Patagonia Nano Air + DAS Light, or get the DAS Parka?

I have a Nano Air Hoody that I like a lot. It's basically my favorite jacket. I also have an MH Ghost Whisperer hoody that I use for backpacking or alpine climbing outings when standing around in the cold (transitions, belays, breaks, etc).
But, the Ghost Whisperer doesn't nicely fit overtop my nano air, especially if I'm wearing a shell too. So I have to cram myself in it or swap. And it's not durable at all. 

I also have a huge MH Phantom down parka that I only really use for cold rock or ice cragging, and I don't really want to take that thing on any long missions or multi day outings unless truly necessary. 

I'm thinking of getting something else for those transitions, belays, breaks, etc and the DAS lineup comes to mind for our moist PNW weather. I think my primary use case for this system would be late winter/spring ski or alpine climbing outings in the PNW. Temps below freezing, especially in the shade or before dawn, but maybe not terribly cold. 

The DAS Parka would be super warm, but maybe overkill to carry in addition to the Nano Air. If I couple the Nano Air with the DAS Light, maybe that does the job? I know Colin Haley swears by the double insulation system (I think he uses two Micro Puff jackets). Seems logical because that would give me flexibility to wear my base/mid layer while hiking/skinning uphill, then add a breathable jacket (nano air) if it's very cold or I slow down, then layer on the DAS Light when movement has really slowed or stopped. 

The math on the fill doesn't add up but the flexibility is definitely better with the combo, and maybe it's warm enough. Hard to say since warmth is so personal.
DAS Parka = 173 grams fill
Nano Air + DAS Light = 125 grams fill

Anybody do something like this? 

I run the DAS + Proton LT combo (basically a Nano Air) on every winter outing. They layer together very nicely.

For late winter/ spring climbing I think the DAS light + Nano Air would be perfect. The DAS is a little too much for spring time rock climbing unless you run really cold

I have a similar setup to what your suggesting.  I often skin and hike in my wool base layer, then have a nano air hoody for active insulation if it’s a bit colder.  I layer an Eddie Bauer ignitelite hoody over that if I’m stopping or standing around.  It offers similar insulation to the DAS light jacket but definitely is heavier and bulkier in the pack.  

The ignitelite is NOT active insulation: it’s just insulation (Eddie Bauer apparently doesn’t understand what breathable means).  But it does keep you warm even as it absorbs the moisture the nano air passes through to it.  I will ski in the ignitelite as my outer layer on sunny resort days and just leave my shell in the pack in case the weather turns.

I have a heavier patagucci down as well, but I almost always prefer the ignitelite synthetic to the down for days when I’m on the move.

I’ve toured down to around 0F with the wool base + nano air + ignitelite + hard shell with no issues.

Justin S wrote:

I run the DAS + Proton LT combo (basically a Nano Air) on every winter outing. They layer together very nicely.

Awesome! Good to know, thanks.
I think I'll give the DAS Light a try. Did you get the same size DAS as your Proton LT? I believe the DAS runs big (to be worn as an outer layer) so I shouldn't need to upsize?

Colin Haley often layers with multiple das lights over a nano air so I think you have the right idea. 

Gunks Jesse wrote: I’ve toured down to around 0F with the wool base + nano air + ignitelite + hard shell with no issues.

Great info! Thanks! Definitely agree that the ignitelite is more akin to the DAS Light than the DAS parka (based on weight/fill weight). So the DAS Parka would be overkill for you  

I don't plan on moving around in the DAS at all, regardless of which one I get. The plan was to just put it on over the nano air (or shell if I'm wearing one) when I stop moving.

I rarely can move without overheating in a pure insulation layer. Even when it's quite cold. But I don't go out at 0°F too often...

drew A wrote:

Awesome! Good to know, thanks.
I think I'll give the DAS Light a try. Did you get the same size DAS as your Proton LT? I believe the DAS runs big (to be worn as an outer layer) so I shouldn't need to upsize?

Yeah same size, it's cut big to be a belay jacket 

My wife got a synthetic jacket at Costco for $20 a couple weeks ago.  It packs into the pocket and has a hood and she sized it to go over her shell.  She wanted it for the touring pack for when we stop moving to throw on.  It’s fairly light, packs down small, and is the right price point for how much she plans to use it.  Plus it’s thigh length, which is what she wanted.

not a high quality option by any means, but functional for sure.

I'm running capilene Air+ proton LT+ Das Light here in AK and subzero pushes the limits of that combination in terms of comfort. Any colder and I'd want the full on Das parka in lieu of the lighter version.

Dirt King wrote:

I'm running capilene Air+ proton LT+ Das Light here in AK and subzero pushes the limits of that combination in terms of comfort. Any colder and I'd want the full on Das parka in lieu of the lighter version.

Good to know. I assume you only wear the DAS Light when standing around, not when moving? 

Sounds like the DAS Light is what I want. The DAS Parka seems like overkill for my usual PNW pursuits. 

drew A wrote:

Good to know. I assume you only wear the DAS Light when standing around, not when moving? 

Sounds like the DAS Light is what I want. The DAS Parka seems like overkill for my usual PNW pursuits. 

Yes, Das Light is the "belay parka" in this system, though it's breathable enough that I use it as an outer active layer if it's really cold 

Has anyone ever had their DAS light tailored to include a drawstring at the waist hem? I can’t understand why Patagonia wouldn’t include that on a jacket meant for the mountains but it still doesn’t. The regular DAS does but not the light which is the singular reason I haven’t tried one out yet 

Tanner James wrote:

Has anyone ever had their DAS light tailored to include a drawstring at the waist hem? I can’t understand why Patagonia wouldn’t include that on a jacket meant for the mountains but it still doesn’t. The regular DAS does but not the light which is the singular reason I haven’t tried one out yet 

I haven't received my DAS Light (yet) and also find this kind of odd. Seems like a no brainer to be able to cinch the hem. But maybe it's tight enough for most people. 

Apparently the Light also lacks interior drop pockets.

Both seem like weird things to omit in the name of weight savings.

drew A wrote:

I haven't received my DAS Light (yet) and also find this kind of odd. Seems like a no brainer to be able to cinch the hem. But maybe it's tight enough for most people. 

Apparently the Light also lacks interior drop pockets.

Both seem like weird things to omit in the name of weight savings.

I don't want a cinch on my belay jacket, I don't want shit to catch on  I don't want to have to adjust my hem, I just want something to throw over the top quickly, to me same thing with adjustable cuffs. 

I understand not needing drop pockets for the light, they're main existence is for gloves. I also don't know any other 60gsm belay jacket with drop pockets aside from the nano puff, if you even want to call that a belay jacket. 

The Nuclei FL is in the same 60gsm class and has drop in pockets and the hem cinch. I'm a big fan the drop-ins for warming my shoes up/keeping them warm while I'm belaying my partner. Agreed on not wanting the cinch to catch stuff, but I haven't run into that yet in actual use with the Nuclei and have found it pretty important to maintaining comfort while at an exposed belay stance with cold wind blowing straight up the face from below.

Ben M wrote:

The Nuclei FL is in the same 60gsm class and has drop in pockets and the hem cinch. I'm a big fan the drop-ins for warming my shoes up/keeping them warm while I'm belaying my partner. Agreed on not wanting the cinch to catch stuff, but I haven't run into that yet in actual use with the Nuclei and have found it pretty important to maintaining comfort while at an exposed belay stance with cold wind blowing straight up the face from below.

Maybe the drawcord and drop-ins of the nuclei fl are useful in general, but while actual belaying? Do you hike up the jacket mid torso above your belay loop, cinch it up there, and have shoes in the drop-ins by your ribs?

I imagine the feature set of the das light makes more sense for the belaying scenario - two way zipper, no drawcord, no drop ins ... because neither the drawcord nor drop-ins would be as useful with an unzipped hem. Or am I wrong - is it plenty comfortable to keep the front of a zipped jacket above your harness while belaying?

james james wrote:

Maybe the drawcord and drop-ins of the nuclei fl are useful in general, but while actual belaying? Do you hike up the jacket mid torso above your belay loop, cinch it up there, and have shoes in the drop-ins by your ribs?

I imagine the feature set of the das light makes more sense for the belaying scenario - two way zipper, no drawcord, no drop ins ... because neither the drawcord nor drop-ins would be as useful with an unzipped hem. Or am I wrong - is it plenty comfortable to keep the front of a zipped jacket above your harness while belaying?

It's perfectly comfortable it's just totally unnecessary, I have had multiple belay jackets with adjustable hems some with double zips, some without, one time even a pullover, I always just tighten them to where I want them and then tie a big knot to get rid of the dangle, it's never touched again for the life of the jacket. 

Drop in pockets are nice and I really like them for general use but I wouldn't put them in the needed catagory for a 60gsm jacket. If it's cold enough that you want to warm shoes up while on belay, wear socks. 

I have the DAS Light and it is warm for its weight, by not something I would use for ice climbing in winter in Swedish winter. I don´t think Colin Haley spend a lot of time standing still at some belay...

Das lights are 40% off right now…

Spencer Barrack wrote:

Das lights are 40% off right now…

Where?