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There’s no doubt about it – winter has finally arrived here in Chicagoland. That means it’s time to get the layers going on. While I tend to break out my down-filled puffer (that I’ve had for a few decades now), sometimes you need a little bit more. Puffer jackets and vests are popular, but they can tend to be a bit too bulky to layer under. That is, until I came across the Columbia Labyrinth Loop Vest.
Columbia Labyrinth Loop Vest: what it is
Here’s the thing – you’re already familiar with the concept of what the Columbia Labyrinth Loop Vest is. It’s a vest (so, take your jacket and knock the sleeves off), and it’s a puffer, which comes with it’s own stitched aesthetic to keep the insulation in place. So, how does Columbia make this one stand out?
First, let’s talk about the shell. Yes, it’s synthetic, but it has a really soft touch to it. It also means that it’s nowhere near as noisy as these materials can sometimes be. Which is good if it’s your only layer, and great when you’ve got the vest on under something else. Now, about that fill. Some folks don’t care for down fill (I’m a fan of it, as my main winter Columbia has it), and here, it’s a recycled synthetic fill. Keeping that out of the landfill seems good to me. Finally, you’ve got that zippered chest pocket. Hand pockets are regular for a puffer, but it seems that the chest pocket is not as common. Oh, and then there’s the shiny lining!
Keeping warm
Obviously, the water-resistant shell and puffer filling in the Columbia Labyrinth Loop Vest are going to do a lot to keep you warm. But Columbia also has their Omni-Heat technology, which is usually a series of silvery dots that help reflect body heat back in. In this vest, we’ve got their Omni-Heat Infinity technology, which is a golden color. When I saw this, it put me in mind of those emergency blankets that we carried backpacking, but fortunately, the Omni-Heat tech is not crinkly or noisy at all.
Between the Omni-Heat and the synthetic fill, I was surprised by just how warm this vest actually felt, for as thin as it is (relatively speaking). Sure, Columbia just rates it as a medium-warmth layer, but I think it can work very well if you’re actually layering with it. I was able to fit a hoodie on under it, and it of course fit in under my down fill puffer. In short, it did everything I asked it to do, and it worked great for my needs. I’ve worn it on my commutes to the office, and even around the house, and it’s been great. There was one other test I put it to, and that’s covered in the next section.
Wrapping things up
At the end of the day, I’ve been very pleasantly surprised with just how well the Columbia Labyrinth Loop Vest worked for me. It was great as a quick layer under a thinner jacket, as well as under my thicker down jacket, to keep the warmth going. In fact, in the photo closing things out, you can see it kept me plenty warm as I watched my Detroit Lions (#OnePride) notch another win over the Chicago Bears last month.
If you want to pick one up for yourself, it can be found a number of places. That said, we’d recommend our new friends over at Sun & Ski Sports, as they’ve got the MSRP of $145 knocked down to $87.84 (a tidy 39% off), as well as all manner of other gear you might want for outdoors adventures. product page
Columbia Labyrinth Loop Vest Features
- Omni-Heat™ Infinity Advanced thermal Refletive Lining
- Water-resistant
- Chin Guard
- Zippered Chest and Hand Pockets
- Adjustable Drawcord Hem
Columbia Labyrinth Loop Vest Tech Specs
- Shell: 100% Polyester
- Lining: 100% Polyester
- Insulation: 100% Recycled Polyester
- Length: Center Back – 27.5″
