Does anyone have experience with the Montbell EX jacket, the Montbell Thermawrap, and the Patagonia Nano pull over? I am looking to pick up a really light insulation layer but don't know how these compare for warmth.

“Montbell Thermawrap”

I have something similar. I have the Thermawrap Action: http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=94&p_id=2301224 I have a men’s size med. I’m 5’8 145lbs.

I like the Action Thermawrap a lot. It is warmer than 300-weight fleece, lighter than fleece, packs smaller than fleece, AND almost breathes just as easily as fleece though it blocks wind pretty good. Most of the breathing is done through its side panels. I use it backpacking and biking for 30-50F weather. A little bonus I like is its thumb holes. This means I can wear a short glove and the sleeve will always stay tucked in the glove. It also has an elastic waste to keep drafts out.

I think it’s a little tougher than my down jackets; I have a WM Flight and a Montbell ‘U.L.DOWN INNER JACKET’

I take a down jacket when I need to cover a bigger temperature range in one trip. For example I take my WM Flight for 20F-60F weather.

My montbell down inner jacket is probably similar to your request of the montbell EX Jacket. That EX jacket is lighter probably because it uses 900 fp down. So I would suspect it would keep me warm from 30-60F. Also the down jacket breathes very well; I’m talking Montbell and WM here. Other down jackets I have tried do not breath well.

For 0F weather, I layer my Thermawrap underneath my WM Flight (size L).

Good luck on your decision. Those are nice jackets.

-Barry

thecook-
I have a Thermawrap and it's my go-to insulation for 3-season use. It's great for temps in the 30s - 40s. What kinds of temps are you looking at?

I'm familiar only with the Montbell Thermawrap. With a base layer top underneath, I was fine in the mid-20's. I haven't tried it in colder temperatures yet. I was also wearing a balaclava and gloves, of course.

Thanks for all the replies I am looking to replace a Mountain Hardware windpro fleece jacket for 3 season backpacking. Temps down to around 30F Any colder and I take both fleece and an older climb high down sweater that is really warm.

I tried on some Montbell down jackets and found them a little too tight under the arm pit. Is the thermawrap sized the same way? Nobody carries it in store were I am.

It's not tight for me. I'm 5'10" and a size med. I hope that helps.

Montbell jackets run small--I had to get a size bigger than I usually get, and even that is snug (well, that's because I need to lose a few more pounds!).

I like quilted synthetic fiber insulation for its warmth-to-weight ratio compared pile clothing.

BUT... synthetic insulation should not be compressed (in a stuff sac) if possible. If it must be stuffed tehn use as large a sac as practicable snd for as short a time as possible. i.e. Don't leave it stuffed overnight if you're leaving for a backpacking trip in the morning. Stuff it in the morning and unstuff as soon as possible in camp.

I own a nice military Thermolite jacket and pants I got in a sale. And just today I tried on an REI insulated light jacket under their eVent parka and liked teh combo. Very versatile and very warm for the combined weight. If you get a chance try the REI jacket. Deemd the Patagonia jacket has more loft initially but it's PrimaLoft and I had a bad experience with 1st generation Primaloft sleeping bag losing its loft and becoming just "Prima". BUT, if you're not going to stuff the jacket then I'd say Primaloft jackets are the warmest for the weight.

My recommendation is to try to find a jacket in the new version of Polarguard called Climashield. It is about the best easily compressable synthetic insulation in terms of maintaining its loft with repeated compressions/stuffings. That means it's likely to be actually warmer after 50 stuffings than a Primaloft jacket, even though the Primaloft jacket was somewhat warmer at the beginning.

Eric