I've made a few like the ones at the top and they seem to work really well. And it's definitely cheaper to DIY. Check out bandanas as a fabric source also. They're generally no more than a buck or two and come in all sorts of cool prints. I did these two for our trip to Ft. Worth earlier this year, used bandanas to line a lightweight denim. Turned out kinda cute if I do say so myself
Bandana vests.jpg