assault" vests one sees in Brigade Quartermasters catalogs or CheaperthanDirt's catalog?

I have an old BR vest and a nicer psuedo-hunters vest that can pretty much carry everything but extra layers of clothing. I also have one of the South African combat vests one sees in the CheaperthanDirt catalog (of which they now offer a cheaper black nylon version.)

Either one would work for the basics of a day hike, maybe even overnite if I'm forced to, especially given that I should be able to carry all the basics to survive for a couple of days in all of those pockets...

But I'm curious as to whether anyone else hikes this way? So far, I always end up with an overstuffed day pack regardless... I thought by limiting my means of conveyance I could learn to streamlinethings...

Any experiences both good and bad out there??

Thanks!

(PS: I'm also trying this in the survival forum for a take by those not often visiting this forum...)
 
While I don't have a vest, I've been watching vest discussions for day hikes for years. The consensus is always: the vest gets too hot or doesn't hold the load as well. My solution for not overstuffing my pack is: getting a smaller pack!
 
I've always gotten backaches from overstuffed vests. They are also far too hot, when full of stuff, for summer time hiking. I much prefer a small daypack to a vest. A daypack isn't as handy, but infinitely more livable.
 
well, judging by the responses to both postings, it seems that:

A) They can be too hot in warm weather;

B) They must be loaded with balance in mind;

C) No room for extra layers of clothing...

Well, I'll probably still get the most of my use from the daypacks I own (sometimes the decision to figure out which one to use is a problem in and of itself...yup, a bag fetish, too!)

But, I think for a basic trail walk where I do expect to get home alive that day, I might try a vest out. I think my only real beef with vests is that the pockets are usually designed for rifle mags which doesn't work with anything wider that one might want to put in... Oh well, maybe my point is to collect these things, too!?!? :D
 
I used to be a vest fanatic. I'm a pack convert, although I still wear a light vest...:)
 
I've got a 511 tactical/royal robbins vest and I like it. LAPOLICEGEAR.COM has a nice photovest that works good.

What I found with the 511 vest is if your not carrying your weapon or magazines in the frontof the vest in the concealment pockets, Take out that velcro in both pockets and the vest becomes much more comfortable (air flow) and flexible (softer when sitting).
 
511 vests are great! I've worn em in the heat of the middle east to the chill of the Balkans.for real hot weather vests buy the Columbia GRT vest...worn by more DIPSEC and close protection guys in hot weather then anyother.Those things are feather light,dry fast,load well.....cant say enough good about em.I own several.
 
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