Originally Posted by
LeeG
never did but a down or synthetic vest makes sense because it wouldn't take up much room. I was more inclined to only take gear that was part of cycling layers and if I needed maximum warmth it would involve putting on all the layers plus wind/rain jacket.
That's what I thought, but there is something nice about having something warm and cosy to get into at the end of a hard day, rather than just wearing lots of layers of the same old stuff.
My problem is I'm trying to weigh up all options for bike tour camping across all the seasons, which obviously means a lot of flexibility, plus more kit. I have a modular sleeping system which involves a couple of sleeping bags (together weighing about 2.5 kg, but able to cope with winter) thermarest etc, and I'm just not sure I'm overdoing it with a down jacket. but the thought of being able to put it on, rather than a lot of layers of the same old same old, does appeal.
the jacket itself weighs about 800g, and packs down small. I've got a bigish fleece that would be my normal choice for keeping the chill out when camping, so may see how much that weighs and what its pack size is to make a comparison.