SG Grumman vs Kenai vs Arc'teryx

[Gooden123]

Let me preface this by saying I know the difference between active insulation and static. I also know Kenai is synthetic, the other two are goose down.

Specifically asking what you would do for a North Slope hunt late August.

I already have:

*Kenai pants and hooded jacket (2024 since I think there are different versions)

*Arc'teryx Cerium LT hoody

I also just picked up the Stone Glacier Grumman pants and jacket but I'm thinking of sending it back and just using what I already have. I feel like bringing the Grumman and Kenai would be borderline redundant late August (I'd obviously leave the Arc'teryx home). But I know there's still high potential for it being at or below freezing. I guess I mostly don't think I'll need the Grumman pants (at all. Kenai, Kutana Stretch and baselayers will do) and I think my Arc'teryx Cerium LT will serve me fine as a puffy especially in combination with the Kenai hooded jacket, various merino and peleton layers.

Tell me if I'm off base but I'd rather save the $500 and the space if deemed redundant for this situation. TIA!

 

[eamyrick]

I took a Patagonia Nano puff and Mont Bell Alpine Light to Alaska for a bear hunt in the Alaska range and felt like it was the perfect combo. Low activity wet cold I wore the nano, slept in the nano. Long glassing sessions I put on the Mont Bell. I also have the Cerium and don’t think it would be a warm enough single option.

 

[Gooden123]

I took a Patagonia Nano puff and Mont Bell Alpine Light to Alaska for a bear hunt in the Alaska range and felt like it was the perfect combo. Low activity wet cold I wore the nano, slept in the nano. Long glassing sessions I put on the Mont Bell. I also have the Cerium and don’t think it would be a warm enough single option.

Excellent info thanks. My upper body does run cold and I have a feeling the Cerium won't cut it. I have a Thermarest Questar 20 bag so I might end up having to sleep in my insulation layers unless I upgrade my bag

 

[eamyrick]

Excellent info thanks. My upper body does run cold and I have a feeling the Cerium won't cut it. I have a Thermarest Questar 20 bag so I might end up having to sleep in my insulation layers unless I upgrade my bag

I also would never leave my puffy pants. I spent the night out in them in a bivy and also threw them on for long glassing sessions. For thermals I pretty much lived in silk weight from rei. For hiking I unzipped my SG pants.

https://lighterpack.com/r/qai70t

 

[WVELK]

I took a Patagonia Nano puff and Mont Bell Alpine Light to Alaska for a bear hunt in the Alaska range and felt like it was the perfect combo. Low activity wet cold I wore the nano, slept in the nano. Long glassing sessions I put on the Mont Bell. I also have the Cerium and don’t think it would be a warm enough single option.

If you see this what did you do for outer rain gear while there. I was there in May and it was darn cold. Went with a system similar to yours and was happy. I was not happy with rain wind protection.

 

[eamyrick]

If you see this what did you do for outer rain gear while there. I was there in May and it was darn cold. Went with a system similar to yours and was happy. I was not happy with rain wind protection.

Arcteryx Zeta rain jacket and older mountain hardwear rain pants. Both freshly treated. Jacket was bombproof and pants are 15 years old and it’s time to replace them.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

The Grumman stuff is going to be a lot warmer and better to pack, but with a lot of moisture in play synthetic for the top at least seems like a solid idea. For pants I find them easier to protect and down should be fine.

Kenai pants are a tad strange to me. Active insulation piece for a static use? I’d take down of some sort over them personally, but a lot of people like synthetic bottoms.

All that said - in reading your post, you clearly already have a system you’d trust and less is more with layering and clothing, I much prefer reducing the amount of pieces when possible!