I have the same question. I started with a. Cabelas vest and it worked well but was canvas or heavy cotton and I was always hot in it. Splurged two years ago on a Wild Hare. vest which has a lot of mesh on the back, but the shoulders still feel hot. I am in NC and shoot in the Houston area, so dealing with heat and humidity and just doesn’t feel there is enough ventilation. I hve looked at Barepelt and heard good things, but I don’t want a vest that make me look like a sausage in a casing regardless of it being cooler or not…..

How is the wear on the Barepelt and is there a difference in durability/ longevity of the performed or competition fabric versus the competition lite fabric option?

The Clay Lab and others have videos on Barepelt, Castalani and others but with respect to coolness felt temp,and style wise) plus durability, what do you all suggest. Lastly, anyone using a light color vest, like gray or white and do they think it’s cooler option that same vest in dark color?

Not trying to hijack Steve’s post but hope my questions compliment his questions as well.

Thanks!!

 

I have the same question. I started with a. Cabelas vest and it worked well but was canvas or heavy cotton and I was always hot in it. Splurged two years ago on a Wild Hare. vest which has a lot of mesh on the back, but the shoulders still feel hot. I am in NC and shoot in the Houston area, so dealing with heat and humidity and just doesn’t feel there is enough ventilation. I hve looked at Barepelt and heard good things, but I don’t want a vest that make me look like a sausage in a casing regardless of it being cooler or not…..

How is the wear on the Barepelt and is there a difference in durability/ longevity of the performed or competition fabric versus the competition lite fabric option?

The Clay Lab and others have videos on Barepelt, Castalani and others but with respect to coolness felt temp,and style wise) plus durability, what do you all suggest. Lastly, anyone using a light color vest, like gray or white and do they think it’s cooler option that same vest in dark color?

Not trying to hijack Steve’s post but hope my questions compliment his questions as well.

Thanks!!

I have a barepelt competition lite. They are pretty flattering as far as the fit goes as long as you’re in the ballpark of having the correct size. I wear an all-black vest with a moisture-wicking fabric tee underneath and i’m usually good to go. It was 95 in DFW this afternoon and i wasnt soaked through and through. Its been fairly durable. Some of the stitching on one of the pockets started coming loose, but after a quick stitch-job, its been fine ever since even with several washes. It looks pretty much brand new every time i wash it, except for where I mount my gun. The customization is also very nice. After shooting with it for the better part of 2 years, i’d say I’m sold on them.

 

I live in East TX and been well pleased with my Wild Hare summer mesh vests.

Wild Hare Heatwave Vest

The Wild Hare Heatwave Mesh Vest is built to outlast the competition all while keeping you cool during your favorite shooting sports, sporting clays, trap and skeet. Personalize your vest today!

peregrineoutdoor.com

 

I have had a Browning vest for years. It is mostly mesh but as noted the shoulder area has some material which you can feel on a 90 degree day. I do like the recoils pad that can be slipped behind the shoulder material. I keep thinking I should switch to something else but the old vest keeps plugging along for me. Just my two cents.

 

I had Shoot the Moon make me a new vest that is mostly mesh. I’m in S. FL so heat and humidity is brutal. Very happy with it. I’ll try to post a pic tonight or tomorrow. Good shooting, Rey

 

I had, and used, a Wild Hare heatwave vest for a few years. It either got misplaced or grew legs on the field last year. In a rare fit of fiscal responsibility, I went with a Beretta full mesh vest as a replacement this summer. The Beretta has smaller pockets and no rear shell pouch, making it lighter. I have no regrets about the purchase. It definitely runs small, so size up if you consider one.

 

This with a mesh back is what I use.

 

That is old enough to have grandkids 😃

 

Another vote for Shoot The Moon all mesh. I'm also in FL. They will make it to your custom dimensions at a reasonable price. They can do all kinds of stuff with the mesh and fabric as far as patterns. I have 3. Steve

 

Another vote for Shoot The Moon all mesh. I'm also in FL. They will make it to your custom dimensions at a reasonable price. They can do all kinds of stuff with the mesh and fabric as far as patterns. I have 3. Steve

Another vote for Shoot The Moon all mesh. I'm also in FL. They will make it to your custom dimensions at a reasonable price. They can do all kinds of stuff with the mesh and fabric as far as patterns. I have 3. Steve

Went to their web site, Shoot the Moon, and found something, all mesh, that looks ideal. The poster above with the strap vest got my attention. Even here in Colorado I have frequently used a strap vest for upland hunting. I even have a strap arrangement for tactical use when in the desert, since retired. All have got me thinking. Thanks one and all.

s/f. Steve

 

I use the lite Barepelt. I haven’t had it a long but it is great so far. Yes, it has to fit snug but it doesn’t need to be tight. I’ll wear it up to about 90 degrees. If it’s really hot though I still just use a belt instead of a vest. I live in Texas though and it’s hot and humid here in the summer.

 

A Filson mesh game bag works great for a few boxes of shells and a bottle of water.

 

Too hot here. pouch.

 

Like you I prefer a vest to a pouch also, however, given the current higher than normal temps I've resorted to using a pouch and a cotton tee shirt! MUCH more comfortable than any vest I've seen/had, they may be out there but I haven't run across them.
DG

 

Happy with castellani, bare pelt lite, and shooter king vests. Some days it's just so hot it doesn't matter what vest you wear. I like to wear long sleeve fishing shirts under the vest to keep the sun off me plus the shirts have venting.
Shoot the moon looks good as well. Haven't seen one but the website is cool and they have many options.

 

Easy......

Mesh vest...
No shirt underneath

Like...
👇👇👇👇

 

I went from something similar to that to the lite Barepelt and haven’t worn the mesh since. If you want to wear the above without a shirt then you could also wear the Barebelt sans shirt.

 

I use a Beretta lightweight mesh I got from EBay for $25.00 dollars as a summer vest. It’s OK, but on really hot days I still return to the pouch. It’s been a hotter than usual summer here in SW Pa. and the vest has been on the back burner. I didn’t want to spend a lot of dough on something that might not help, …..anyway, look at eBay perhaps.
Shoot well
Bob

 

I use a Beretta lightweight mesh I got from EBay for $25.00 dollars as a summer vest. It’s OK, but on really hot days I still return to the pouch. It’s been a hotter than usual summer here in SW Pa. and the vest has been on the back burner. I didn’t want to spend a lot of dough on something that might not help, …..anyway, look at eBay perhaps.
Shoot well
Bob

I'm in your region as well and it's been ball bustin hot. We've had hot months before but always get a break. Not this tine. It's been in the 90's for such a long stretch.


That all said I disagree with your pouch recommendation. Why?
The OP will still be wearing a t-shirt if they opt for a pouch.
Vests like the example I show above, without a shirt under the vest is definitely cooler than using a t shirt and pouch.

 

Another vote for Shoot the Moon! I had her (forgot her name, but fantastic lady to deal with) measure and make me a vest with all mesh and a almost white snow camo pattern (she can print anything on the fabric). Dont think you are limited to what's on the website, she'll make you anything you want, and the price is reasonable (200-250 depending on extras)

She's made em for our Olympians, they're good enough for me.

 

I wear a vest simply because the way I mount my gun I abrade my shoulder.

A friend would fold a cloth baby diaper and drape in over his shoulder and under his shirt. That seemed a good hot weather alternative. I tried that, but tore my shirt.

 

Here's a comparison of my summer and winter Shoot the Moon vests. Great people to work with and phenomenal product. Good shooting, Rey

 

I have seen this vest

 

I have both Shoot The Moon and Baer Pelt Lite. Both are good quality. Baer Pelt is cooler.
Buster

 

I prefer a Cabela's half vest.
Takes weight off my shoulders. Helped a lot before and after having two cervical disks replaced.
Has all the pockets and pouch in the back. I did get rid of the nylon belt for a thicker leather one

 

Get you a Castellani vest, lighter and best fitting while maintaining structure while using / pockets (dont stretch out/droop) ect.

 

I recently got a Castellani vest. It's decent. Quality is NOT worth the price, though. The stitching on the inside is all exposed and not finished nicely. Lots of loose threads and the vest feels quite cheap. I was in a store recently and saw some Perazzi vests (Hi Tech version) for similar price and they were constructed much better. Stitching is all finished and buttoned up. The Castellani gets the job done but if I did it again, I would try Barepelt.

 

Use a Castellani in the warmer weather, a Shoot the Moon in cooler weather, probably will look at the Perazzi vest as well.

 

I’ve noticed that the Clay Lab guys did reviews on the Barepelt and Castellani both , but all I ever see them wear are the Castellani . I tried a Barepelt and didn’t like it. Just too hot for me.