Nunatak Skaha feedback wanted

[Edward John M]

I am going to need a new down for my trip in a couple of years and Nunatak are perhaps the only company I can find offering a hooded pullover that is going to be large enough to fit me.

While waiting for information from Nunatak I’m asking here about how warm they are when compared to other garments using  synthetic insulation. I can use that comparison then to determine how much overfill to order

Intended use is below 0F/-18C and to boost the limit of my Sleeping bag + quilt when needed.

To -18C I intend to use a ThermalPro jumper plus my Patagonia nanobivvy with windshell as needed and an appropriate base layer naturally

[BlackHatGuy]

You don’t want the Skaha, you want the Kobuk. Exceptionally warm – it’s my winter backpacking jacket.

I can’t really compare them to synthetic garments, sorry, but I don’t own any winter weight synthetic. But I’ve always found Nunatak ratings to be quite accurate, and I’ve owned a bunch of Nunatak stuff over the years.

[Edward John M]

Would be superwarm but one of those has so much loft it would not be able to used inside my sleeping bag as part of my sleeping system, they have even more loft than my current Everest parka which is borderline too lofty already

[Richard Nisley]

Edward,

Expedition down garments are available from 0 to -100F camp chores thermo-neutral. You need to specify a specific minimum temperature to be given viable alternatives.

[Edward John M]

Hi Richard and thanx

If it gets too cold I’ll be inside the tent and my sleeping system.

I’ve been warned to be prepared for -55C but to expect -30C

Active layer would be a DIY ThermalPro pullover and if needed a Patagonia Nano-Bivvy

The upgrade is raising baffle depth from 20mm to 25mm and overstuffing

If adding more down to resist wind presssure was of benefit then I would pay for that, I have the option of adding another layer if needed as I have a surplus L7 linebacker but while very warm they are bulky and a tad heavier

Ballpark I thought an inch of insulation was 4Clo so an overstuff should add to 6Clo +/-

 

[Edward John M]

Jan at Nunatak has come back to me.

So Nunatak tell me that the standard down Skaha is in between 3.5ounce and 5 ounce APEX in terms of warmth, and advising me to get either 4 or 4.5 ounces of extra down. If anybody has a Skaha with similar fills in an XXL I would apppreciate some info on how lofty the garment is and how resistant to wind pressure so I get the over-fill amount correct first go. Down is cheap when compared to 2-way postage over the Pacific

[Edward John M]

Well after I could wait no longer I’ve orderd my XXL with 5 ounces extra.
That is very slightly more than 50% taking the down fill to 14 ounces or 400 grams.
I’m wondering how 400 grams of 800FP down will compare to 650 grams of 650 FP, that being how the Everest duvet I am selling is stuffed
I’ve also ordered the UL version but with a separate second exterior shell of Pertex and a secondary layer of 3.5 ounce APEX over the shoulder area to resist compression when and if I need to add the Big Mother parka over the top
A seriously expenzive garment with all the options added, I am going to have to sell the tadpoles into slavery or take out a second mortage on the wife

[Richard Nisley]

Edward,

My understanding was that your minimum target was 0F; if so, both garments significantly exceed that goal for thermo-neutral (TN) camp chores.

The spec for your Nunatak overstuffed of 14 oz 800FP = -33F TN camp chores (most similar to their Torre)

The spec for your existing Everest Duvet with 22.9 oz 650FP = -72F TN camp chores (most similar to the FF Rock and Ice Parka). Their are only 3 commerical garments with lower TN camp chore temps (Valandre’ Combi, Sir Joseph Combi Suit Wind Face, and the Rab Expedition Suit)

[Edward John M]

Oh I see where the original question was a little ambiguous.

Sorry

I did meant that  to 0F/-18C I would be using the Nanopuff plus the ThermalPro and using the duvet below that temperature

Mounain Designs gave a temperature rating of -30C for the parka on its own as it was designed to be used with a lightly insulated wind jacket over the top, but given the temperature rating you give it I assume they have made an allowance for the thin air above 6km.

It was also available in a Gore Driloft seamless shelled version which was more expensive than the combination of Pertex version plus synthetic insulated windshell, I never needed the bib and brace pants that partnered this parka and I cannot remember if they were down or synthetic or a combination

It is a shame it is now too small for me by several inches, I’ve grown since I was 25YO by a couple of inches

 

[Richard Nisley]

Edward,

Any clothing insulation value temperature rating is predicated on a specific activity (MET level). The values I provided were for 1.75 MET. This is the average mix of activities involved while doing camp chores. -22F would be your old garments approximate insulation temperature rating when at rest (1 MET). Sleep ratings are based on (.8 MET).

[Edward John M]

It makes perfect sense Richard.

Climbing at High Alitude usually means slow and also windy so MET would have to be somewhere in between, but isn’t MET lowered in the calculations for an altitude factor also?

 

-22F is almost the same as -30C and i have once or twice woken up hot and had to ventilate at -18C using this parka and a WM Tamarack + warm pants

[Edward John M]

Richard have you ever thought of doing some more clothing tables for the colder seasons

Late Autumn, Winter, Early Spring?

Say the range from 5C to -45C?

If the Skaha is that warm I may cut back the overfill by 2 ounces, especially as Jan is doing a Climashield yoke under the down on the shoulder area

 

[Edward John M]

I need to cut the cost of this purchase, if I went from 900FP down to 750FP down it would be a lot cheaper but how much more down would be needed to maintain the same loft and warmth levels>??

[Brad Rogers]

Off the cuff I am going to say 17% more 750 fill than 900 fill.

[Stephen M]

Get a proper Parka, you will appreciate it like as our says.

I have tried the Skaha, Gooses feet, Phd and other UL items and went back to proper Parkas.

 

 

 

[Edward John M]

You are going to have to define “Proper Parka” for me.

For one thing a parka suitable for the Far North and/or Antactica will be pretty much useless for me at home or do you consider the Patagonia DAS not a proper parka? The duvet pictured is far too warm for OZ and it no longer fits but is the one mentioned above

[Edward John M]

@Steven M

I am really interested in what you would consider a proper parka.

I’m interested in any advice you have for me regarding dressing well for extreme cold If it helps I am just about to list my proposed clothing system over in the gear list part of the forum

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