Three years ago, I was deep into a book called The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter. Its core idea struck a chord: as Americans, we’re addicted to comfort—and maybe that’s holding us back. It got me thinking about the challenges I’d been sidestepping in my own life. So I decided to shake things up and chase a few discomforts head-on.

Fast forward a few months, and I found myself signing up for a fourth-season public land elk hunt in Colorado—arguably one of the coldest, most rugged adventures you can pick. If that wasn’t enough, I also committed to the 50km Berkebeiner nordic Ski Race in northern Wisconsin. It's February. It's brutal. And as much as I love pushing my limits, one thing that's true for any great adventure, I want gear.

That’s where the idea for the ButtVest began.

A Problem Worth Solving

Let’s rewind to the Berkebeiner. Anyone who’s done a nordic ski race in the dead of winter knows the battle: stay warm without turning into a sweaty mess. Back then, I dug out an old pair of insulated hockey shorts for a pre-race warm-up layer. They worked…sort of. But they were clunky, didn’t breathe, and let’s be honest, not designed for anything but skating drills. That sparked the idea: What if there was an insulated layer that was easy to throw on, kept my core warm, but didn’t sacrifice mobility?

A couple of prototypes later, I had something I started calling the ButtVest. Think insulated shorts—but better. With full side zippers, I could throw them on over anything and yank them off in seconds, no awkward shimmy required.

Then came the elk hunt. If you’ve ever sat motionless in the cold, waiting for an elk to wander into range, you know the true meaning of freezing your butt off. The ButtVest became an essential part of my kit. From hours of sitting in the snow glassing at dawn and dust, to covering mid-day miles to packing out 100+lbs loads of meat, I’d zip it on when glassing from a ridge or sitting around camp, and my core stayed toasty without the bulk of extra layers on my legs and knees.

A Workwear Essential

Here’s the thing I didn’t expect: The ButtVest didn’t just shine on the trails or in the backcountry. It became my go-to layer for everything around the cabin.

Plowing snow? Perfect. It slides right over my work pants, no fuss. Hopping in the skid steer for a few hours? The waterproof butt panel means I’m not sitting on cold, wet vinyl all morning. I even wear it under WerkBibs for an extra boost of warmth.

The magic is in the design. By insulating only your core and upper legs, the ButtVest doesn’t restrict your movement—no bulky layers over your joints. And those side zips? They make the ButtVest disappear when you don’t need it. Just unzip, and it’s like you’re not wearing it at all.

And let’s talk about durability. I’ve dragged this thing through snowbanks, sat in a wet tractor seat for hours, and tromped through brush in it. The waterproof butt panel holds up. The zippers never dig into your hips. It’s workwear that works as hard as you do.

For the Uncomfortable Moments

The ButtVest isn’t about chasing comfort. It’s about being ready for those moments when you’d rather be uncomfortable but need to get the job done anyway. Whether you’re out hunting, racing, plowing, or just braving whatever cold weather throws at you, embrace it because with the ButtVest, you’re more than ready to face it.

Try it out, and let me know how it handles your next adventure. As for me? I’ll be wearing mine at the next Berkebeiner, maybe even on the hunt after that.

Stay warm, stay moving, and keep pushing your limits.

— Brian