The Royal Robbins El Cap Canvas Vest is a snuggly option for when you are wanting a bit of warmth and outdoorsy style.

Royal Robbins Women's El Cap Canvas Vest

 Details

• Stretch canvas shell made from a tough yet flexible blend of 64% cotton, 33% modal, 3% elastane
• Sherpa fleece lining (100% polyester)
• Raised collar design for warmth and wind protection
• Double-layer front closure with heavyweight zip front, snap placket, and wind flap to seal out the cold
• Two front drop-in, two front side-entry hand pockets, and 1 smaller inner chest zippered pocket
• Relaxed fit

Fit and Function

I am a size medium on the Royal Robbin's size guide.  Based on my experience with other Royal Robbins' garments with similar styling, I chose to size down a full size to a size small.  I found the size small to fit me perfectly, offering a little room throughout for layering.

This vest has become my go-to layer on fall days where the temperatures change throughout the day.  The stretch canvas outer shell is durable while still being soft to the touch.  The vest keeps my core warm while giving me ventilation options via the lack of sleeves and zipper.

I also like that the vest has a raised collar.  This gives me some style options.  It looks nice, especially with the sherpa fleece liner as contrast, when the collar is folded open.  But when zipped up, it helps to keep my neck warm.  When fully zipped up, the contact points against my skin don't rub or irritate, even at the zipper.

The pockets on the Royal Robbins El Cap Canvas Vest are fantastic.  The side entry pockets on the front of the vest and perfectly places for comfort and are generously sized - big enough for your phone or gloved hands.  The drop in pockets are incredibly handy for storing items that need easy accessibility.  These pockets are also big enough to accomodate a phone, but I've found that I use these pockets mostly for smaller items like keys.  The inner chest pocket is small, only big enough for a credit card or keys, but the zipper is a nice feature for keeping the contents secure.

Inner zippered pocket

The inner layer of the Royal Robbins El Cap Canvas Vest is my favorite feature.  The sherpa fleece is super soft and warm.

The double layer front closure is an interesting design.  The compontents are all hefty - the snaps and zipper are metal, making them nearly indestructable. The slight bummer is the placement of the zipper catch, where you secure both sides of the zipper together to zip the vest closed.  I wish they allowed a little more seam allowance in the zipper because it's a bit challenging to get the zipper locked into place, even with my smaller fingers. The snaps are nicely positioned over the zipper, allowing for additional coverage and wind protection.  The snaps are easy to seal closed and open.

 Closing Thoughts

The Royal Robbins El Cap Canvas Vest is a nice mud-season transition vest that can double as both outerwear or as active insulation beneath a shell.

The vest is available for women in three colorways (granite, saddle, and basalm) and comes in sizes ranging from XS to XL.