Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Warmest puffy?

Any synthetics? Down gets damp from perspiration even when being careful. It is also expensive.

I have a Patagonia that I like for these purposes. Very light, reasonably compressible, quite warm. And it was cheap, but its falling g apart at last and needs replacement.

I have the level 7 puff jacket, and it is very warm. I didn't think there was a comparable to the LPP, but since I retired, I'm not sure what they're adding or replacing anymore.

Sorry, I meant specific shell recommendations/favorites. Thanks.

Form,

I appreciate your field testing and realize that any such testing must have some objective criteria to use.

However, short of coyotes and whitetails (where most of the time, weight is not a concern), how realistic is sitting motionless for hours? And why did you pick that as your yardstick?

I live and hunt in Montana in November, in one of the colder parts of the state. I can't imagine carrying enough clothes up a mountain to sit motionless for hours when its around 0* F, and even if I had the clothing, I'd have to bring a second set of boots to keep my feet warm once I got there.

Point being, I never assume that I will have to be motionless for hours, and really I can't think of why I would. Usually I sit down to glass, throw on a layer or two, and try to sit for as long as possible. Then, I either get up and hike to a new glassing spot or take a short warm-up walk and then come back to my spotting scope. Even if I bring an insulation layer for top and bottom and am mostly comfortable, my feet will get cold and I'll have to move to warm those up.

I posted earlier that it was 4 degrees a couple days ago when we were elk hunting. Sit motionless for hours in that? Not a chance. I've never found a soft enough rock in the mountains for my butt to take it for that long. My feet would be the first victims.

Every person is different so there is no one right answer.

For me, the LPP over the Atom is very warm. It was too warm for hiking in single digit temps at 12k. Then I had a Patagonia silk weight base, 240 and Atom. The Atom is a surprisingly warm jacket. This morning it was in the 20s but very windy and my body was completely comfortable as well. I was still, just leaning against a tree glassing a mountain. I’m never moving to get warm while glassing. If I get that cold it’s time to start hiking somewhere. It’s just hunting, I’m. It that motivated! Hands and feet are typically another story when temps get into the teens. Legs have been ok with FL Merino, Prana Zion with the puffy kuiu insulation over the top while glassing. I did pick up some big Cabelas gloves for glassing and they are awesome. kind of bulky, but warm!!

My feet are always the first to get me moving. Trying some Superfeet in insulated Crispis. It’s a little better.

I still love this thread.

And still no one has called anyone an idiot yet

I was all set to buy a Sitka Kelvin down hoody but will re-evaluate the FL Chamberlan.

Form - how durable do you think the exterior material is on the Chamberlin? I believe its nylon.

Have you personally had a high quality down jacket wet out? I/we have used a bunch, and I can not say on good down, especially water treated down, has lost loft.

My second question would be- why are you sweating in a puffy?









Whew. That’s a bit open ended. What are you wanting out of the shell?










For one reason, you have to have a standard to compare against. Of a “moving” standard is used there is almost no usable info that can be gleaned. For instance, last week in 5 degrees, snow falling, and a 8-10 mph wind, I was in a thin base layer and waffle top (LW fleece) while slowly moving, and would have been drenched from sweat with any weight puffy. In contrast, my partner had the same layers on, plus a heavy puffy, and a rain jacket and was fine.




Second, for hunting- we get to ridge tops and glass big valleys all day. I agree with you in that I doubt very many people sit and glass late season, as we’ve never met a single person doing it and in the last decade in 4-5 western states. However it works, and we kill pretty consistently doing it.


As for what you do- why would you want to “need” to move instead of choosing clothing that lets you just sit and glass? Feet are the problem, but there are ways to mitigate that.


If you use the “I move when I get cold” standard... there’s no info there. That’s how you get people say that a jacket that has as much insulation as a 50 degree sleeping bag “is an oven”. It means nothing.








I guess the 40+ dudes we’ve conducted testing with are sissy’s. Not one dude has been comfortable in those temps wearing those clothes.







It’s a normal puff jacket. I wouldn’t wear it busting brush, but then I couldn’t move at all in it anyways. The Sitka with WS is much more durable.

The Atom is a nice jacket, and probably has the most comfortable hood of anything I've tried. But it is noisy, especially when it gets real cold. I like either the Kuiu Kenai or Patagonia Nano Air better because they are quiet. I wore a Kuiu Peloton 200 hoody and a Nano Air last weekend. It was -2* F. It worked very well when active. Of course, I had to layer up when I stopped.

Could you list what you carry to allow you to sit motionless for so many hours?


I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't find it practical to carry as many clothes as I think I would need to stay warm (and again, cold feet are ultimately my limiting factor).


Also, I don't mind taking short breaks to warm up during glassing sessions. My eyes and brain welcome the disruption.


Overall, I think we hunt using similar tactics. I'm just curious as to how you are able to sit so long.

You’re saying 40+ dudes couldn’t comfortably glass in the teens wearing an Aerowool base, Peleton 240, Arcteryx Atom and an LPP?? I find that an insanely warm combination. Too warm for anything but glassing. I’ve been wearing it a few weeks and it’s fantastic for me. If it’s too cold when wearing that I’m not going hunting. I think the coldest I’ve sat with it is 0-5 deg. Body is totally comfortable.

Thanks.

I know I'm being OCD but it might be helpful to list which ATOM you have. They make 3 or 4 levels of Atom Jacket. (AR, LT, SL, etc)

I’d also be very interested in this. It seems like the cold seeps up through my feet and limits the amount of time I can sit in cold weather as well.

Try a 18"x60"x1/2" ensolite pad, feet to small of back insulation and some padding. It rolls up and carries easily.

mike r

There are a few combinations that generally work, but down to 15-20 degrees this year-

Lightweight base layer top and bottom- FL Aerowool, Patagonia Level 1, FS 100, etc.

Light to mid fleece top- Patagonia R1 grid, etc.

Wind shirt.

Whatever pants one prefers- Prana Zion, Sitka Timberlines FL, Obsidian, etc.


That’s what’s worn moving. Immediately upon stopping, put on Chamberlin jacket and rain jacket over that.

Lightweight puff pants go on, heavy weight puff pants (PCU Level 7, Beyond, etc.) over that. Then rain pants over all of it. Add neck gaitor and beenie. The main weakness is puff pants. No one is really making down pants comparable to the FL Chamberlin. Nunatak will build them, and I’ll have a pair next year.


Any colder and you really need to step up to a true artic suit such as the Arc’teryx LEAF Cold WX SV.







No, not motionless. How long were you sitting still and “totally comfortable”?

Mountain serape!!!!!!

And I like a windshirt over the base layer and under the fleece insulation layer.