Material: Polartec® Alpha® Direct – 100% Polyester (136g/m²)
Color: Mist Slate / Hazelnut / Moss Stone / Bear Skin
Size:
(Men) S, M, L, XL
(Women) S, M, L
Weight: Approx. 114g (Men’s M size)
Country of Origin: Japan
Producer: Tokyo Pio Aomori Factory, Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture
Introduction
Polartec® Alpha® Direct is highly regarded by outdoor enthusiasts and professionals around the world. For this vest, Ridge Mountain Gear chose the 136g/m² version—a slightly thicker option that offers excellent insulation, even in cold climates. This choice was key to achieving the goal of being "genuinely warm."
The feeling of gentle warmth you get when slipping this vest over a T-shirt is hard to put into words—it’s simply comforting. Once you experience it, you won’t want to go without it. And when you're on the move, the vest’s breathability and moisture-wicking performance truly shine. Even during long hikes or active use, it efficiently releases excess heat and moisture, keeping you dry and comfortable. This makes it an invaluable companion during high-output activities.
Of course, during periods of inactivity or when cold winds are blowing, the vest’s excellent breathability can sometimes make you feel cold. However, in those moments, simply layering a shirt or shell over it will block the wind and trap even more warmth. This versatile layering capability is another unique advantage of this vest.
Through this vest, Ridge Mountain Gear hopes to ease the stress that cold weather brings and help you stay comfortable in any environment.
Material
This product uses Polartec® Alpha® Direct (136g/m²).
Originally developed at the request of U.S. Special Forces, Polartec® Alpha® was created to provide a thermal insulation system that could adapt to extreme temperature changes and the constant switch between activity and rest. It offers consistent warmth while maintaining excellent breathability—ideal for high-output situations.
Polartec® Alpha® Direct builds on the Alpha® insulation technology by eliminating the need for a lining. It is designed to be worn directly against the skin or other fabrics, enhancing breathability and overall performance. The refined shape and size of the insulation fibers contribute to the material's efficiency. Thanks to its unique structure, Alpha® Direct offers superior airflow and reduced weight—delivering high-performance comfort in a minimalist form.
Design
The design is a simple, boxy-style vest.
The neckline is slightly deeper—something between a crew neck, a U-neck, and a V-neck. It aimed for a shape that doesn’t fall neatly into any of those categories.
When wearing a thin hoodie or a stand-collar inner layer, a standard crew neck can feel a bit tight around the neck. To make sure this vest remains comfortable and easy to wear over such layers, It was carefully designed the neckline with just the right depth.
The shoulders are also well-covered to ensure warmth extends all the way to the edge.
Many vests on the market have narrower shoulder widths, often leaving the shoulder tips exposed. But the concept behind the Alpha Booster Vest is to provide thorough warmth—which is why it was designed with a wider shoulder cut to ensure even the tops of your shoulders stay warm.
To maintain ease of movement despite the broader shoulders, Ridge Mountain Gear also gave the armholes a slightly wider cut. This allows for comfortable layering over T-shirts with wider sleeves and helps release excess heat from the sides of the body.
The silhouette flares out just slightly toward the hem, which helps promote airflow and enhances overall breathability.
The neckline and armhole bindings are made from 100% polyester mechanical stretch tape, primarily composed of recycled materials.
The vest features a simple patch pocket design, which also functions as an inner pocket. When worn over a long-sleeve tee, the pocket serves as a practical hand warmer. Additionally, if you layer a shirt or shell without side pockets over the Alpha Booster Vest, the patch pockets can double as inner storage.
The pocket openings face upward, helping to prevent items from falling out—a thoughtful detail for both convenience and security.
Credit: photos and description from Ridge Mountain Gear official website (https://www.ridge-mountaingear.com/)
*Product information translated by morimori
Material: Polartec® Alpha® Direct – 100% Polyester (136g/m²)
Color: Mist Slate / Hazelnut / Moss Stone / Bear Skin
Size:
(Men) S, M, L, XL
(Women) S, M, L
Weight: Approx. 114g (Men’s M size)
Country of Origin: Japan
Producer: Tokyo Pio Aomori Factory, Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture
Introduction
Polartec® Alpha® Direct is highly regarded by outdoor enthusiasts and professionals around the world. For this vest, Ridge Mountain Gear chose the 136g/m² version—a slightly thicker option that offers excellent insulation, even in cold climates. This choice was key to achieving the goal of being "genuinely warm."
The feeling of gentle warmth you get when slipping this vest over a T-shirt is hard to put into words—it’s simply comforting. Once you experience it, you won’t want to go without it. And when you're on the move, the vest’s breathability and moisture-wicking performance truly shine. Even during long hikes or active use, it efficiently releases excess heat and moisture, keeping you dry and comfortable. This makes it an invaluable companion during high-output activities.
Of course, during periods of inactivity or when cold winds are blowing, the vest’s excellent breathability can sometimes make you feel cold. However, in those moments, simply layering a shirt or shell over it will block the wind and trap even more warmth. This versatile layering capability is another unique advantage of this vest.
Through this vest, Ridge Mountain Gear hopes to ease the stress that cold weather brings and help you stay comfortable in any environment.
Material
This product uses Polartec® Alpha® Direct (136g/m²).
Originally developed at the request of U.S. Special Forces, Polartec® Alpha® was created to provide a thermal insulation system that could adapt to extreme temperature changes and the constant switch between activity and rest. It offers consistent warmth while maintaining excellent breathability—ideal for high-output situations.
Polartec® Alpha® Direct builds on the Alpha® insulation technology by eliminating the need for a lining. It is designed to be worn directly against the skin or other fabrics, enhancing breathability and overall performance. The refined shape and size of the insulation fibers contribute to the material's efficiency. Thanks to its unique structure, Alpha® Direct offers superior airflow and reduced weight—delivering high-performance comfort in a minimalist form.
Design
The design is a simple, boxy-style vest.
The neckline is slightly deeper—something between a crew neck, a U-neck, and a V-neck. It aimed for a shape that doesn’t fall neatly into any of those categories.
When wearing a thin hoodie or a stand-collar inner layer, a standard crew neck can feel a bit tight around the neck. To make sure this vest remains comfortable and easy to wear over such layers, It was carefully designed the neckline with just the right depth.
The shoulders are also well-covered to ensure warmth extends all the way to the edge.
Many vests on the market have narrower shoulder widths, often leaving the shoulder tips exposed. But the concept behind the Alpha Booster Vest is to provide thorough warmth—which is why it was designed with a wider shoulder cut to ensure even the tops of your shoulders stay warm.
To maintain ease of movement despite the broader shoulders, Ridge Mountain Gear also gave the armholes a slightly wider cut. This allows for comfortable layering over T-shirts with wider sleeves and helps release excess heat from the sides of the body.
The silhouette flares out just slightly toward the hem, which helps promote airflow and enhances overall breathability.
The neckline and armhole bindings are made from 100% polyester mechanical stretch tape, primarily composed of recycled materials.
The vest features a simple patch pocket design, which also functions as an inner pocket. When worn over a long-sleeve tee, the pocket serves as a practical hand warmer. Additionally, if you layer a shirt or shell without side pockets over the Alpha Booster Vest, the patch pockets can double as inner storage.
The pocket openings face upward, helping to prevent items from falling out—a thoughtful detail for both convenience and security.
Credit: photos and description from Ridge Mountain Gear official website (https://www.ridge-mountaingear.com/)
*Product information translated by morimori
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