Vests are unisex, which means that the sizes are men's sizes. A woman should choose one size smaller. The chest, waist, and hip measurements are the same. The vests are made a little large to wear over other clothing and to load up the pockets.
Size
Chest, Waist, & Hips
Back Length*
XS
30-32"
26"
S
34-36"
26"
M
38-40"
27"
L
42-44"
27"
L-Long
42-44"
30"
XL
46-48"
28"
XL-Long
46-48"
31"
XXL
50-52"
31"
*Customers about 6' or taller may prefer the long vest, as do some customers who want more below-waist coverage. The back-length measurement starts at the base of the neck.
Our popular Tropical Vest features 10 pockets. Large pockets will even accommodate binoculars, iPad, books, and magazines! The vest is perfect for traveling when you want to load up the pockets with items you don’t have space to fit in your one carry-on bag. Your passport and wallet can be safely placed in the zippered security pocket on the inside of one of the chest pockets.
Our popular Tropical Big Pockets Vest (10 pockets) has large pockets to accommodate binoculars, iPad, books, and magazines! The vest is perfect for traveling when you want to load up the pockets with items you don’t have space to fit in your one carry-on bag. Your passport and wallet can be safely placed in the zippered security pocket on the inside of one of the chest pockets.
Originally designed for birdwatchers in the field who wanted a lightweight, non-rustling vest that could comfortably carry a multitude of items easily accessible, the Tropical Vest also has met the needs of photographers, trainers, gardeners, sportsmen, hikers, travelers, and many others. Thousands of vests have been sold because of its features and versatility!
TROPICAL VEST FABRIC
10 BigPockets:
2 zippered chest/binocular pockets 9.5 x 12 in.
1 zippered inside security pocket 4 x 7 in.
2 zippered iPad pockets 10.5 x 9 in.
2 pockets with Velcro flap 6 x 9 in.
2 water-bottle pockets expand to 5 x 8 in.
1 zippered back pocket 8 x 14 in.
The vest was given the name “Tropical” because of its unique fabric. Customers wanted a functional, lightweight, durable, non-rustling vest with lots of big pockets that was comfortable in hot weather. Weighing only 14.5 oz., this lightweight 100% nylon fabric wicks moisture away from your skin, allowing the garment to dry quickly. It is antimicrobial, stain resistant, and breathable. The soft mesh lining has a cooling effect and allows the vest to be comfortably worn over other clothing. The vest packs down to very little space when traveling, and it is machine washable.
The vest color for the Tropical and Equatorial Vests is the same. The khaki color looks lighter in the sun.
OTHER FEATURES
The shoulders are padded to improve comfort while carrying items on your shoulder, such as a tripod or shoulder bag. There are D-rings on the front below the shoulder pads for sunglasses or anything with a strap.
The pattern-maker’s challenge was to find a way to distribute weight away from the neck and shoulders and from the front and back when the pockets are loaded up with heavy items while the vest is worn open. A snap belt in the front can be used to distribute weight evenly when the vest is not zipped up. The snap belt is conveniently secured to the vest, when not needed.
The special collar protects the neck when using items, such as binoculars and cameras, that have neck straps. There is a loop inside the collar for hanging the vest up on a hook.
Side slits on bottom of each side of the vest allow for easy movement when walking.
The 2 large pockets on each side of the chest are called the “Binocular Pockets” because large items, such as binoculars and camera lenses, can fit in these roomy pockets and are easily accessible. Inside one Binocular Chest Pocket is a hidden, zippered pocket for a passport and wallet.
On the front, there are 4 more pockets, also easily accessible. Two zippered pockets will accommodate iPads, large field guides, lenses, or other large items. The two Velcro pockets are perfect for small field guides, snacks, and other gear.
On both sides of the vest there are mesh water-bottle pockets with elastic at the tops to hold the bottles securely.
In the back of the vest, there is an over-sized, zippered pocket for large items.
Most customers use the Tropical Vest year-round. It can be worn over shirts in the summer or sweaters in the winter. There is no other vest on the market like this one!
Vests are unisex, which means that the sizes are men's sizes. Women should choose one size smaller. The chest, waist, and hip measurements are the same. The vests are made a little large to wear over other clothing and to load up the pockets. The sizing chart is located in the right panel under the list of sizes.
1 review for Tropical Big Pockets Vest (10 Pockets)
Rated 5 out of 5
aquaaura (verified owner)–
I recently purchased a Tropical Vest, and was happily surprised to have it arrive, across the continent, in a mere ten days, even with the most economical level of mail delivery ~ just in time for a bird-walk planned for the next day. Mercifully, I managed to transfer everything that I normally have in a shoulder-bag into the vest-pockets, where anything I need to retrieve is much easier to find than it was in the bag. Even better, without the bag I no longer get neck- and shoulder-strain.
This is a wonderful garment, ingeniously designed.
I really appreciated jewellia 159’s review of the Equatorial Vest; it helped me to figure out which size to purchase. I’m 5’6″, 127 lbs., and the small vest fits well, with either just a shirt or a heavy winter sweater underneath.
Many thanks!
Erica Foulkes
Vancouver, Canada
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Our popular Tropical Big Pockets Vest (10 pockets) has large pockets to accommodate binoculars, iPad, books, and magazines! The vest is perfect for traveling when you want to load up the pockets with items you don’t have space to fit in your one carry-on bag. Your passport and wallet can be safely placed in the zippered security pocket on the inside of one of the chest pockets.
aquaaura (verified owner) –
I recently purchased a Tropical Vest, and was happily surprised to have it arrive, across the continent, in a mere ten days, even with the most economical level of mail delivery ~ just in time for a bird-walk planned for the next day. Mercifully, I managed to transfer everything that I normally have in a shoulder-bag into the vest-pockets, where anything I need to retrieve is much easier to find than it was in the bag. Even better, without the bag I no longer get neck- and shoulder-strain.
This is a wonderful garment, ingeniously designed.
I really appreciated jewellia 159’s review of the Equatorial Vest; it helped me to figure out which size to purchase. I’m 5’6″, 127 lbs., and the small vest fits well, with either just a shirt or a heavy winter sweater underneath.
Many thanks!
Erica Foulkes
Vancouver, Canada