OR - ExOfficio Storm Logic Vest - Kath yWaters

Dear Editors,

 

More rain today.  Guess what I'll be doing!  HTML is in the test folder at:
http://tinyurl.com/k5k6pnb

 

Text is below.  Thanks in advance for your edits and comments and all the
wonderful work you do for BGT!

 

Kathy

_______________________________________

EXOFFICO WOMEN'S STORM LOGIC VEST

  

ExOfficio Logo 

 BY KATHLEEN WATERS 

May 23, 2015   

 OWNER REVIEW   

 

 

  

 

TESTER INFORMATION   

 

NAME:    Kathleen Waters   

 EMAIL:    kathy at backpackgeartest dot com   

 AGE:    64   

 LOCATION:    Canon City, Colorado, USA   

 GENDER:    F   

 HEIGHT:    5' 4" (1.60 m)   

 WEIGHT:    125 lb (56.70 kg)   

 

Living in Colorado and being self-employed, I have ample opportunities to
backpack. There are over 700,000 acres/280,000 hectares of public land
bordering my 71-acre/29-hectare "backyard" in addition to all the other
gorgeous locations which abound in Colorado. Over the past 15 years, my
husband John and I have also had the good fortune to hike/snowshoe glaciers,
rain forests, mountains and deserts in exotic locations, including New
Zealand, Iceland, Costa Rica, Slovenia and Death Valley. My hiking style is
comfortable, aiming for lightweight. I use a tent (rainfly if needed).
Current pack averages 25 lb (11 kg) excluding food and water.  

 

PRODUCT INFORMATION   

 

 

 

Manufacturer: ExOfficio, Inc.

Year of Manufacture: 2014

Manufacturer's Website: http://www.exofficio.com

MSRP: US $130.00

Listed Weight: 12.5 oz (354 g)

Measured Weight: 11 oz (312 g) Women's Medium

Sizes Available: XS - XL (extra small through extra large)

Size Reviewed: Antique (deep plum)

Colors Available: Black, Cigar & Antique

Color Reviewed: Antique

 

Other details:

 

* Materials: 100% polyester shell, 60g PrimaloftR synthetic insulation

* Outer Shell treated with Durable Water Repellant (DWR)

* Interior 5 Pocket Travel System w/Two security zip hand pockets and one
interior pocket to creat a travel pillow

* Care Instructions: Machine wash cold, gentle cycle, non detergent soap,
rinse thoroughly, no bleach or fabric softeners, tumble dry low, iron low
setting, don't dry clean

* Made in Malaysia

 

**** My Storm Logic vest was provided by ExOfficio to Tubbs Snowshoes for
the Tubbs Ambassador program of which I am a participant. The Tubbs
Snowshoes logo and brand name are embroidered on the right back shoulder of
the vest. Other than that, there is nothing to distinguish my particular
vest from any other ExOfficio Storm Logic Vest. 

Storm Logic Vest Front 

Storm Logic Vest covers me Coming. 

 

 

 

FIELD USE AND PERFORMANCE   

 

 

 

 

Storm Logic Vest Back 

And Going! 

 Over the winter months, I continued to backpack/hike and snowshoe as much
as possible. I spent most of my time in the south central region of Colorado
that I can home. Mostly, I hiked in the mountains of Fremont County,
including the Wet, Fremont and Cooper Mountain ranges. This area's terrain
runs the gamut of evergreen forests, to grassy plains to high desert rock
and dirt/mud (as the moisture or lack thereof dictates).

 

I also spent some time snowshoeing in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah and a
wonderful week in the snow in Twin Lakes, Colorado, snowshoeing in and
around the Colorado Trail. These two areas are environmentally similar to my
usual haunts but had way, way more snow.

 

It's been a strange year for weather, so early on, winter was mild but
snowy; then it became very bitter cold and snowy, to mild temperatures, to
downright warm. All this in the time span of November 2014 to May 2015. As I
write this, it's late May 2015 and it's been raining almost every day for
the past two weeks and I'm back to wearing long-sleeved base layers along
with wind and rain jackets! Wacky Weather!

 

Over these 5 months, I estimate I've covered 25 miles (40 km)
backpacking/hiking/snowshoeing and walking.

 

I really like this vest! Let me explain...

 

The Storm Logic is a close fitting but not tight 100% polyester vest that is
treated with DWR that is windproof. The size chart on the ExOfficio website
is spot-on and the Medium fits me just as it should.

 

This makes the vest a very versatile article of clothing which I wore at
least several times a week whether casually or while playing outdoors
throughout the winter (and now into spring) months.  

 

The Storm Logic was worn both as a mid-layer under both hard and soft shell
jackets and very often, in milder weather or when backpacking and
snowshoeing hard, I wore it solo over just a wool or synthetic base layer.
Depending on the temperature, the base layer was either a mid-weight or
heavy-weight long-sleeve top The fact that the Storm Logic is treated with a
DRW is great for stain resistance for a klutz like me but sort of useless in
inclement weather since it's a vest.

 

I like pockets! And the fact that the Storm Logic has FIVE interior pockets
and all are labeled as to suggested use warms the heart of a compulsive
neat-freak like me! The designated pockets are: keys, connect, glasses,
getaway and snooze. Each pocket has a sewn-flat fabric label with the
appropriate icon and written descriptive "word" (i.e. "protect" and a pair
of glasses) on it and are secured with a zipper or in the case of the
"glasses" a hook and loop tab closure. In addition, in the "keys" pocket,
there is a fabric loop with a clip for added security. The "connect" pocket
is clear for readability of a cell phone or mp3 player. Alas, my Samsung
Galaxy 5 will not fit in this pocket.

 

The outer pockets are very roomy and nicely lined with a soft flannel-like
fabric. They are easily large enough for my cellphone, small digital camera
(Canon PowerShot A520), gloves when not needed, lip balm and even an energy
bar!

 

Like a lot of outerwear, the Storm Logic can be squished into a pouch for
use as a pillow or just for storage purposes. The Storm Logic however, does
it differently. First, I don't have to work myself up into a sweat trying to
get all that fabric into a small zipper opening and into what always seems
to be a too small cavity! The Storm Logic stuffs into the interior "snooze"
pocket to form a very unique pillow shape! It has a super soft lining to
snuggle up into and end tabs with hook and look fasteners to secure the
pillow in place around my neck. I LOVE this for use in my sleeping bag - no
more rooting around in the middle of the night for the "pillow" that has
worked its way down to my feet! And it works great on red-eye plane trips,
except when a seatmate has to ask where I got it from! Unlike many of my
winter wear garments, the Storm Logic will not be stored away for the summer
just for the snooze pillow feature alone!

 

 

Stuffed snooze pocket pillow 

Snooze Pillow Ready to Go! 

 

 

The quality of the Storm Logic is readily noticed and appreciated. I
encounter lots of clothes-destroying, snagging pine trees, juniper trees,
cactus plants and rough boulders. Despite numerous contacts with said
obstacles, I have yet (knocking on wood) snagged the fabric, pulled out
stitches or - quelle horreurs - torn the vest. The have continued to be easy
to operate - have not caught on the linings - and even with all but my
bulkiest gloves on, I can maneuver the front zipper closed which I can't say
for most of my other vests, shells and jackets. With other outerwear, half
the time, I'll be yelling for my husband to please "zip me"!  

 

STARRING ATTRACTIONS   

 

1.) Love the fit, especially the adjustable hem drawcord.

2.) The soft stand-up collar lining feels really comfortable against my neck
and chin.

3.) Functional interior pocket system is very helpful for the senile - I
mean forgetful!

4.) The unique pillow pocket works so much nicer than some of my other vests
and jackets' pillow system.

5.) Provides core warmth as a mid-layer without extra bulk in my sleeves.  

 

Minor Distractions   

 

1.) My cell phone (Samsung Galaxy 5) will not fit in the "Connect" pocket.

 

 

 

Connect pocket 

Connect Pocket 

 

 

 

SUMMARY   

 

I'm a big vest fan as I tend to get sweaty when participating in outdoor
pursuits such as backpacking, hiking and snowshoeing. As a mid-layer, vests
give me great versatile, keeping me warm at my core when it's really cold
and allowing me to cool off by wearing it solo as my body temperature ramps
up.

 

Wearing a vest means, my arms are free to move more vigorously and without
undue restraint from jacket sleeves or when worn as a mid-layer, without
additional bulk in my sleeves. 

 

So, since I love vests, I have, let's say, "a few". Therefore, I have a
pretty good idea of which ones I prefer and the ExOfficio Storm Logic Vest
is definitely one of those. I love how it functions and I love how it fits
and looks. Many of my vests are not "town-worthy" but the Storm Logic is one
that is. It performs well in the field but doesn't look like it should stay
in the field!

 

And with the added bonus of the neat "snooze" pocket design, the Storm Logic
will continue to be a part of my summer gear kit where it will be useful on
windy mountain summits and then at the end of a wonderful hike, in my
sleeping bag at night! Neat!

 

Kathleen (Kathy) Waters