Review: The Bergans Men's Valdres Down Light Vest

As the coolness of Winter starts to descend on us I thought it only right to top up my outdoor gear wardrobe (as I do pretty much every year around this time). Now, when it comes to insulation I've always bought synthetic, mainly down to the UK climate, but also partly after hearing horror stories of tarnished down jackets, made unwearable after being washed and cared for incorrectly. It really isn't hard to care for Down products, but once you get it stuck in your head that your going to ruin your jacket, it's hard to knock those thoughts out again. If you use Nikwax care products during washing and then stick some rolled up socks (or a tennis ball etc) in the tumble dryer to bash the down back into place you won't have a problem at all! But yes, I digress, I've always used synthetically insulated jackets and they've always kept me snug and cosy and fairly dry if the heavens decide to open.

But, not wanting to rest on my laurels and branch out slightly, I was ready to take the next step, a step that was even more sure to keep me toasty when the numbers began to plummet on the thermometer.

Enter the Bergans Men's Valdres Down Light Vest. New for this Autumn/Winter, it's an incredibly lightweight and incredibly warm bodywarmer. It's been given a healthy 95/5 700 down fill and adorned with a Pertex Quantum outer, for extremely lightweight durability, packability and water resistance. The Valdres has been given an extended back, so if the wind picks up behind you've still got plenty of coverage. The hem and arm cuffs have also been elasticated so you get a snug fit against the body, helping to eliminate any possible cold spots. It's only a small detail, but when your stepping out into the cold first thing in the morning or heading out into the cool evenings, you really appreciate that warm cocoon close to your torso.

The vest also features two front pockets, more than large enough to stick your hands in and tuck away any accessories you want close to hand. Inside the left front pocket there's also an extra compression pocket, allowing you to easily pack the vest down to size, ready for storage or for when not in use.

Weighing in at a grand total of 280g, it really is insulation at it's lightest without having to compromise performance. We currently have the Bergans Men's Valdres Down Light Vest for £99.99 and it comes in two colours; Navy/Amazon Green and Black/Red.