Synthetic fill insulation (Coreloft etc.)

[stu]

Carrying on from my Upper Body Layering Systems link...do many people use synthetic insulation layers while walking? (eg. Coreloft, Primaloft etc.).
I'm talking about wearing these jackets / vests while walking &/or stopped on wet, cold days...how do they perform when saturated?...too hot?...dry quickly?...
I am interested in these pieces for a second layer on bleak (read hypothermic) occassions, when the wind and rain really drive into you & it's hard to stay warm, even whilst walking.
On top of a merino base layer & underneath an outer shell they seem like the perfect mid-layer...it's just the saturation factor i'm really interested in?

[ULWalkingPhil]

Last week I purchased a Patagonia R2 Jacket on sale from Paddy Pallin. It's claimed to dry quick and weighs just over 300 grams. I've been told and read online that the jacket gives out similar warmth to a jacket that's more than twice it's weight. Going by the weight I have no doubt it will dry quickly, it feels great to wear, but the weather up here in QLD at the moment is to warm to wear the jacket.
Of to the mountains this weekend, Don't know if it will get cold enough to wear the jacket, Got all this great new winter gear I'm eager to try.

[icemancometh]

can't recommend them more

easy care, quick drying, comfy, don't have to worry about them, idiotproof, cheaper

a bit bulkier and not as warm as high end down which would be better in cold dry areas, ie not Australia!

been using them for a long time in one form or another, ie different proprietary synthetic fibres as well as the better known ones.

Warmth measured in weight: 40-60gsm for most conditions esp while walking (as the warm layer in warmer conditions)
100gsm and up for belay (colder conditions)

[stu]

Thanks guys, just what I wanted to hear
Continually trying to refine the layering systems for walking (have the dry set / camp clothing setup pretty much sorted).

Im hoping a merino base layer + synthetic jacket + Gore Tex outer shell will handle almost anything (wet / cold / windy / snowy).
If i'm cold with all of this on then it's probably going to be a short day b/w camp sites.

Happy to hear they still out perform fleece jackets when wet...which is common fair in Tassie obviously.

[icemancometh]

a lot of them have wind/'water resistant/proof outers and they make a difference depoending on end use and drying speed.
so definitely beat fleece there and can do without the WP on most occasions

Jackets/Belay jackets/pants/vests all available

[Empacitator]

Thanks guys, just what I wanted to hear
Continually trying to refine the layering systems for walking (have the dry set / camp clothing setup pretty much sorted).

Im hoping a merino base layer + synthetic jacket + Gore Tex outer shell will handle almost anything (wet / cold / windy / snowy).
If i'm cold with all of this on then it's probably going to be a short day b/w camp sites.

Happy to hear they still out perform fleece jackets when wet...which is common fair in Tassie obviously.

Synthetic is obviously superior to down when wet, however fleece is still king for warmth when wet... unless I am mistaken

[icemancometh]

not if there is any wind though

[Empacitator]

not if there is any wind though

Ahh ok I wasn't aware of this, good to know

[slparker]

I bought a MD bonfire jacket a couple of years ago, I use it for x-country skiing as it's snowproof and wind proof (it has a windstopper AS shell and synthetic fill). It's a good warm jacket that's great as a shell for skiing (when stopped). I see that the new ones are now primaloft and have a hood... should be even better. I only wear a light weight fleece now and use the bonfire for truly *&%$#! conditions. the only drawback is it's too puffy to fit under my slimline paclite shell, so i wear it over the paclite jacket when stopped (when I'm skiing). This wouldn't work in the rain however.

It seems reasonably breathable but I haven't worn it when working hard as it would be way too hot. The windstopper AS fabric is about the only version of windstopper that breathes well, in my estimation, so I would recommend it.

[icemancometh]

I bought a MD bonfire jacket a couple of years ago, I use it for x-country skiing as it's snowproof and wind proof (it has a windstopper AS shell and synthetic fill). It's a good warm jacket that's great as a shell for skiing (when stopped). I see that the new ones are now primaloft and have a hood... should be even better. I only wear a light weight fleece now and use the bonfire for truly *&%$#! conditions. the only drawback is it's too puffy to fit under my slimline paclite shell, so i wear it over the paclite jacket when stopped (when I'm skiing). This wouldn't work in the rain however.

It seems reasonably breathable but I haven't worn it when working hard as it would be way too hot. The windstopper AS fabric is about the only version of windstopper that breathes well, in my estimation, so I would recommend it.

Most people do layer the synthetics over the top allowing a better fitting shell layer. Re the rain, well you wouldn't want to be out skiing if it was raining anyway right?

[Moondog55]

I purchased my first synthetic fill jacket in Scotland in 1980, much warmer than fleece due to the windshell.
Early nylon shells were not as tightly woven as Pertex did not have a DWR treatment and you got wet; this was in the days before the Nikwax company invented TX10. you still got wet thru and in Scotland nothing dried out particularly quickly.
I used that particular Point5 jacket up until it died in 2001, my old ski parka ( does anybody remember the Flouro colours of the 90s??) was much more windproof due o the breathable waterproof coating and I am still amazed at how warm the original Thinsulate blanket fabric is.
My new belay parka looks like it will be warmer but I can't yet comment on how quickly it dries out in the field,

[Dale]

Timely thread for me as I'm looking into a synthetic jacket - basically as insurance during colder weather rafting trips. Have been considering the Montbell Thermawrap, Patagucci Nano Puff and Rab Xenon jacket. Interested to hear from anyone that has experience with these jackets or can make other recommendations.

Stu not sure about which synthetic fills are better than others, time for some research me thinks

[stu]

I was looking at the Arcteryx Atom LT (I like the look of the power stretch side panels)...light & packable & looks to be wearable on the go (unlike some which may be too warm as active wear).
http://arcteryx.com/Product.aspx?EN/Mens/Mid_Layer-Sweaters/Atom-LT-Jacket#
I have had other synthetic jackets, but looking for one in particular to wear on very wet & cold days as a mid-layer in Tassie...really interested to hear how they perform when saturated...

[Azza]

Stu you know you wanna buy it!.... if you don't like it you'll just be unloading it in the for-sale section like all your other gear.

[John Sheridan]

I want to get a Synthetic jacket, but not sure what to get, I was looking at getting the Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody Mens jacket, as from what I read it's good, I will still get a Goosedown jacket, but that would be only used underneath that if needed, the synthetic would be used to keep the down dry, also I could just put a poncho over the top of the down or synthetic if the rain gets really bad


Cheers if you can recomend a synthetic jacket.

[Moondog55]

I would be using a Patagonia nano-puff as an intermediate layer in place of my shirt/pile jumper them the jacket over the top.
I'm waiting for the new line-up, apparently there will be a hooded Nano pull-over in the new US winter range

[Nuts]

Been noticing arcteryx in a few searches for other gear Stu.
25% off: www.tacticaldistributors.com/arc-teryx also always a
few used Arc jackets on MEC Canada forum.

Ive been using various Montane/ TNF synth jackets for a few yrs now and was actually searching for something lighter (ie not as warm), someone recommended MEC's own hoody for under shell option.
http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/MensCloth ... r-mens.jsp

[Moondog55]

Mainpeak have some hoodies left on clearance, XXL but half price

http://www.mainpeak.com.au/clearance/pa ... -mens.html

[Nuts]

Have you tried one on M'dog? That thing would be Huge!! I could pull xl over my knees. Tie outs or a toilet roll holder would be nice..

[Moondog55]

XXL hoodie fits nicely over the XL pull-over on me.
The XL pull-over is perfect fit on me when I wear the silk weight and the R1, slim fitting style.
I could happily wear the XXL Nanopuff hoodie around town over a woolly jumper

[sailfish]

I am looking to a similar thing but pants and jacket to replace sleeping bag, to use around camp and for low activity like night fishing. My plan is to supplement the sleeping system with a down quilt but I want synthetic for clothing to cope with damp better. I think this will get me a lighter -10C kit. In the cold months on the central west/tablelands NSW (Nunes, Baal Bone etc), I find I usually only need an under shirt and a mid layer while walking, a shell if it's windy of course. Day temps here are seldom below zero, usually below 10 in winter and the above is enough for that so I really only need fill for night or low activity. Overnight minimums can be down to -10C or so depending exactly where. We do occasionally get snow but I have never camped in that and I don't intend too either. In wet weather, it is not so cold at night due to cloud so I think I might just get away with this system. Good to see some alternitives mentioned, thanks all.

Regards,
Ken

[Moondog55]

Sailfish see my comments on the new US generation 3 ECWCS, you can get jacket and pants from ebay for a quarter the cost of Patagonia and even less if second hand

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GEN-III-ECWCS-L ... 415cfb2a5d

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GEN-III-3-ECWCS ... 3a6f6ea79d

[kymboy]

It's not exactly bushwalking but I just spent 4 weeks touristing in Europe - chilly days and nights between 0-12 max and plenty of drizzle. Took a Patagonia Nano Puff jacket which was fantastic. Most days just wore it over a t shirt and was plenty warm and dry enough. Lightweight and didn't need any delicate handling. Great jacket and you don't look like a Michelin Man (except if you eat in Michelin starred restaurants, which I didn't