Comfy®️ Down Vest

52 years and still going!

The Comfy®️ label was used by the Seattle Quilt Company going back to 1936. I bought this vest (or rather my parents did) when I started my sophomore year in high school. That was in 1973. It was part of the unofficial "uniform" at the time and you had to have one if you were going to be cool. Not sure how cool I was, but this vest sure turned out to be a hell of a good investment. I've been using it every winter since. 

Sadly, the brand is long gone, but I think there are still some lessons to be learned. If you can find good quality, you'll only ever need one. Kind of like MSR stoves, Moss tents, external frame Kelty packs, and Danner boots. I don't see many down vests or even puffies that have the fill this vest does. And it's goose down. No, it isn't the modern dry down and it probably doesn't have a DWR coating but this thing has never once failed me. That's a testament to its quality. I know there are a few of us on this forum that will remember some of the old brands. Olin had only owned Seattle Quilt for a couple of years when I got this and it was made in Seattle. 

I think the biggest takeaway is that buying good stuff, even if it costs extra, is ultimately the best choice. If you only need to buy it once, there's less stuff in land fills, fewer resources used in production and distribution; all of which are good for the planet we all share. It also saves money in the long run. I know I'm being kind of preachy, sorry. Ultimately, though, that is why this forum is so important. We aren't getting points or swag or followers for reviewing stuff and so I am confident with what I see here and it's helped me make some informed decisions and steered me away from would be poor choices. 

This old vest has been down many a trail and seen a lot of snow storms over the years. It's been (and continues to be) a trusted companion. I think those of us who are old enough to have had a piece of clothing or gear for a few decades appreciate that. Those of you who haven't had that experience have something to look forward to! 

Finally, when I was researching what happened to the brand, I came across this website. I learned a lot about this company and its roots in the "Old Country" and poking around found tons of information about many of the old  Seattle brands. Quite a few of them are still around in some form or another.  What a hot bed of innovation Seattle has been for the outdoor industry! It's fun reading if you have some time.  

Background

I'm in my sixth decade with this product.