Pentagon Thespis Sweater Vest & Leonidas 2.0 Sweater

Being fortunate enough to have experience with the Pentagon brand, I was pleased to receive two more products from the company - the Thespis Sweater Vest and Leonidas 2.0 Sweater. The name of the former gives a clue to its ‘sleeveless’ cut, while the latter is more in line with what we’d term a ‘hoodie’. Founded in 1991, Pentagon is a well-known manufacturer of top-quality outdoor and military clothing and equipment.

Build and features

The construction of both garments uses a 75% cotton/25% polyester mix, meaning they’re both breathable, so ideal for use in a layering system. Both share a full front YKK zipper with a chin guard and glove-friendly zipper pull, high collars for extra protection against the elements, a very generously sized hood with inner lining for comfort, plus a drawstring for ease of adjustment.

Pretty armless

I’ve increasingly become a convert to gilet-style garments, not only due to the ease they can be transported but because they can be worn in a layer system without hindrance. Also, in milder times, they are a very useful outer layer.

The Thespis Sweater Vest features 2x large seamless laser-cut hand pockets with a soft inner lining, plus the top of the arm sections and lower elasticated hemline are ribbed. The inner torso section has a microfibre look, making it soft and very comfortable to wear.

Overall, this is a stylish and comfortable mid-layer offering excellent freedom of movement, with good protection against the wind and cold.

Fully armed

Though using the same material build, all the zips on the Leonidas 2.0 Sweater feature zipper garages. Storage is catered for by two hand pockets and a chest pocket, all zip-fastened with soft inner linings to help with comfort and warmth.

As with the vest, it follows a similar design in build, but this particular garment has full sleeves, and the ribbed cuffs and bottom hem are also elasticated for a snug fit. There are hook-and-loop panels on both sleeves for easy personalisation/patch attachment.

Conclusion

The Thespis Sweater Vest and Leonidas 2.0 Sweater may well have the same constructional build, but they’ll be used in different situations depending on conditions. The Thespis is ideal for wearing in a layer system when you don’t require any extra protection or warmth to the arms. However, the Leonidis feels slightly heavier in build, not only due to the full arms but also because of the more substantial soft inner fleece lining. Both are ideal for hunting, hiking, and fishing, plus they are stylish enough to be used as casual wear.