Expedition Cargo Vest

Before lightweight backpacks existed, anyone who spent the day outdoors carried everything on the body. That is where the expedition vest came from: firm cotton, no sleeves so the arm stays free, and enough pockets to get through a whole day without setting anything down.

The Expedition Cargo Vest follows that design closely. The front is the whole argument. On each side of the hem there are two layered pockets: one with a flap and button on top and, right below it, a second bellowed bag that opens to the side and gains volume as you fill it. With the chest pocket, that makes five outside pockets, every one of them full hand size.

The two lower pockets, one over the other. The back one is bellowed, so it takes volume without puffing out the hem.

The adjustment is at the back

A strap with a metal buckle crosses the waist at the back. Loose, the vest hangs straight and roomy over the shirt. Pulled in, it closes the waist without touching the chest and gives the drape some shape. It is the same device as the old tailored waistcoat, here solved in heavy cotton.

The strap works only at the waist. The chest keeps the same ease, so the adjustment never restricts movement.

Single layer, for most of the year

It is the same cotton inside and out, with a reinforced facing at the neck and the front. With no lining, the vest adds no bulk: it goes over a shirt or a tee without stacking fabric on the torso, which is why it works from mid season to mild winter, exactly when a vest earns its keep.

Cotton twill with visible topstitching. The fabric has body and will show wear over time, like all pure cotton.

Technical details

• Material: 100% cotton twill
• Construction: single layer, with inside facing at the neck and front
• Neckline: V neck, no collar
• Closure: front buttons
• Pockets: five outside, one flap chest pocket and two on each side of the hem, layered, the lower one bellowed
• Back: cinch strap with metal buckle
• Fit: short and straight, open armhole to free the shoulder
• Season: mid season and mild winter
• Colors: Black, Navy, Dark Olive, Stone and Khaki

Size chart

Measure around your chest at the fullest point and pick by the last column. The shoulder looks narrow on the chart because the armhole is open and the shoulder seam sits well inside where a jacket seam would. Between two sizes, the larger one leaves the vest straighter over the shirt. The Label column shows the size printed inside the garment.

Care

• Machine wash cold, inside out, with similar colors
• Do not bleach
• Dry in the shade, no tumble dryer
• Iron on medium heat
• Untreated pure cotton may shrink slightly on the first wash