Thermawrap Parka vs Jacket

The MB Thermawrap parka worked well on the AT for me. The hood complimented my quilt setup.
I found the thermwrap with it's exceloft synthetic insulation stayeed warm even when soaked in rain. It also dried in about an hour after the rain stopped.
MB tends to run the small side. If you normally wear a medium get a large.

I would get the parka. I've of a mind that when you choose a garment for a slot in your layering scheme, it needs to work when you get to the top of the hill. The hood will keep cold air off you neck as well as your head. Add a beanie under and you can take on some cold stuff.

To really confuse the situation, you can look at all the Patagonia Nano Puff line. 6pm.com has a bunch of deals on them.

I use the Mountain Hardwear Compressor jacket in that slot. It is 15oz, but warmer, sized better for my XL size and was less expensive.

Also, if you use a windshirt, consider something like Patagonia R1, Capeline 4, or Power Stretch alternatives. Coupled with your windshirt, they will be the thermal equivalent of the Thermawrap jacket and they mix well with a rain shell, worn alone, and for sleeping. A Power Stretch Hoodie will extend your sleeping bag range nicely. I have a Power Stretch vest that rocks with a windshirt or rain shell for that day hike "extra little bit" and it is 8oz. If you want jacket coverage at lowest weight, a 1/2-zip pullover is great. These stretchy synthetic layers are warm, butter soft, and breath well. Bottoms too for that matter.

I have the jacket and it is one of my favorite pieces of equipment and among the very few items that's in my pack in every season. It's half the weight of a fleece, twice as compressible, equally breathable, and at least as wind-resistant as the wind-proof fleeces. I like wearing a ball cap or wind-proof fleece hat, so I find insulated hoods superfluous. I do find a hood essential on my windbreakers and rain jacket. The parka also has a thicker version of MB's insulation, which is noticeably warmer than the jacket's. It is also 50% heavier, 8 ounces vrs 12 ounces in a medium with the disparity growing with size, and not quite as compressible.

Thanks guys! This is helpful info.

I'd be careful about runs on the small side deal… I followed this, got me a medium instead of a small and I'm somewhat swimming in the jacket.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I don't think the MB parka earns its weight in warmth. Its definitely warmer than the jacket, but not by that much. My parka weighs 14 oz in large which is about 5.5 oz heavier than my jacket weighed in an XL. I think using a warm hat or baclava, with the jacket and a hooded wind shirt would be a better combination if warmth/weight is what you're after.

If you're using a quilt setup in sub freezing temps, then I might go with the parka and combine it with with a warm hat, but otherwise, I'd go with the jacket.