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Eberlestock Payette Down Vest Review
I’ve always been a big fan of insulated vests, and think they’re one of the most underrated mid-layer pieces that a hunter can own. My body temperature runs pretty cold, and although I’m an active hunter I typically get cold very quickly… yes, even in Arizona. However, once I get moving my core also heats up very quickly, so I personally like to have mid-layer pieces that can help keep my core warm yet that I can quickly dissipate heat in. By removing my outer layer and unzipping my Payette Down Vest, my core and arms are able to cool down within seconds. By using a vest instead of a full length sleeve I’m also able to retain ease of movement in my arms, because as we all know the more long sleeve layers we have on the more we start to feel like the Michelin man.
The Payette Down Vest has 600+ fill with hydrophobic down insulation giving it an extremely lightweight yet impressive warmth to weight ratio. I always have this on me, and if I decide to throw it in my pack it neatly stows away in its own right hand pocket (pro tip - it also doubles nicely as a camp pillow). The Payette Down Vest has a bunch of zippered pockets for all of your gear, it’s DWR-treated with a quilted ripstop, and although I wouldn’t bust through thick brush with this vest it’s still held up great for me, especially with how much I wear it. In fact, if you’ve ever run into me at a hunting trade show (I’m the guy with the mustache), chances are I was wearing this exact Payette Down Vest, and for good reason! This thing is highly comfortable, durable, and effective making it my go to mid-layer.
It’s also offered in 3 different solid color options (solids rule), and while I personally have the gunmetal color, I’d be happy with the black or the coyote brown as well. The nice part is that you can wear this on your hunts and still wear it to dinner with the wife. I’m a firm believer in getting the most use cases out of my gear, and this Payette Down Vest by Eberlestock absolutely adheres to that. Don’t just take my word for it, try it out for yourself and let us know what you think!
