Long down coats have made a comeback over the past few years, so it was only a matter of time before the style crossed over to vests. Lands' End lands a solid hit in the category with their Ultralight women's long down vest. It's designed for the town crowd, but works equally well in the backcountry.
The vest starts out with the highest quality insulation, 800 fill down. It's not just any down either, it's HyperDRY hydrophobic down for increased water resistance, and it's certified as responsibly sourced for good measure. Two zipped handwarmer pockets are complemented by an internal open stuff pocket that the entire garment can be stuffed into. A generous collar will keep your neck warm, and the zipper is two-way so it can be zipped up from the bottom for more ease of movement and ventilation. This makes it a great belay piece for use with a harness.
The cut, as advertised, is contoured and long and will fall around a woman's mid to upper thigh depending on her build and the cut selected. You can choose from regular, petite and tall. Vests are always great for maintaining core temperature while standing still, and also allowing ventilation when you're moving. Having the extra insulation around your hips is just more down goodness where you want it. We've saved the best part for last: the regular price is a steal, and even more so because it's on sale at the moment.