Yeti Turq Edge Vest

Yeti Turq Edge Vest

I love vest season. I'm not just talking about bikes. I love having my arms a little less encumbered without giving up on comfort. It's nice to have a smaller, less bulky layer to peel off, or stuff in a pack. A vest says "I haven't given up on late summer" or "beat it, winter". As a rule, vests don't get quite as much play in our coastal climate. A rogue squall can come out of nowhere and turn you into a fool, quick-like. But a cool, dry fall evening or an optimistic late winter morning might just turn sweater weather into flannel-and-a-vest weather.

If we're talking about riding, a thin nylon vest can be stuffed into any nook for the tiniest of backup layers; a lightly lined vest can find a home in any cranny. Happily, vests are making a bit of a comeback lately, so I was pumped to get my hands on Yeti's Turq Edge Vest. It's not a teeny tiny little shell vest (that would be their Turq Wind Vest), rather it is a lightly lined shell, so it'll provide wind/rain protection as well as a little warmth. In most places, in fall or spring, that makes it a prized item. I didn't get my hands on it in time to make use of it in the Spring, but we've had an up and down summer here on the Sunshine Coast so I've had plenty of opportunity in July and August to either start my rides with the Turq Edge Vest on, or wear it for the whole time.

On the outside, WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get): a recycled nylon stretch woven shell with PFC-free DWR coating will help you shrug off wind and rain or trail spray. A two-way zipper lets you regulate airflow from the top and bottom. A single zip pocket covering the left rear kidney (doubles as a stuff pocket or could hold something like a phone) and two mesh-lined hand pockets with zip closures are all exactly what I want - space for hands or small items and nothing more. This is a utility layer that stays relevant after the ride without looking like Uncle Dan's fishing vest crammed with tackle and doodads.

Inner Beauty

My favourite part, though, is the Teijin Octa insulation - a thin layer of insulation that lines Yeti's vest. Teijin Octa is a polyester fibre that Teijin says "can add the perceptual qualities of softness, draping, dry touch and the functionalities of sweat absorption, quick drying, non-see-through, lightweight, heat retention, and thermal insulation. Octa® [has] a distinctive, highly modified cross-section with eight projections aligned in a radial pattern around a hollow fiber".

I started to dig into the tech a bit and decided I didn't need want to read a bunch of ultralight backpacker forum threads to determine that it's essentially a modern take on lightweight fleece. Having had great experiences with 7Mesh's Gryphon LS Crew, which uses a similar fibre (Polartec Power Grid), I can say that these fabrics provide way more insulation and heat retention than you'd expect, given how thin they are. Paired with a thin nylon shell, this wispy layer of insulation turns the Yeti Turq Edge into one of those layers that makes sense for lots of rides: cold and dry, cool and damp, or as a backup when either of those conditions lurks. I've worn it over top of a thin, short-sleeved jersey for a cool start on a soon-to-be warm morning, as well as in tandem with a merino blend LS jersey on a cloudy, cool day when wind persisted and rain threatened. I've stuffed it into a hip pack and downtube storage - it takes up less space than a large, well-rolled burrito.

Under sustained hard efforts, it'll help you build up a lot of heat. The nylon shell is - like all nylon shells - a limiting factor in terms of how the vest breathes. If you're really honkin' along, that heat will build enough that you'll be sweating soon enough in the torso. At that point you either need to peel off the vest or open those zippers. The good news is that as long as you get air running over the Teijin Octa fabric, that sweat will wick off of it quickly.

I haven't used it yet in conditions below 12ºC, but I have no doubt that I'll use it instead of a jacket whenever conditions permit, down to near 0, with modified layers underneath. If it's raining and mid single digit, it'll give way to a jacket. Otherwise, I think the Turq Edge and I have a lot of rides ahead of us this fall.

Yeti has a winner in the Turq Edge Vest. It may not be the flashiest of layers, but it's mega useful and versatile and the fit is snug enough to work for serious riding without raising eyebrows if you keep it on after the ride (mud splatter is your own responsibility). Highly recommended if a bit pricey, but currently on sale, just when lots of you out there could make use of it, whether you're in the northern or southern hemisphere right now.

Yeti Turq Edge Vest - 185 USD (currently on sale for 129). Available in sizes XS - XXL (Yeti offers W's versions in lots of their apparel but not this vest, however the size range may make unisex sizing possible for some).