You know 40 guys that have tested both jackets in similar conditions?
Pretty awesome resource doubtful there are but a handful guys on this site that have tested both.
Yes. It’s work related. Over the last two year I’ve tested a lot of clothing- especially puffys. There are no “standards” to compare them against each other. People will throw out numbers or say things like “the LPP is an oven” or the “Kelvin Lite was toasty at 9 degrees this year”, etc. The problem is people have no idea what that translates to. I couldn’t figure out why I was wearing jackets that everyone said I should be roasting in, and yet I was near hypothermic in temperatures well above what they stated. Once we started testing them, it became apparent why that was happening.
First, very few people actually sit long periods in cold weather out west. I’m talking below freezing. If they do, they get up and move, stomp their feet, etc. and just accept that as part of it.
Second, most h e no reference for “comfortable”. Those same people will then go back and say that they were “warm”, yet the fact that they had to do other things to say “warm” shows that they weren’t. Or they’re constantly moving while wearing the clothing and claim that it’s good to “x” temperature.
So long story short- there isn’t an easy way to compare puffys and relate that to a temperature. So we started doing it. Just like sleeping bags if you get enough people to use them in identical conditions you start to see patterns. The best way to judge a puffs warmth is like a sleeping bag. What temperature will you stay completely comfortable at without doing anything other than sitting there. We settled on a light base layer (Capilene L1/FL Aerowool), and a light to mid fleece (Patagonia R1) under the puffys. Then we have the guys use them and get the feedback. We can and have gone pretty sophisticated tests, measuring skin temp variations, core temp changes, etc. but found if they are honest about comfort we don’t need to do that. In the end it comes down to fill weight and loft- just like sleeping bags.
For instance the LPP (which I think is one of the best all around puffys available) has the same insulation as Kifaru’s 20 degree slick bag. Except the bag has two layers and the LPP one, and you don’t have the thermal transfer of being in a bag with the jacket. So you can’t really say the LPP is a 20 degree jacket, unless you’re talking about while moving which is less than useless info.
At this point I can know the fill weight, type of insulation, and face fabric and be within 5 degrees of what it is.
How would the unpardre jacket fit on this scale?
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I was being a bit conservative on the LPP. It’s really a mid 30’s jacket for most people. The Uncompahgre in a true 40’ish degree puffy.
Of course if you if you are moving at all, or in the sunlight all of it changes.
