The North Face's too innovative air vest.

As soon as he arrived at the mountain, Ikeda-san took something out of his "The North Face" stuff sack. He attached the stuff sack to it and began to pump air into the sack. ...... Yes, this is The North Face's innovative product, the "Air Chamber Nupsi Vest.

The North Face" vest looks like it has down in it. . What's stuffed inside is air.

It may look difficult, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy to inflate," says Ikeda, "and it takes less than two minutes to go from flimsy to flat. . After about 15 times of blowing air into it, it is already flat.

This "Air Chamber Nupsi Vest. Although we tend to focus on the functions, Mr. Ikeda's first impression was "mode.

. I'm sure the shiny fabric and the way it bulged out gave the impression of modesty. . So at first, I prioritized that impression and put a black hard shell under the vest. . I was happy with that, because it gave a sense of stylishness. . It is an item that can give various impressions depending on how it is worn.

In his search for the best solution, Ikeda arrived at a mountain style that, while premised on outdoor activities, is not too "functionally oriented.

When it comes to wearing a functional vest outdoors, many people tend to wear pants and innerwear under their vests that are also functional. Of course, that's not bad, but for me, if you wear the Air Chamber Nupsi Vest outdoors, I think it goes well with American casual wear. However, if I were to wear a normal American casual style, it would be too casual. . So, today, I am wearing a uniform gray color with an American casual look in mind. By limiting the colors, I can keep a solid impression.

On this day, he wore a fleece over a wool parka, the "Air Chamber Nupsi Vest" over that, lined work pants, a quilted skirt, and work boots. As Mr. Ikeda says, "The scene I envisioned was a winter camping trip," the outfit was made to be able to withstand the cold. . "If you use black for the pants, it will instantly make them look more functional," he adds.

He also gave other tips on how to wear the "air chamber".

If you make them too puffy, it's hard to get a good overall balance," he said. So, I think there is a best way to inflate each item, and the first step is to find it. Once you get that right, it's no different from a regular down coat, so I think it will be a very easy item to use.

On the other hand, since there is no down in this vest, the question arises, "Is it really warm?" On the other hand, this vest does not contain down, so the question arises, "Is it really warm? After all, it is only air.

But air is actually a fairly high insulator, able to trap body heat and keep outside air out. The theory is similar to that of an insulating tumbler. . It is not as warm as down, but it keeps your body heat in.

. "If I had worn a down vest in today's weather, I'm sure it would have been too hot . But the "Air Chamber Nupsi Vest" looked like a down vest, but it was never too hot to wear. If you ask me if it wasn't warm, it wasn't either. If I let my guard down and took off the vest, I felt how chilly it was. I think it does a good job of keeping my body temperature in check."

Mr. Ikeda continued. . "If you tighten the zipper, it will be warmer and look more practical. If warmth is important to you, maybe you can let more air in."

Another thing attributed to the warmth is that the vest is made of "GORE-TEX INFINIUM". . Therefore, it is windproof and does not allow wind to penetrate. In addition, it is water-resistant and water-repellent, so a little rain is not a problem at all. . Don't be sorry if your arms get wet.

The "Air Chamber" is a unique and innovative item, as Mr. Ikeda says, "You have created an interesting item. . It is a highly versatile item that can be used not only for outdoor activities, but also for street wear.

Leaving the mountain behind, the next stop is the middle of the city.