View Full Version : Down / Synthetic Insulated Parka ?
The Alpkit Filo (700+ fill power) that I was hoping to purchase for the North Woods of Maine in January is out of stock. Am told to expect daytime temperatures of around -7oC but to prepare for extremes. Can folk recommend an alternative? Would a Swedish M90 do the job?
Glosfisher
20-12-2009, 19:59
Where are you flying into? If it's Boston, you could make a small deviation on your way to the North Woods to Freeport, home of LL Bean and numerous other outdoor retailer factory outlets. Far cheaper than this side of the pond.
Down or synthetic? It's your call but synthetic seems more sensible value for money in damp old Blighty (and Maine can be pretty damp in my experience too...).
I've had a couple of down jackets and have always found that unless it's seriously cold, if you are working, the down gets damp and loses its loft from melted snow / sleet / perspiration / condensation. I think down jackets are great for standing around in the cold in but not for walking hard unless it's really cold
NS
Nonsuch, it's for lunch stops / emergency use.
The Cumbrian
20-12-2009, 21:57
If you intend to use it only in extreme cold, but where it can be occasionally fully dried out, go for down. If it's for extended use, and if you want it to be useful in the UK, go for synthetic. You should be able to get a Patagonia DAS parka in the States for a reasonable price.
Cheers, Michael.
forestwalker
21-12-2009, 05:44
The m90 parka would work fine, as would just about any parka that was
1. big enought to fit easilly over all your other clothes
2. reasonably thickly insulated (i.e. not a symbolic layer of hollowfill; 3-5 cm makes a surprising difference)
For extra goodness look for one that
1. has a hood large enough to go over at least a wool hat (preferably fixed rather than with snaps; it will selfdetach in your pack, and you will have to reattach it at -25 C, which much and inventive cursing of fashion designers)
2. large pockets where you can temporarilly store mittens while doing stuff
3. an outer fabric that is not insanity to wear next to a fire
When you get it add a loop of cord (e.g. 15 cm of paracord tied into a loop) to each and every zip. An extra suggestion is to add "cloak-flaps" like the m90 has; nice when you just want to wear it over your shoulders. Basically two fabric strips sewn on to the inside of the parka halfway between the armholes and the zip, with velcro/button/snap to attach them to each other.
I usually keep one or two chemical handwarmers in the inside pockets of mine (when so equipped; the m90 is not). In a bad situation you can pull your arms into the parka, trigger the handwarmer and be hopefully make life bit more comfortable.
Leonidas
21-12-2009, 07:30
For daytime temp of -7....I would layer, especially if performing manual tasks.
i.e. base layer, thermal layer, fleece then goretex top (Unlined).
When doing manual stuff remove a layer to regulate and reduce sweating.
Only if it were much colder would I look at a serious down / synthetic, jacket / parka style coat.
The Swedish M90 will easily do the job, also take a look at the N3B parka, also relatively cheap and light, ensure the size is roomy enough to accommodate mid and base layers in extreme conditions as it will provide the essential trapped air layers (Instead of the unlined goretex jacket as a top layer).
Am taking a North Face Ice Jacket for Northern Norway in Feb, (Expecting -20 plus hopefully :) ) but this would be too much jacket for -7 and more than likely be a hindrance as I would generate additional sweat which would lead to severe problems in cold environments.
Tom
Nonsuch, it's for lunch stops / emergency use.
Thanks all for your comments. Leonidas, like I said, the parka's for lunch and other such stops of inactivity. My activity layers are very much sorted! :)
Does anyone know if it might be possible to get hold of an unissued Swedish M90 Parka? Also, if they ever made a "small"? And, again, the height and weight dimensions for the medium, if anyone has one?
Cheers,
Lee
Where are you flying into? If it's Boston, you could make a small deviation on your way to the North Woods to Freeport, home of LL Bean and numerous other outdoor retailer factory outlets. Far cheaper than this side of the pond.
I'm flying in/out of Portland so, if I can get a friend to drive me, this may well be possible?
Chris the Cat
21-12-2009, 11:30
Tom is right about the N3B,great kit BUT there are a lot of copies out there that WILL NOT keep you warm when the temp drops!!
Get a genuine one.
M90,-Fab! ( and cheap!!)
Lars Falts recomends them.
Hope this helps.
Chris.
suburban bushwacker
21-12-2009, 12:05
I fancy one of theses myself
http://wiggys.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=184&CFID=523790&CFTOKEN=13711003
especially in Ventile
SBW
forestwalker
21-12-2009, 12:56
Thanks all for your comments. Leonidas, like I said, the parka's for lunch and other such stops of inactivity. My activity layers are very much sorted! :)
Does anyone know if it might be possible to get hold of an unissued Swedish M90 Parka? Also, if they ever made a "small"? And, again, the height and weight dimensions for the medium, if anyone has one?
The m90 sizing system is based on height and weightm, and pretty much right on. I think it is possible to find some unissued ones, but the pre-used ones I have work fine. When you shop you will find two versions:
Early issue has a proper insulated hood, but once you get down to -15 C or so it gets quite noisy; sounds like you are wearing a froozen garbage bag lined with aluminium foil.
Late issue comes without a proper hood (only a fabrtic shell rolled up inside the collar), but is blessedly quiet at low temps.
I have one of each, and they are very, very good. I'm going to fix up a lined hood for the late issue one, the early one lives -- with some thermal pants, mittens and a Poor Rabbit hat -- in the back of my car in winter (as does an axe, a knife, a rain-poncho, and an old set of "Swedish Army Trangia" pots, but those are all year stuff).
The m90 sizing system is based on height and weightm, and pretty much right on.
Does anyone have both the Swedish Army and chest measurements in their size? Small (if there was/is one), medium and large, please. Or, for example, at 5'11" I weigh next to nothing at around 10 stone (sp?) plus.
Early issue has a proper insulated hood, but once you get down to -15 C or so it gets quite noisy; sounds like you are wearing a froozen garbage bag lined with aluminium foil.
Late issue comes without a proper hood (only a fabrtic shell rolled up inside the collar), but is blessedly quiet at low temps.
A bit of a conundrum there then. What material is each made out of? I've read here that one of them was a 60/40 polycotton mix.
Based on the sizes at Premier Surplus (first on the Google search), I'm a large. 180/65. I find this hard to believe as I'm a small in everything! Even taking in consideration layering I'd be a medium at the largest, no?
I wear a duvet jacket around camp, would not be without it in winter. When I was hiking I survived well on a fleece and Gortex jacket.
forestwalker
21-12-2009, 19:53
Does anyone have both the Swedish Army and chest measurements in their size? Small (if there was/is one), medium and large, please. Or, for example, at 5'11" I weigh next to nothing at around 10 stone (sp?) plus.
The system works; try to find one in 180 cm/65 kg
A bit of a conundrum there then. What material is each made out of? I've read here that one of them was a 60/40 polycotton mix.
I don't know for sure. I suspect that they early ones might be more synthetic than the latter, but have no data to back this up with. I'm vaguelly thinking about some light weight cotton canvas or G1000 if I can get hold of it, some hollowfill and a classic zip-less parka pattern...
Glosfisher
21-12-2009, 20:45
I'm flying in/out of Portland so, if I can get a friend to drive me, this may well be possible?
Portland is about 30km south of Freeport and you have to virtually go past LL Bean's front door to get to where you want to go.
Patagonia also have an outlet store in Freeport if you want to go the DAS Parka way, which I would heartily endorse.
The Cumbrian
21-12-2009, 21:46
Wil you be carrying the parka?
Chris the Cat
21-12-2009, 21:49
Wil you be carrying the parka?
Very good point!
M90,fab! ( If you are wearing it,or in a Landy! Less good if you are carrying it!!)
C da C.
Very good point!
M90,fab! ( If you are wearing it,or in a Landy! Less good if you are carrying it!!)
C da C.
It'll be either lashed to the toboggan or in/outside my daypack.
big_swede
22-12-2009, 00:33
What kind of budget are you looking at?
I would go for a better jacket than the M90. I had a mountain equipment cirrus jacket that I used for those conditions. Light, small pack volume, fairly cheap.
Colder than that I would use a mountain eq. light line down jacket. Light, smallish pack volume, a bit more money but not absurd.
Both these jackets weigh way less than half of the m90 parka. And packs much smaller. I would use none of the three for moving or working. Rather just as a reinforcement for breaks and sitting around camp.
So, you'd say the M90 weighs around 1.5kg? The newer issue, that is.
My budget is a bit up in the air at the moment so I'm thinking my way around the subject.
mountain equipment cirrus jacket
They only seem to do the pants now.
big_swede
22-12-2009, 00:54
So, you'd say the M90 weighs around 1.5kg? The newer issue, that is.
My budget is a bit up in the air at the moment so I'm thinking my way around the subject.
I don't have a scale, but my random guestimate is around 2 kilos. I tried ooogling that the other day, but no-one dare state it's weight.
If budgets tight I would go for the cirrus jacket. The parka is huge and heavy compared to the cirrus. It's worth it. Sell your dvd. :)
big_swede
22-12-2009, 00:57
They only seem to do the pants now.
Hmm, sorry, there was a jacket available before, I used to own one! There are a lot of equals though. Most climbing and outdoor brands do these jackets nowadays. In worst case you could go with the snugpak version.
So, the Cirrus was synthetic?
It's worth it. Sell your dvd. :)
I don't get it. What DVD? The only one I own is a burned copy of Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Film from the 60s.
big_swede
22-12-2009, 01:39
I don't get it. What DVD? The only one I own is a burned copy of Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Film from the 60s.
Oh, I meant player. The cirrus was a synthetic yes.
If I had a DVD player to sell, it'd be gone!