Woolpower 400 Vest

Hendrik, the righteous dude over at Hiking in Finland was kind enough to share with me some information on a vest he was wearing in one of his Ultralight A-Z videos. 

The Woolpower 400 vest is a really wonderful option for backpackers who are looking for a flexible insulating layer in cooler weather, but don't want a jacket.  It is made of 69% merino wool, 29% polymide and 2% elastane offering the best properties of wool, yet in a durable, soft and tightly woven option.

The product is made in Sweeden which means zippers are on the opposite side for men and that these garments aren’t the easiest to get their hands on.  After some research, I learned that one of the few reliable U.S. dealers was Grand Forest Inc.  I’d recommend Grand Forest over others because I learned they are a direct distributor of Woolpower products which means while others have an extremely tough time with stock, Grand Forest generally has it or can get it far more easily.  I learned this quickly after waiting for 7 weeks from another dealer who also refused to accept a return if I didn't like it.  Consequently, Grand Forest also communicated well and shipped quickly.

Sizing runs small.  I normally wear an XXL in everything and needed to size up to an XXXL which isn't normal for me at all.  But, it fits, and quite honestly it looks nice enough in appearance that it is plenty suitable to wear as part of my business casual attire at my office or around town in addition to backpacking.  It has no pockets, only a front zipper and good collar.  I purchased the green, although the black is nice too.

If you want something extra that will allow you to breathe, won’t catch fire, will insulate even when wet, is eco-friendly, is less than a bulky puffy, and is comfortable to wear full time, consider this option.