Do I need a vest and puffy jacket?

[rhendrix]

Kicking around the idea of buying a vest in addition to my Stoic Hardon Cardigan, my thought process is that I can keep the puffy in my stuff sack when it's wet and just wear the vest under my marmot precip jacket early morning when I'm glassing unless I'm just too cold. Does anyone else do this? The Stoic Hardon is only 7 ounces, so I'm not taking a huge hit as far as weight goes, just don't wanna have to take something if it's not necessary.

I'll be hunting mid-August in UT or early September for elk in CO, if that helps anyone as far as information.

Ron

 

[jmez]

You won't need to puffy jacket at all in those two situations. Mid september Co I take a vest and put my rain jacket on if I need a jacket. Have yet to put the jacket on unless it's raining.

 

[Rizzy]

I would skip the vest and just go with the puffy. Sitting in the shade first thing in the morning and glassing will be cold enough to get use out of the puffy. I always wear my spindrift for morning glassing, even during summer scouting.

 

[sk1]

I agree skip the vest go with the puffy and have something to go over it for added warmth. Either a softshell or your rain jacket....using the rain jacket would cut down on your weight as its dual purpose. I took a vest last year, didn't use it on my backpacking trip or any of my day hunts. My experience is they either aren't warm enough or are too warm once you start hiking

 

[justinspicher]

I use both and take both plus a rain jacket because I like options. The weight is a none factor because all three weigh less than a couple of pounds and I use them as part of my personal layering system.

 

[luke moffat]

Puffy jacket, plus puffy vest, plus rain jacket still is slight in most cases than rain jacket plus soft shell jacket and it'll be MUCH warmer than the latter setup. That said if I had to go with just one I'd get the jacket. Lots of great options out there.

 

[KMT]

I live in Colorado and hunt during September. I would skip the vest. Early mornings at 10,000 ft are pretty chili, and the jacket will be nice for sitting and glassing. I have had a vest for 4-5 years and have worn it only once. If its cold, I want my puffy. If its not that cold, I don't need a vest.