Insulated Pants versus Wool Base Layer at Night

Hi Newton,
I sleep in the same base layer and hiking pants that I wear during the day, for the ultimate in time and weight savings. Works for me.
Ike

I'm trying to decide this myself, but I haven't been out yet on a night cold enough where I really NEEDED extra insulation and could make a serious comparison. My hunch is that puffy pants will be the winner, even though I love wool baselayers to death solely on the comfort factor.

I hate the putting on the long johns ordeal as well and tend to avoid it which defeats the purpose of having that warm layer in the first place. What I plan to do in the future is get some leg warmers like the cyclists wear. I should be able to pull them on under my pants easily enough and they'll weigh less than the long johns too.

It occured to me after I made the OP that I could just use a top quilt with 5 oz insulation instead of my 2.5 oz insulation top quilt. ;-?

I researched the weight angle of the "puffy pants" and in the needed size for going over the top of everything the wieght penalty is 13 ounces. My top quilt weighs about 14 ounces. If I up the insulation to 5 instead of 2.5 my top quilt would weigh approximately 19 – 20 ounces.

If I were to carry the "puffy pants" I would be adding 13 ounces to 14 ounces for a total of 27 ounces. If I could leave the merino at home I'd save roughly 9 – 10 ounces. So the resultant weight gain would be 3 ounces.

If I make a new 5 ounce top quilt the weight gain will be about 4.5 – 5 ounces.

The weight gain difference is minimal. The difference in convenience is huge.

BTW I should have mentioned that I have already made changes to my kit that eliminated the base layer merino top. My layering system includes SS polyester shirt, LS hooded polyester shirt, Houdini hooded jacket and Dri-Ducks ultralight rainsuit top.

Three ounces of extra weight for a cost of $35.00. ;-?

We often talk about how much $$$$$ we spend to save weight. I'm thinking about spending my $$$$$ to add weight to my pack!?!?!?!?

Maybe I could make the new top quilt with 5 oz insulation .75 oz cuben outer layer and .9 oz intrepid inner layer. The weight might equal out and I could leave the base layer at home.

Now I'm back in the zone! I'm talking about spending money to save ounces. LOL

Party On,

Newton

If you use intrepid as your inner layer and cuben as the outer, moisture from your body will pass through the intrepid and be trapped by the cuben inside your insulation (if I'm understanding your set-up correctly).

Ike,

You are so right!

I was researching the cost for a new quilt and my cost was up to $100.00 without shipping. ;-0

If I use all intrepid the cost will drop to about $85.00. If I use all .75 oz cuben my cost will be about $112.00.

But if I use all cuben wouldn't the moisture condense on the inner layer next to me?

Party On,

Newton

I'm not a cuben quilt user, so I'm not the best one to comment here. My understanding from those that do is that they don't overdress and they vent the bag periodically overnight if needed to avoid much condensation.

I think you are on the right track though with fewer clothes and a little more quilt. I find this tends to be the most weight efficient strategy for me. If you do end up going with cuben, you can probably get by with a lighter weight than 0.75 for a quilt.

I really enjoyed your AT trip report by the way. I'm hoping to do a loop through that area this spring.

Ike,

" If you do end up going with cuben, you can probably get by with a lighter weight than 0.75 for a quilt".

Yes, but I can't beat the price that Lawson is selling the .75 cuben for on his site.

It's now a moot point as I just used some of my PayPal balance to order my quilted thermal synthetic bottoms after much iffin and anddin. ;-)

"I really enjoyed your AT trip report by the way. I'm hoping to do a loop through that area this spring".

Two suggestions for your hike:

1.) Hike in daylight!

2.) Pack your own tried and true non-allergic laundry detergent! LOL ;-)

Party On,

Newton

Hi Newton,

Could you please let me know where you sourced the insulated pants from? The ones I use now do not have an elasticated/knitted cuff – they are military surplus and two sizes too big. The ones you found look perfect and nicely priced too – could you help me out and point me in the right direction.

Best, Ian

I would agree that a better insulated quilt makes more sense than insulated pants. The only time you have interest in insulation on your legs is at night when you sleep, so basically your comparing insulated pants vs a more insulated quilt. The more insulated quilt will win as more efficient insulation hands down.

+1 to what Randy said above. Nailed it!

I agree with the others, if you are only using the insulated pants for sleeping, you are better off with more down in your quilt, which provides better warmth to weight ratios.

However, if you are wanting to have warmth while standing around in camp, then insulated pants makes sense and is more convient than wool thermals.

-Tony

In mid temps sleeping with your day clothes may be OK but once you hit freezing and below , sweaty dirty clothes are not thermally efficient neither is having a sweaty dirty body…
(since you guys can't be bothered taking your clothes off I deduce that you don't have a wash either)
Franco

+1 Tony.

I spend alot of time lounging around camp, so I need the insulated clothing. Especially since once I stop moving, Im usually freezing butt off.

If you are wanting to go inexpensive and light weight I would suggest looking at the 8D material that Ti Goat sells. It is $8/yd and has a total finish weight of around 0.7 oz, except this will breath and let moisture escape unlike the cuben fiber. However, I am not so sure at how well the material is at deterring water… Anyway, I am seriously thinking about ordering some of the Climashield Apex from Thru Hiker and about 5 yds of the 8D from Ti Goat and making a quilt. I am thinking that a total finished weight should be between 9 – 10 oz, depending on dimensions…

I am thinking that this quilt will be great for me by itself to use once my neck of the woods is in summer, and then during the colder months I can use it as a throw over my current Marmot Helium. This will provide a little more warmth, but more importantly, hopefully it will move the dew point into the synthetic quilt rather than in my down bag…

I made a top bag with 8D liner

Very comfortable against my skin

I don't sleep in my hiking pant ususally unless i drink too much taquilla trail margis. My legs get cold at about 45 degs and only at about 35 degs do i use my down inners from montebell. I want to get everything wet off of me when i sleep. I guess if i was doing the pct this might be a time saving tactic so i will store this one in the data base.