Last fall Tools of the Trade got Carhartt to send me a Men’s Brookville Vest to try on the jobsite. I like wearing vests because they don’t restrict movement and are a great way to layer. In the spring and fall I’ll wear one over a t-shirt to stay warm without overheating. In the winter I’ll wear it over my fleece, as a way to layer without being so bundled I can’t move—like Mikey from A Christmas Story.
The Brookeville Vest is a good layering piece. Made from nylon and polyester insulation, it is light-weight and water resistant. The chest pocket easily holds my phone and the side pockets are large enough that I can stick gloved hands in them when it’s cold. There are inside pockets too, though I don’t use them; one has a zipper and the other a hook and loop closure.
This vest is comfortable and functional with one exception, the large fits kind of snug. I could wear it but not over a layer; I need a little extra room in the “torso” (aka, the “gut”). I gave the vest to my framing partner, Kyle, and it worked well for him. He’s tall and thin so there was room for him to layer, and it wasn’t a problem that the regular vest was a little short for him because that kept if from hanging over his nail belt. Kyle would have likely gotten a tall size had he ordered it himself.
The Men’s Brookville Vest is available in small to 2Xlarge and in Large/Tall sizes. It lists for $72 on the Carhartt site but I’ve seen it elsewhere online for as low as $56.
