Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Sleeveless jacket, gilet, padded vest; whatever you call them from wherever you are, the sleeveless jacket is back in fashion. Versatile for both casual and sportswear, the Verglas Down Vest from Helly Hansen is made with a waterproof, toughened fabric that doesn’t tear easily. It also squashes down to almost anything so can be in the side shelf of the car, in a backpack or even condensed down into a pocket.
Speaking of pockets, there’s two zippable pockets on the chest which is great for dog walking or as an addition to sportswear because they’re incredibly deep. There’s enough room for a phone and keys in each pocket and still ample left for anything else. I wear a size 16 and this is a size XL which does up easily on the zip from top to bottom. It keeps you nice and snug too with the down filling evenly quilted throughout. The high neck is also useful in winter but you can of course wear it without being done up to the top so you have more freedom. The waist is toggled so you can draw in if it’s too big for you and need to reshape it or if it’s really cold and need the protection.
This gilet isn’t just for casual though, it can be a base layer with skiing or under winter sports gear. It only comes in black at the moment which is probably the mos versatile colour and doesn’t show up any marks. There’s also a zipped inner pocket on the chest and some deeper inner pockets too so if you’re skiing, they’re super useful.
As winter comes in, and autumn becomes cooler this is a great vest to use with layers, out running or even for commuting and around the house. I think I’m going to enjoy the freedom it gives with not having to wear a coat all the time, especially with all those pockets!
Women’s Verglas Down Vest, £180 https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_gb/w-verglas-down-vest-20-63384?color=290002
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