Merrell introduced a new clothing line in 2007 with the intent of providing stylish and functional outerwear for active folks who demand a lot from their clothing. A key piece of their layering line is the Merrell Rove Tech Vest. This vest is made from a 100% polyester shell that is lightweight and weather-resistant. It sheds the wind awesome. I haven’t had much chance to wear it in foul weather to know how water resistant it is. However, it’s not the type of clothing that you’d wear in wet weather all by itself.
The fit and feel of the vest is superb with little touches here and there to display the extensive thought and design that went into the entire Merrell apparel line. The PrimaLoft One insulation is perfect because it’s super light and compressible. I think it’s superior to down because it won’t shift around and will stay warm when wet.
The pockets are nice and the overall fit of the Rove Tech Vest is awesome. Even little details weren’t overlooked like the fuzzy-lined pockets and the headphone port, which round out the overall feel of this vest.
The only thing that I’ve noticed that is a bit annoying is it’s hard to get the zipper started sometimes. It just doesn’t seem to engage consistently. Hopefully it just needs some breaking in and then it will go away. I’ll get more time to test the vest in a variety of conditions and post an update.
The Merrell Rove Tech Vest looks to be a great vest for both casual and technical pursuits. The PrimaLoft insulation is as good as it gets for lightweight warmth. At $100 MSRP, all that style and function won’t break the bank.
January 11, 2008 - 11:15 am - posted by Brig Graff
Is it one of those waterproof zippers? Those can be a pain, though impenetrable. But I think that a vest should be more concerned with convenience than a waterproof zipper — it’s not like you’re using it to create a sealed shell environment around your person, like you would with an Arc Teryx jacket or something. Just my 2 cents…
January 11, 2008 - 11:51 am - posted by Jason Mitchell
No, it’s not a waterproof zipper… just a standard one. I think the issue is in the lack of a plastic coating on the fabric just to the side of where the zipper initiates. I have no idea what this is called… It doesn’t have a plastic coating, just another layer of nylon around it, which frayed and doesn’t allow the zipper to seat inside the pull to get started properly.
Again, I have no idea what the technical names are for the pieces of a zipper, but that’s my take.
November 17, 2008 - 3:19 pm - posted by Brig Graff
Of all the vests you’ve tried, which is your favorite lightweight vest for alpine ski touring? I’m thinking I want a very lightweight insulating layer to stuff in a small day pack — and softshell or fleece vests are pretty bulky. I’d prefer something that’s just a ripstop nylon with a very thin insulating material in it.
November 17, 2008 - 3:59 pm - posted by Jason Mitchell
Yeah, this one is a little thick and non-breathable for hard-core athletic activities. I’d go with the Marmot DriClime Vest:
http://www.gear.com/gear/backcountry/bc/shop.php/P-5777/Marmot_DriClime_Vest_-_Mens.html
I had one a few years ago and absolutely LOVED it, but somehow it disappeared. I hate it when that happens!
November 17, 2008 - 4:34 pm - posted by Brig Graff
Awesome — I’m putting that on my list to Santa right now…