warnabrother wrote:have managed to find the Macpac Prothermals, but bottoms only..
not a fan of "standard" polypro - the warmth to weight ratio is pretty crappy.. I think I'll go take a good look at the Capilene stuff from "Patagucci" and the Month silky stuff..
bearing in mind this is the ultralight section - any other recommendations ???
Took me a while to reply...
Executive summary of below:
1. Polartec Powerdry - good for warm to hot weather and aerobic base in cool-cold weather, transports sweat and liquid water very efficiently available form kathmandu at a reasonable price
2. polartec power grid (photo 1 - green fabric)- warmer layer than above good for cool-warm weather, feels less clammy against the skin, does not transport liquid water as well but transports water vapour well, available (relatively) cheaply from macpac at time of writing.
3. polartec power grid high efficiency (photo 2 red fabric) - more like a lightweight fleece, I am not aware of any supplier, currently, the same as patagonia cap 4 = expensive.
All three are good 'wicking' layers: from 1-3.
The photo above Looks like powergrid not powergrid HE.
The fabric that I was writing about in the thread above is (i think that the nomenclature is right) polartec power grid high efficiency and looks like the photo below. You cannot see it but there are little pillows of fleece. It is very warm and not very wind resistant so that you can dump heat very quickly. I have only worn it in the snow as it is very warm.
Another less fluffy variant is 'power grid' which is still available on the macpac website in (I think the 'warp' thermal) which feels like a non synthetic and is a great base layer. This looks the photo above.
Another variant is 'powerdry' which is available cheaply from kathmandu, more expensively from Mont, in a t-shirt, long sleeve and zip up collar.
All three are a 'bi-component' knit but, so far as i understand the physics, powerdry is the best fabric in existence for removing liquid water from the skin and transferring it away under thermal pressure from the body - therefore it is great as an active base layer under a windshirt or similar for highly aerobic stop-start activities.
The powergrid fleeces remove vapourised water effectively from the skin surface and are very warm but less efficient at keeping the wearer dry.
In practice, I have worn the powerdry tops in warm and cold weather, cycling, running and bushwalking and it does what it says on the tin and is relatively inexpensive.
The grid layer is warm and feels less 'syntheticy' i.e. closer to merino or cotton . OK in warm weather but a little hot in hot weather (uniqlo 'airism' i.e. ultra lightweight polyester knit is my go-to in really hot weather)
The grid HE is really a warm thermal for cold climate only in my opinion. Great as a static layer or stop start in cold conditions. In the american military PCU system it is suggested as as a mid-layer.
I am not a textile scientist or a super hardcore bushwalker but i feel the cold, sweat a lot and exercise daily in cold and hot climates so this is what works for me.
here is anothe rlink:
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/83803/