Mens Brown Cotton Ranch Vest

A cotton ranch vest is a sleeveless insulated layer with a diamond or channel cotton shell, a corduroy collar and a snap front, worn over a shirt as workwear. This one is brown, in sizes XXS to 3XL.

Why cotton is on the outside

On most insulated garments the cotton is hidden inside the lining. On a ranch vest it is the outer surface, and that is a working decision rather than a style one. Cotton is what stops the insulation migrating into a lump at the bottom of the garment. Putting the stitch lines on the outside means the shell itself is divided into sealed channels, which is more durable than cotton a separate liner. It is also why a ranch vest keeps its loft evenly for years while a cheap padded gilet ends up thin at the chest and thick at the hem.

The corduroy collar is doing a job

Corduroy sits against the neck more comfortably than the cotton shell fabric does, which is stiff and cold to the touch. It also takes abrasion from stubble and shirt collars without wearing through the way a smooth technical fabric does. Watch that collar for wear, because it is where a ranch vest ages first. When the cord goes bald at the fold, the vest still works but it starts looking old. Some people like that. Some people do not.

A vest is a body warmer, not a jacket substitute

The reason a vest works so well in cold weather is that most heat loss people notice is from the core, not the arms. Insulating the torso while leaving the arms free keeps you warm and lets you work. It is the right answer when you are moving and using your hands, and the wrong answer when you are standing still in wind. Layered under a coat it adds real warmth without shoulder bulk, which is the other thing it does better than a jacket.

Sizing

Cut to go over a shirt or a flannel, which is how it is meant to be worn, so it is roomy over a tee. Take your usual size. Only size down if you intend to wear it over a single thin layer and want it close. Do not size up unless you plan to wear it over a hoodie, in which case go up one.

Care

Cotton shells can usually be machine washed on a cool gentle cycle, but the corduroy collar and the insulation both dislike heat. Air dry it, and if the insulation clumps, a few minutes in a cool dryer with a clean tennis ball redistributes it.

Specification table

Specification	Detail
Outer material	Cotton Fabric
Lining	Polyester, full body
Closure	Front Zipper
Collar	Shirt collar, unstudded
Cuffs	Sleeveless
External pockets	Two pockets at the waist
Internal pockets	Two inside
Back detail	Solid
Colour	Brown
Fit	Regular, takes a mid weight layer
Sizes	XXS to 3XL, plus made to measure
Care	Condition twice yearly. No machine wash, no heat drying

Garment measurements by size. Measured flat, in inches. These cells stay empty until you send production figures. Publishing a measurement that is wrong causes returns, so I have not guessed.

Size	Chest across	Shoulder	Sleeve	Back length
XXS	40	18	25	25
XS	42	18	25	25
S	44	19	25	26
M	46	20	26	27
L	48	20	27	27
XL	50	20.5	27	27.5
2XL	52	21.5	27	28
3XL	54	23	28	29