A self proclaimed expert friend of mine has repeatedly told me that a leather vest configured specifically for silhouette would be beneficial. I am coming around to that individual's way of thinking.

Should I get a Hardscrabble suede vest or the top grain leather vest?

What does the experts at Steel Chickens recommend?

I went with suede on the front and slick, white leather on the back. Dark colors seem to absorb the heat too much. Not good if you live in the SW USA.

Jerry G wrote:I went with suede on the front and slick, white leather on the back. Dark colors seem to absorb the heat too much. Not good if you live in the SW USA.

Sounds like you went with the vest that is in the middle of the price range. Did you have the entire back done in white leather or just the upper part?

Dave, you might even consider a mesh and leather vest. I'm sure its always hot where you shoot, and the mesh might be cooler. I have a hardscrabble suede and its a fine vest, but sometimes a bit warmish for me. Of course I'm part polar bear, so its no surprise I'm always warm.

The entire back is slick white.

Don't listen to old stranger about the heat. I had a jacket over a sweater and I was chilly. He had shorts and a tee shirt on and was sweating.

OldRanger wrote:Dave, you might even consider a mesh and leather vest. I'm sure its always hot where you shoot, and the mesh might be cooler. I have a hardscrabble suede and its a fine vest, but sometimes a bit warmish for me. Of course I'm part polar bear, so its no surprise I'm always warm.

It gets pretty cold here. Actually, we have ski slopes on the east side of the mountains bordering Albuquerque. They don't open too often but it happens.

The elevation is the reason we get colder than some people think. My driveway is over a mile above sea level at 5600 feet.

We rarely get above 100 degrees so I do not think I need a mesh vest. The shooters in Arizona are another thing. Phoenix and Tucson in the summer is like living on the surface of the sun, they need mesh vests.

Jerry G wrote:The entire back is slick white.

Don't listen to old stranger about the heat. I had a jacket over a sweater and I was chilly. He had shorts and a tee shirt on and was sweating.

LOL!

Jerry G wrote:The entire back is slick white.

Don't listen to old stranger about the heat. I had a jacket over a sweater and I was chilly. He had shorts and a tee shirt on and was sweating.

Not my fault Jerry is like a Gila monster and can barely move when the temperature is below 90.

OldRanger wrote:Not my fault Jerry is like a Gila monster and can barely move when the temperature is below 90.

He does sort of resemble one.

DavidABQ wrote:

OldRanger wrote:Not my fault Jerry is like a Gila monster and can barely move when the temperature is below 90.

He does sort of resemble one.

Well actually I heard from Fabian that he was a Leprecon and as soon as he found his outfit he was off to Ireland where he belonged. If anyone knows a Leprecon it would be Fabian.

Sorry I let the secret out Jerry ;)

Fabian could certainly pick out a leprechaun when he sees one.

When I took him p-dog shooting, he had so much fun he wouldn't even know if one of those little guys sold his spotting scope.

Jerry actually reminds me of a garden gnome more than a leprechaun. A really ugly garden gnome.

DavidABQ wrote:Jerry actually reminds me of a garden gnome more than a leprechaun. A really ugly garden gnome.