Nano Puff or Micro Puff?

what temps are you expecting?

My summer kit pretty much echoes yours except I use a Power Stretch mid-layer vs your R-1. What I did was to add a Micro Puff vest rather than a thinner puffy jacket. The vest gives good core insulation and is a little lighter than a Nano Puff pullover. The vest allows good arm movement and doesn't seem so bulky under a rain shell or windshirt. It cost less too.

I've owned a Montbell Thermawrap and a Patagonia Nano Puff and I would rather have a Power Stretch Cap4, R1, or similar mid-layer with a windshirt. Those light shelled insulated tops feel good and seem handy enough, but I think they just end up duplicating the shell you already have if you are carrying a windshirt, and they don't deliver much in the way of insulation– about the same as a 200W fleece. With the mid-layer and windshirt, you can swap them around to suit and the mid-layers are excellent for sleeping in.

I live in CT and was lucky enough to get a free Nano puff via an awards program at work. The Nano is my year round puffy minus the heart of winter. I have the pullover version and not the full zip jacket. Unless you just really want the full zip i recommend the pullover for the weight savings.

In the summer I bring just the nano for my insulation on chilly days to use over my smartwool t-shirt and under my stoic vaporshell if need be. In the spring/fall I use a l/s columbia hiking shirt, wool sweater, and the nano, and the vaporshell if needed.

I have a thicker down jacket for winter, but before full on winter hits I can get by using a capaline 3 top, wool sweater, nano and shell down to 15-20F pretty comfortably.

For supplementing your existing layers for year round use, get a Nano Puff. If you're looking to replace your Montbell down parka for stationary use in the middle of winter, get the Micropuff. The few additional ounces and slight increase in bulk is worth the higher denier shell and insulation.

100g Primaloft One in the Micropuff is going to be considerably warmer than the 60g Nano Puff. As far as versatility goes the Nano can layer well as a midlayer, can also serve as a light outer insulation piece on damp spring trips. Layering the micropuff wont be as easy unless you size up on your shell.

On its own over a light baselayer, the Nanopuff isn't very warm at all, it cuts wind well andas takes the chill off- when used in conjunction with other layers it becomes a very multipurpose piece. To increase the versatility of the Nano get the hooded version IMO, the hood makes a world of difference in terms of warmth and also makes it easier to throw on over everything at stops…the way it should be for an active insulation piece.

I agree 100% with ^^Eugene's^^ analysis.

Thanks everyone for the quick and thorough responses.

eric: Oh ya know, the usual New England range…-10 to 100 ;) In all seriousness I think I'd like my winter system to work down to 0 or slightly below; I was hoping to get by with what I have + a Nano, but now I'm considering adding a light down vest as well.

Dale: Interesting suggestion, thanks. Do you think a synthetic vest makes sense over down? I'd guess that the weight and packability savings with down outweigh the wetness issue as I'd probably wear the vest under a shell if raining and dont see myself ever actually hiking in a puffy vest.

Ken: Glad to hear that the nano works to those temps. It's so thin I was worried it couldn't handle anything <25F with my basic setup. About the zipper…I was debating the full zip vs pull over and am leaning toward the full zip b/c being easy to put on and the extra venting seems to be worth the extra 2oz.

Eugene: Great advice, thanks. Can the Micro really replace something like the MB Frost Line (6.7 oz of 800 FP down)? The midlayer hood issue is also something I'm not totally sure about. I almost always carry a balaclava or Polar Buff and with the powerstretch hoody is another midlayer hood really necessary? I'd think that including a merino beanie (<1oz) would be all the head insulation one would need, but again I'm a novice winter backpacker.

Thanks again!

if you plan on hiking at 0F … i a nano style puffy would be better i think … put it over yr windshirt … itll basically be an extra active layer when moving when it gets cold ….

yr main static insulation will still be yr big down poofay

I have the nanopuff pullover (no hood) and an older version of the Micropuff jacket with hood (might be somewhat different from current version but it weighs about the same). I find the micropuff much warmer. A hooded version of the nanopuff with zipper seems like it would be more versatile than the micropuff so long as you have the MB down jacket in reserve for when it gets cold.

Actually, that MB Frost Line jacket looks like a nice item to carry when there is any chance of real cold.

I don't think that either synth jacket would be enough for winter warmth at camp in the NE. The micro or the nano would be suitable for short breaks while hiking, and I agreee that the nano is a much more versatile layering piece. What could work would be to take a light down puffy like a UL inner and layer that under the synth at camp. This would offer more versatility and would save you weight over the frostline, but I still don't think this would be enough for true cold.

I'm trying to work out a synth/down layering system for CO winter, but I think ultimately I'll have to settle for a monster puffy to be safe.

You could also ditch the merino base and just use an R1 and that would free up weight to bring the nano if your set on that and you need the extra warmth.

Seems the Nano is the favorite so far–for layering at least.

Walter, the Frost Line is indeed a great piece if a little on the heavy side. They were (are?) on sale at ProLite for <$100 and I couldn't resist…

Serge, thanks for the comments. I definitely wasn't thinking of using either the Nano or the Micro as my main camp insulation during winter. A UL down inner under the Micro might duplicate the Frost Line and save weight but cost wise I don't think I could swing it.