Q: MEC NorthernLite2 vs Patagonia Puffball [synthetic jackets]
Tony Jones
Cirrus?).
I'm trying to find a comparison review of them to determine how they
compare in warmth and pack size.
The "18 pound checklist" http://www.backpacking.net/18-pound.html
lists the MEC Northern Lite2 Pullover as standard and the Patagonia
Puffball Pullover as "Options That Add Weight". I'm assuming the
Puffball offers some additional features which justify the additional
weight?
The Northern Lite2 *Jacket* uses 3oz/sq-yd insulation whereas the
Northern Lite2 Pullover is 1.8oz/sq-yd. The Puffball is "100-g.
Thermoliter Micro". Apples and Oranges.
If the Northern Lite2 pullover were to offer similar warmth to the
Puffball, it would be a good deal as it's 5oz less weight (11 vs
16.5) ... not to mention less $$$.
Thanks
Tony
tmc
wrote:
Hiya Tony.
I have the puffball, it is a nice synthetic pullover. The nice thing
I like about it it is nylon on the inside so it slides easily over
fleece or capilene etc (unlike my marmot driclime). It also works
well when sleeping in your bag at night for a little more toasty
sleep.
tmc
Brad Cooke
I've got a 1st generation Northern Lite pullover... sorry, can't speak
to the Puffball. The MEC pullover makes it into my pack for pretty much
everything (summer hiking/cragging as my only extra insulation). I tend
to use a powerdry shirt with the pullover alone (instead of a fleece
shirt for some weight savings) for some ice climbing and most skiing in
'dry' conditions and then add my gore-tex (and usually take off the
pullover) when things get relatively 'wet.' This system does well for
me as long as I keep moving down to about -15C (sweaty above freezing).
I can't see why you'd bring along the vest as well, to be honest. Seems
to me in the summer the pullover would be all the insulation you'd need,
especially when combined with a thermal shirt and a rain parka. That
being said, the pullover makes an extremely poor belay coat, as it will
not fit over a shell (unless you but a couple sizes too large, I
suppose, or are willing to take off you shell in cold conditions). As
for packed size - the pullover packes down (using its own pocket as a
bag) to about the size of a softball and has a clip loop which can be
used to affix it to the back of your harness. MEC may still have some
1st generation pullovers on clearance, as well - I picked mine up at
~30% off.
Cheers,
BC
Mike
the last two years.
It's warm, stuffs in its own pocket and weighs in at 18 oz.
I've found it has enough insulation for any 3 season activity in the Lower
48.
The only bad thing about it is the pit zips. They seem useless on an
insulating jacket.
Other than that, it's a great jacket. The best thing, is they can usually be
found on sale (reason I bought it)
I'm sure the Patagonia puffball is an excellent jacket too, but will be alot
more $
I don't own the MEC NorthernLite, but I've found MEC stuff to be good
quality/price so far.
Even though a jacket with full zip weighs slightly more than a pullover, a
full zip allows quick on/off. Worth the extra ounce or two.
Another similar jacket to consider is the Wild Things primaloft jacket. It's
weighs 1 lb and is quite toasty. It has an athletic cut.
Just my .02
ony Jones" <jones_...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:2be7ec4.02070...@posting.google.com...
Brad Cooke
Mike wrote:
> Even though a jacket with full zip weighs slightly more than a pullover, a
> full zip allows quick on/off. Worth the extra ounce or two.
Or, for the Nothern Lite, 4...
AdeBK
If you want the Puffball...It is going to undergo some changes for Fall '02. I
can look up the specs on the new one if you are inclined to wait until
September to get one. Otherwise, what a style change means is that current
Puffballs will be winging their way to the Patagonia outlets either for the
Labor Day sales, or soon thereafter. The outlet in Dillon MT does phone orders
(and I believe they'll ship to Canada, but I'm not sure), and is always a good
bet for cheaper (i.e. out of season) goods, if you don't mind off colors. Or
paying with US $.
Anne the retail goddess, NYC
Ken....@cs.cmu.edu
14.25 oz.
jones_...@yahoo.com (Tony Jones) writes:
> The "18 pound checklist" http://www.backpacking.net/18-pound.html
> lists the MEC Northern Lite2 Pullover as standard and the Patagonia
> Puffball Pullover as "Options That Add Weight". I'm assuming the
> Puffball offers some additional features which justify the additional
> weight?
I can't tell you which is warmer, but the puffball definitely rocks.
Your list mentions the puffball jacket, not pullover. That may be the
reason it adds weight. I don't know if Patagonia still sells the
jacket version which used to have thicker insulation than the
pullover.
My puffball pullover is made about as lightly as you would want in
gear designed to be used more than once. It's a size large - big
enough to fit over size M several layers - and weighs 14.25 oz,
including accumulated dirt. Allegedly, a puffball has been stuffed
into a bandaid tin. I'd guess it would be a tossup weightwise between
the pullovers you listed in the same size.
Ken