ExOfficio Women's Flyq Lite Vest

I read many reviews before purchasing and I compared this vest to literally everything comparable that’s currently available. As a former international flight attendant, I feel that this item left much to be desired.As many noted, it runs true to size, with a lean towards small. I used the size chart and ordered an XS. For reference, I am 5’3” and 105lbs. It fit, but just like all the reviews warned, the pockets are all but useless if you order your actual size.Serious design flaws are in abundance: the fit and cut is of a garment initially designed to be worn without the pockets and functionality this is being marketed for. In other words, order your actual size and forget about putting much more in the pockets than a chapstick and glasses, maybe a passport and the “designated” pockets will not work with the items that are supposedly intended to go there. I did not like the see-through pockets as I thought they were cheaply made and can’t think of any possible reason why I would “flash” my IDs and not remove them; the Velcro is problematic and ineffective at securing items. But the deal-breaker for me was the fact that many of the pockets are at the level of the bust. As a 34B, I tried placing my iPhone in a top pocket and it was a joke. A hard rectangle right over my bust. Sure, you can switch to lower pockets but CLEARLY this was designed by a man with no thought whatsoever to the female form. Items will hit your hips, your bust, or be lost to the few deeper pockets.Overall, I sort of get the good reviews. If you size up and don’t mind looking and feeling like a person with hard items pressing on every curve, it’s fine. Don’t plan to zip it up and good luck sitting down. I returned it. I don’t think manufacturers care or read reviews or suggestions. The area above the bust just below the collar bones could be utilized for small items. Bulky items should be at the waist not the hipbones. The Velcro is useless and hard to deal with with one hand. They cheaped out on zippers. Meh.

I had such great hopes for this travel vest. The fabric is very nice. I really like the linger length. But the configuration of the pockets are not as expected. 1. The phone pocket. The zipper barely opens 5 inches. My Galaxy Note 2 us 5.9 inches. No matter how you try the pocket is useless for a smartphone. Also this is supposed to be a women's vest. If you put your glasses in the glasses section and fill some of the other pockets the stuff gravitate to the area right over the breasts, not comfortable. Not able to zip the vest up. There is one zippered chest pocket on the outside. The picket is about 7" long and 4" inches wide, but the put a zipper only 4.5" opening. Very unusable. The water bottle pocket is on the inside with a mesh holder that pulls out to put a bottle in. To use it you have to keep the vest unzipped. Exofficio really missed an opportunity to design a great functional vest. I am keeping it because I like weight and quality of the fabric.

The fabric formed "lint-like" fuzz balls on the surface, probably from purse strap rubbing on it. This occurred after wearing vest only a few times.

I just received the vest, so I haven’t had a chance to use it yet, but I did try it on and fill some of the pockets. I suspect the vest has been used and returned, then sold as new. There is a small white stain near the top of the vest on the front. The inside tag appears to be wrinkled and discolored, and the clear pockets intended for cell phone and ID are definitely discolored and cloudy. The Velcro on the camera pocket is also very loose and does not stay closed if anything is placed in the pocket, but that could either be from use or just weak Velcro.I would return the vest, but we are leaving for a trip soon, and I don’t have time to return and receive a new one. Plus, I suppose there isn’t a guarantee that I would receive a new product a second time around since I ordered a new product initially, with no indication that I would be receiving a used item. I’m not opposed to purchasing used clothing, but I don’t think I should be charged the same price for a used item as for a new item, especially when ordering under the impression that I would be receiving a new item.Having said all that, the vest fits well. I am 5’4” and 125 lbs. I ordered a medium. The fit is a little loose with nothing in the pockets, but leaves plenty of room for the pockets to be filled.The cell phone pocket is way too small to fit my phone (iPhone 7 plus), but it actually fits well in the sunglasses pocket with Velcro closure. That might work out better that a zipper pocket because it will allow for quicker access to the phone. I was able to easily fit a kindle e-reader in the largest pocket. I initially put a knock off gopro (same size/weight as the GoPro) in the camera pocket, but because of the weak Velcro, that pocket is not very secure. I moved it over to the water bottle pocket and it fit well there. I’m not sure what I’ll use the cell phone pocket for, but I have a small back up battery that may fit there. I’ll have to play around to see where the larger backup batter can go.The passport pocket is pretty small. Seems to be made so that the passport just fits, with no wiggle room. The outside breast pocket is oddly small. I tried to place my phone in there, but it wouldn’t fit. Don’t know that it would hold anything with any bulk well. Probably a good spot for plane or train tickets. The hand warmer pockets sit at a good height/angle for resting your hands in. They are open, with no zip or Velcro closure. I’m good with that because I generally keep those pockets unzipped for easy use on clothing items that have zippers there. The lining is soft.I wish that they had included a large pocket on both sides of the vest. It would have made it easier to balance out the weight so that the vest would have less of a tendency to hang lopsided when open. This might not be as much of an issue if you are able to get your phone in the pocket labeled for a phone because this pocket is on the opposite side from the large pocket. Also, carrying a full water bottle in the water bottle pocket could help, but even then, the vest will become more lopsided as you drink and decrease the weight in the bottle. When zipped up, it doesn’t really hang lopsided, even when the weight distribution is off.Overall, I like the vest and I think it will be useful in the airport and in touristy/pickpocket probe areas for our trip. I’ll definitely have to play around with item placement to get the weight distribution right, but it seems doable. I really wish I had received a new product, though, and I think the functionality of the camera pocket may have been decreased by weakened Velcro from use by the prior owner.I’ll include pictures of the stain,discolored/cloudy clear pockets, and discolored inside tag. Also, the fact that the product label seems to have been attached with a plastic ring looped through the care instructions tag seems odd. I’ve never seen a retail item with a label placed there, increasing my suspicion that this item was used and repackaged as new.

Prompt delivery, great fit and feel. I ordered xsmall (5'3", 110lbs) and it was perfect fit. It doesn't look boxy but isn't tight so still have room to put items in the pockets. (Small chest /shoulders so if wide /busty may have less room for storage)