Blackrock gear vest paired with Goosefeet Sleeves

[forest]

Marriage made in heaven this one is.
Just thought I'd post it up for those of us that are UL minded and interested in the new UL fabrics etc. 7D is great stuff and so is M50 as a shell. You just have to realise that it's no scrub bashing fabric but that's fine by me as my puffy down gear is strictly camp wear only and I just throw my shell clothing over the top for protection.

Large Blackrock gear down vest - Total weight = 124 grams (4.37oz) with 62 grams (2.2oz) 900 Fill, 7D shell material.

Custom Goosefeet down sleeves - Total weight for the pair = 80 grams (2.82oz) with 23 grams (0.8oz) 900 Fill per sleeve, 7D shell material.

So I now have a great system that can be used in winter here or the vest taken even over summer as it's that light.
I did just use the vest and shorts (no sleeves) at -5°C and was very warm in camp with my rain gear over the top, 150wt thermal's underneath and a 100wt fleece Melanzana hoodie.

Total weight is 204 grams which is about 2 grams heavier than my old Montbell UL inner jacket, But that only had 2oz 800 fill. This new set-up has 3.8oz 900 fill.
Pretty cool eh !!

Great work Evan & Ben !!

Paired up with my Goosefeet 2/3 down shorts - M90 shell, 2.5oz fill (159g) + Goosefeet M50 down booties, 25% overfill (61g) + Blackrock Beanie I'd say I'll be pretty toasty in camp or asleep. But I look like the michelin Man

[slparker]

I think we need a photo with them on, really...

[ninjapuppet]

seems like a real interesting setup you have here. How much did this whole setup set you back?

after a trip, do you shove everything into the dryer for an hour or so? or do you just pack it away? I'm assuming a small amount of moisture makes its way into the down during sleeping hours?

[forest]

mmm, Yes I have dropped a litle coin towards down gear. The vest/sleeve combo cost about $250 which is very comparable with other similar fill amount UL down jacket options, I think this setup might be lighter though.

Pants were a custom job last year and I recall spending about $120 (Bit hazy on that), again I didn't mind that for the amount of warmth they provide for such little weight. (About the same weight as a pair of long johns, 4 times warmer at least)

The socks were just goosefeet from the website.

Never had an issue with down clothing dureing sleep hours and moisture. I think the moisture transfers out to the sleeping bag more so. In saying that I haven't noticed any loss in loft of my quilts, even on week long trips, But maybe having them overfilled makes a difference to what you would notice there ??

I store all my down gear loosely in a cupboard inside the spare wardrobe.

[Franco]

Nice set up.
I have finally used my vest last w/e (much heavier than the above ) instead of a fleece jacket. That vest became my pillow inside a cut down silk liner.
(I use that silk liner cover to catch my dribbles...)
Having a light vest like yours would make it worthwile for me to use it in summer as well , as a camp warm layer and then as my pillow.
(BTW I use it inside the sleeping bag so that also keeps my head warm)
I have noticed that wearing puffy clothing inside the sleeping bag (Western Mountaineering Flash top and pants) they remain very dry whilst the foot end of the sb can get a bit damp .
The ammount of down compared with the total weight in your kit is the best I have seen.
I love my merino/possum down hat (still works when wet) but for the weight (24g) that Black Rock hat looks very tempting.
http://www.blackrockgear.com/buy.html
Franco