Puffer vest vs. long sleeve in Sept.

I have found for variable weather I actually prefer a long sleeve puffer because I can take it off and tie the sleeves around my shoulders or waist.

I’m also headed to Scotland in Sept. and I’m taking my puffer coat, with sleeves. I also have a raincoat that fits over the puffer coat.

I like vests for the bit of freedom it gives me. I was in Scotland in May (2023) and had an Eddie Bauer jacket, but mostly relied on my Orvis vest. I think I wore that almost every day. It matched all my tops (sort of) and gave me just that extra bit of warmth I needed when it was too warm for a jacket but a bit too cold for just the top. It was thin enough that it fit under the jacket if I needed to add something and it had 2 deep side pockets.

But I would also think a puffer vest would be just as good. I wear one around here (in Duluth) a lot during the cold season; even indoors, as it keeps me warmer but doesn't feel cumbersome. And you just never know what will happen with weather in Scotland. It could easily be less chilly, but with the puffer vest you could get your warmth but still have more freedom of motion (imo). And most of us feel warmer when our torsos are covered. I just don't worry about my arms as much. But that's me. :-)

I've been to Scotland in September several times. Sometimes warm and dry, sometimes damp and cold usually a mix.

Last trip September 2023 I brought my puffer vest along with my waterproof raincoat. Perfect combination for that trip, one or the other or sometimes together. My puffer jacket would have been too much.

However, we were traveling with friends from Arizona. She was bundled up everyday no matter the temps. You would have thought we were on different trips.

She was bundled up everyday no matter the temps. You would have
thought we were on different trips.

You just described my sister and I when we travel. I'm the bundled up one. :-)

However, we were traveling with friends from Arizona. She was bundled up everyday no matter the temps. You would have thought we were on different trips.

Ha ha, that made me laugh! I can't stand to be too bundled up (unless it's below 20 degree), so I always go with the least invasive outerwear. :-)

Thanks for the thoughtful replies thus far. I do like the lack of constricting on the arms with the vest, too, mardee. I feel a bit like the Michelin man wearing the puffer coat and raincoat, but it would be a better choice if I were to just have that without the raincoat as one warmer top layer. I plan on taking a few cuddle dud types of base layers, too, which I really like to keep my core warm. Pros and cons for both. They are really lightweight jackets, which is great. It’s just the vest is a little bit less cumbersome. I may need to spend a little time with each on to see if that decides, and the temp projections, too.

I think it depends on what you will be doing and where you will be. Here in Skye for day to day wear (except in the coldest months), I wear a long sleeved t shirt of some kind (breathable if I'm hiking or just a regular one if not) and I have my trusty waterproof and windproof jacket with me. It's not thick material so I guess you'd call it a shell? It has a hood. I don't wear my puffer jacket except on really cold and dry days (of which there are very few in Skye!). The sleeveless vest is, I think, less popular here than in the States. I'd think of that as being more of a hiking thing. I do have a sleeveless, zip up, fleece thingy, that I guess you might call a vest. But I have seldom worn it.