Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

If Only Everything Was Goose Down…

A down vest or jacket should be a man’s winter wardrobe essential. The sheer warmth and comfort that goose down provides are nothing short of spectacular. But, honestly though, most options for men are either geared towards scaling K2, high fashion, or simply too granola.

Penfield’s Rockwool vest strikes a nice balance of rugged, casual, and street. The 80/20 goose down is teflon coated with 60/40 cotton nylon, detailed with a traditional leather front and shoulder yoke, and a super-soft shearling collar. We prefer the black, but the Rockwool vest is also available in tan or as a full jacket (not shown) for you vest haters.

Men looking for a tamer option should also look at the Rockwool’s lower priced brother, the Outback (shown right, $130) which forgoes leather yokes and shearling collar for wind and rain proof fabric. It’s available in micro striped hickory, black, and bark.

Editor’s Note: Pair either the Penfield Rockwool, Outback, or any down vest with a sweater (as we did for the shot above), shirt, or sportcoat as only American men can do. Pull on a pair of your favorite weekend jeans or wool pants and call it a day.

Cost: $265

Also See: L.L.Bean Shearling Boots | J.Crew Long Sleeve Jersey Polo