How would you rate the thermawrap parka ??

Wanted one for a couple of years, and keep on waiting on a sale that will probably never happen and I want a XXL. I found an XL on sale for $145, tried it and it was too tight for me.

Is it too warm say to use alone with a base layer and hike with in very cold weather, like 10-15dF

How would you rate it just sitting around with say a wicking base layer, light wool shirt of some sort, light down vest, thermawrap and a wind shell.

Thanks

Edited by tammons on 01/30/2011 16:13:55 MST.

my wife just used one to 10-15 deg, at rest, comfortably. She had on Arcteryx Rho, Pata R1, thermawrap, light gloves and beanie, tights, fuzzy pants and shell pants.

There is some variance person to person. I have hiked in one when it was 10F. Sitting around with the combo you mentioned I think I have been good to 0F, but I run a bit hotter than some.

I would recommend the threads best backpacking clothing and iclo for light weight insulation

--mark

Used same type of setup as your wife and was easily good at 10 degrees. Don't think I would hike in it though unless you're on well cropped trails. I also love the MB Inner Down Parka.

I love mine. Ive had it for 3 years and use it almost exclusively around town and when hiking. Its still in great shape. 15 would be a good temperature to hike with it, but you can do warmer than that.

It does not have enough insulation for me. Seems wasteful, weight wise, to have an inner shell and an outer shell without putting more insulation in it.

The fixed cost (weight of inner and outer shell) would be the same if the insulation was doubled.

Richard Nisley cooked up a nice chart and thread at http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=18950 showing the Thermawrap between a Patagonia R1 hoody and a Power Stretch garment. It's good reading.

Edit: I was looking at the "standard" Thermawrap, not the parka --- different animals.

Edited by dwambaugh on 01/30/2011 20:52:02 MST.

Great test, But...

Why on earth did they not place a fan on said garments and get a wind reading. So close to reality. GRRRRRR Knowing your insulation value inside a tent is near useless information. Anyone who has worn 20/300 fleece or stretch power fleece compared to say the MB puffy or thermalparka will tell you that their breathability is FARRRR different and FARRRR different for warmth in even a slight breeze. Don't know about you, but I haven't been on any mountains recently that didn't have wind. Well actually, the last one I was on, I was wishing there was a breeze to keep the mosquitoes at bay!

That's one thing I wrestle with for lightly insulated jackets vs. fleece. If you are hauling a windshirt, the fleece plus windshirt makes a great combo, where the Thermawrap/Nano Puff stuff ends up duplicating that outer shell supplied by the windshirt. No free lunch!

Yes it does, and that is why I take a wind shirt. Why I run in a wind shirt as well.

What? No utopian garment? Darnit!

I have the Thermawrap jacket and have mixed thoughts about it at times. Overall, it is a great summer insulating piece but for cooler weather I much prefer the versatility of a 100wt fleece, wool baselayer t-shirt, and a windshirt. Mix and match based off temperature and how much you want the layers to breath. For me it seems that the windshirt and fleece combo is warmer than just the Thermawrap too.

The only problem is that the windshirt and fleece combo weighs twice as much as just taking the Thermawrap. Take your pick: versatility or minimalist lightweight?

Edited by radio_guy on 01/30/2011 22:06:17 MST.

Brian,

I didn't include the wind variable because most UL backpackers would wear a wind shirt or hard shell over a porous insulation in wind. There is a standard formula to determine the reduction in insulation based on the combination of wind speed, walking speed, and the permeability of your wind shirt or hard shell outer layer. The formula is in ISO 1079 and is accurate to +- 4%.



The following charts make it easier to understand the general relationships.

Edited by richard295 on 01/30/2011 23:33:15 MST.

First of all the OP mentioned Thermawrap parka, not the jacket--- apples and oranges.


Regarding the jacket...

Like the lined windshirts (Marmot Driclime, Patagonia Alpine), you have all your (thin) insulation in one basket. It *is* a nice garment and handy on day hikes or a cool summer morning, but if you are cold, bringing gear that doesn't meet your needs is truly excess weight. A windshirt plus a Power Stretch, R1, or 100W fleece hoodie leaves you with a versatile kit.

Is one graph nylon and the other side fleece by any chance?

Yes, am familiar with how wind effects said garmets and their permeability to said wind. If we had tabulated data of said permeability I could calculate it. Just wondered if you had tabulated it for us. General lazy human speaking here... =)

In general all down and primaloft garmets will have a type of ~nylon covering over said material.

More like I was interested in Fleece verses primaloft etc with nylon covering. As this would be generally speaking "good enough" to go along with those beautiful charts you already put together.

Brian,

Yup... close (good) enough.

Edited by richard295 on 01/31/2011 11:43:32 MST.