Montbell Pants

I purchused the Thermawrap pants for a snow shoe trip I did in Stehekin Wa. last winter and they are so warm. Being in the Pacific Northwest I prefer the synthetic over down. I wore them around camp and in my bag. I really liked them. I seem to run colder than most people and these pants did great for me!

First of all, let me say that I love down. It is the only material I will consider in a sleeping bag or cold weather quilt. However, I wear synthetic insulation, (Patagonia Micro Puff Jacket & Pants), similar to the Thermawrap

I too, hike in the White Mountains of NH. I have a vacation place up there and I live in Florida. Therefore, I deal with wet environments (although I don’t need the insulation in Florida; I’m waiting for someone to invent an UL solar powered air-conditioned suit).

My thinking is that I can keep a down sleeping bag dry because I store it in a dry bag and only take it out in the shelter of my tent. However, in camp, I need to wear insulation because I’m not creating my own heat like I am when I’m huffing & puffing up & down those mountains. But, I’m not confident that I can keep my worn insulation dry as I cook, clean, hang bear bags, visit the latrine, etc.

Now, if I can just convince Bill Fornshell that his next project should be that air-conditioned suit,…

> I need insulated pants for my sleep system(zipperless SD Moonlight bag), as well as for camp wear in the winter…the dillema is:
Montbell UL Down Pants, or the Thermawrap Pants. Any opinions?

Well, unless your down trousers are seriously over-stuffed, the down is going to sink towards the ground (I was going to say ‘downwards’ …), leaving your bum rather cool. I think this is one place where synthetic fill has a distinct advantage: you can ‘hang’ it from the waist-band.

Cheers

I have owned the same pair of FeatheredFriends Down Pants for around 10 years. They wiegh about 15 oz. and I paid $150, now they are $200. They’ve been fantastic around camp and to sleep in.
If you take care of your stuff and take care to keep it dry, down is more compressible and lighter.
The Montbells are close to half of this weight and considerably cheaper but of course not as warm. I am now also buying the Montbells on account of the weight difference.
I think you should try the down, just so you will know from experience what YOU like.
Mountainistically,
gKd
NH

Roger:

The down insulation won’t sink to the bottom. And in the case of the jacket, down won’t sink to the waist either.

thanks Benjamin, I wanted to mention that too. I’m in complete agreement. If the stuff didn’t work, why do so many companies offer down gear? Answer: many people like it. Good Night and Good Luck.
gKd
NH

Feathered Friends uses Epic and eVent fabrics with their down products. In anything but a rain storm these keep the down dry. My Helios is fine when it's snowing, even without a shell. This idea the down is useless in the PNW is bunk ( I know because I live here in the rain country). I have a Thermawrap parka and a FF Helios down parka w/ Epic. I don't take my Thermawrap anymore. There is NO comparison in warmth between down and synthetic.

Me too they don't call ot the white mtn national swamp for nothing.