Columbia Vests

A vest, or gilet, makes sense when your core needs warmth but your arms run warm enough to leave free, which is common on fast hikes, cool mornings and stop-start activity. It adds heat to your body's centre without the bulk of sleeves, so you keep full arm movement for things like scrambling, cycling or working outdoors, and it layers neatly under a shell. On genuinely cold or wet days, though, a full jacket is the better call, since your arms will feel the cold.

The insulated styles are warmer than they look, using Omni-Heat reflective lining and either down or synthetic fill to trap heat around your core, which is where keeping warm matters most. Because there are no sleeves, all that insulation goes into your body's centre, so you get noticeable warmth for very little weight and bulk. Fleece vests are lighter and more breathable for active use, while the insulated ones are the ones to choose for standing-around warmth.

Yes, layering is where a vest is at its best. It sits neatly over a fleece or baselayer and slips under a waterproof shell without adding bulk at the arms, so it is an easy way to add core warmth to a layering system when the temperature drops. A slim insulated vest under a shell is a favourite for cold, active days, and a fleece vest works as a light midlayer on milder ones. Just size it to sit comfortably over your usual layers.

Use a gentle, cold cycle with a technical wash rather than ordinary detergent, which can clog insulation and, on down-filled vests, harm the fill's ability to loft. Down vests benefit from a low tumble dry with a couple of clean dryer balls to break up clumps and restore loft, and they must be fully dry before storing. Synthetic and fleece vests are more forgiving and dry faster. Store any insulated vest loosely rather than crushed, so the fill keeps its warmth.

Yes, choose Click & Collect at checkout. Orders are usually ready within 24 hours and you will get an email when ready. Available from our Dublin Carrickmines, Dublin Blanchardstown and Cork City Centre stores.

Yes, we offer free standard delivery on all orders over €100.

We have four stores across Ireland: Dublin Carrickmines, Dublin Blanchardstown, Cork City Centre and Arnotts Dublin.