Why We Chose The Vaude Men’s Freney Hybrid Vest II: Lightweight, efficient and environmentally friendly.
When you’re halfway up a mountain, the last thing you want to be thinking is “Oh man. I wish my kit wasn’t so heavy.” Thankfully for hikers and climbers serious about cutting weight, Vaude have cooked up a solution in the form of the Freney Hybrid Vest II; an incredibly lightweight item that, despite its light-as-a-feather nature, somehow still helps to keep you warm in cold conditions.
The Freney Hybrid Vest is padded, and we use ‘padded’ lightly here as it really is a remarkably thin bit of kit, with water-repellent synthetic fibres made from recycled polyester (PrimaLoft Silver Insulation Eco). Weighing in at just 220g, you’ll be amazed at how small this thing packs down. It’s absolutely ideal for scrunching up and shoving in your pack if you get too warm – the warmth to bulk ratio here is genuinely excellent.
“Weighing in at just 220g, you’ll be amazed at how small this thing packs down.”
Because of where you’re going to be wearing it (the mountains) and because of how active you’re going to be in it (mountaineering, climbing, Via Ferrata etc), you’ll be pleased to know that the Freney Hybrid Vest II has been optimised with high tempos very much in mind. The impressive stretch of the lycra-bound armholes down the vest’s sides, in particular, enhance freedom of movement and general comfort nicely. This stretch material, it’s worth pointing out, is made of recycled polyamide; something that is obtained from materials such as used fishing nets via a process of up-cycling. The sound you can hear? Mother Nature cheering.
On the subject of environmentalism, we also like that this product uses a water repellent treatment which is manufactured without the use of any environmentally-hazardous fluorocarbons (PFCs). The Vaude Green Shape label this product has, which you’ll see across much of the brand’s collection now, represents environmentally-friendly, functional, products that have been made in a sustainable way.
