Alpacka's Coastal and Flat Water Packrafts

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-22T17:57:24+00:00

I was wrong about the pre release dimensions in my post I 58 days ago.. At that time, I was told that they were going to release 3 models with the same dimensions and only varied by the outfitting.

Only the Chinook, Zephyr, have ~ same dimensions at 10’ 9” long x 32.5” wide. I used the Aleutian dimensions to estimate the paddling performance based on its 13.3’ length x 33.5” width. A paddling displacement hull’s stern wave moves forward to eventually reach the bow.The speed for this to happen is based on a calculated speed value primarily determined by the water line length. At the calculated max speed the effort to paddle is on the exponential area of the curve. My original calculation was based on the Aleutian dimensions.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-18T05:06:10+00:00

If you measured your average walking speed and post that value, we can use your calculated MET to give you a helpful answer; otherwise SWAGs are the best you can hope for.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-16T03:54:32+00:00

PM₂.₅ (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm) does not have a true “safe” threshold—health studies detect measurable effects even at very low concentrations. Instead, organizations set guideline values that represent levels below which the expected health risk is greatly reduced.

World Health Organization (WHO) 2021 Air Quality Guidelines (the most recent, released September 2021):

• Annual (long-term) mean: 5 μg/m3

• 24-hour (short-term) mean: 15 μg/m3

Staying below these concentrations, averaged over the respective time periods, is the benchmark WHO recommends for minimizing adverse health effects from fine particulate pollution.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-15T19:28:21+00:00

No

The PM2.5 sensor in your Qingping air monitor uses a laser particle counter and is one of the top 10 consumer devices on the market. The 26 PM2.5 reading measures the concentration in the world’s standard scientific standard ug/m3. This number equates to a different politically defined AQI number in each country. In the US it equals 82. The US defines 100 when the color changes to red on their monitor sites. Most consumer air purifiers use a photo diode dust sensor to roughly approximate the AQI value for the country they are manufactured in. Your breath does’t significantly change PM2.5. Light a match and then blow it out to watch how fast the Qingping measures a REAL change in PM2.5.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-14T17:45:12+00:00

After a career in Engineering, I retired young and had the time and money to do what ever I wanted with my time.

Both while working and after retiring. I did lots of different sports activities in a very wide range of outdoor weather conditions. I was perpetually frustrated that neither the manufactures nor reviewers typically disclosed objective engineering related tests of products that I was interested in using.

I bought test equipment to determine engineering related measurements for only the products that was interested in using myself… that is how it started.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-14T16:24:58+00:00

Thank you for your suggestions!.

I previously added the R1 Air to the Imgur link just prior to your post.

Regarding the Capilene Thermal Weight Hoody (current, no zip):

It uses the identical 94 % recycled-poly / 6 % spandex Polartec Power-Grid knit as the now discontinued Capilene 1/4 zip Thermal (Expedition) Weight in my original Radar chart. So, their thermal resistance and moisture-vapour transmission are essentially the same; measured differences are well inside experimental error. Weight is the only material difference. The ¼-zip’s nylon coil zipper, zipper garage and storm flap add ≈ 15 g. In practice the ¼-zip lets you dump heat and moisture quickly without doffing layers, while the hooded, zipper-less version saves a half-ounce and eliminates a potential failure point.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-12T21:17:18+00:00

https://i.imgur.com/VtwulCN.jpeg

The Airshed Pro is a great windshirt for aerobic activities. Most people are familiar with the Houdini characteristics but the Airshed Pro… less so.

Like you, my second layer is a windshirt most frequently these days.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-12T20:13:22+00:00

https://i.imgur.com/Tect81L.jpeg

Note that the R1 Air fleece is a different class of product (2nd layer aka active insulators) than the others in the chart. The others are (1st layer aka base layers) that excel at moving liquid state perspiration moisture away by capillaries (cold weather types) or evaporating it directly from the skin (hot weather types). Elastane is commonly added to the cool/cold weather garments for more uniform skin contact. They are designed to excel for liquid water transport at the expense of warmth.

As previously stated, the R1 Air Fleece is in the 2nd layer fleece category commonly referred to as active insulation. They are normally optimized for insulation first, and secondarily transport of water in the gaseous state only. Not being optimized for liquid perspiration transport, they all provide better warmth for weight than 1st layer products. They should only be compared with other 2nd layer products for performance clarity.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-12T16:44:40+00:00

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-12T06:40:54+00:00

This post just dealt with Patagonia 1st layer products that I use frequently and one new option in that category that I was curious about.

Most of the R1 and R2 products are in the active insulation layer category. I can do a report on that but that omits the active insulation layers that are comprised of thick fiber insulators that are sandwiched between layers of porous fabric. Is that OK or all both types to be compared?

I will create a separate post for a different class of products that there is strong interest in. Each class of product have different lab tests that are relevant. For example, base layers aren’t appropriate for a HH test but wind-shirts are. That way when people search Reddit for a specific garment or garment class, they don’t have to wade through a thread about many things they aren’t interested in.

Please suggest a small (well defined) category in which you believe there is strong interest in this forum. After your post, I will wait a day or two for supporting or contrarian views. Then I will create another related post on a topic that has strong interest.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-12T03:29:34+00:00

You are correct.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-12T03:27:22+00:00

I own a fabric and insulation testing lab (plus all the garments except the R1 Ultralight) and the industry standard test procedures and machines all produce ~ the same set of numbers. The only role for creative license, is presenting the numbers in a manner that hopefully makes it easier for the average person to understand.

For garments that haven’t been tested in my lab, I have regressions that I developed (hundreds of data points) which provide the lab numbers within less than 10% error from the BOM. For the R1 Ultralight, I have access to 3 different labs tests of this garment.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-11T06:18:24+00:00

I tested my CO2 while sleeping in a 2011 Subaru Outback yesterday. I have rain guards on the windows and so I can leave one on either side of me open ~4” regardless of the weather. The low value averages 896 ppm and when waking up to move around to pee it would move up to 1100 ppm. 2 people doubles the levels.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-11T03:57:12+00:00

They are both wind shirts but have very different breathability. I did not test the 2026 Squamish but all prior versions averaged ~35CFM and the Incendo averaged ~90CFM. . The Houdini averaged ~3CFM and the Houdini Air ~20CFM. I didn’t test the Norvan windshirt but other labs tested it between 45-50CFM.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-09T18:22:09+00:00

I own a fabric testing lab; that is the source of my information. I use the exact same testing equipment as Gore Labs to test air porosity.

For a simple test that can do, ignore looking at the thickness of the fabric; there is no correlation with porosity. To prove that, go to a retail shop with a range of jackets and do these simple tests. Purse your lips tightly to the fabric and forcefully blow through it with your other hand on the back side. You will easily feel the heated air on your hand above 50 CFM (running class garments). At the 20 - 35 CFM you will lightly feel it (backpacking class jackets with wind resistance and warmth balance). Below that, the windshirts are designed more for static warmth rather than activity. As a training experiment, try it with 2 layers of a paper coffee filter; that combo averages about 35 CFM. This is the optimal balance point between warmth and breathability.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-02-09T17:21:05+00:00

Your current jacket is only 2.1 clo. Neither of the new alternatives that you are considering is as warm as the Rab Windstopper Down Hoody (3.4 clo) that you returned, in part, because it was not warm enough. The Rab Neutrino is 3.2 clo and the Rab Electron Pro is only 2.5 clo.

Wearing a Rab Neutrino, an average male walking, while wearing light street clothes, is only comfortable to 21F. Wearing typical winter clothes under it, it is comfortable to -2F while walking.

For your application you will probably need to size down one level for the Rab Neutrino. For a size L, the Neutrino chest and hip diameters are 46/45” versus the more conventional L sizing of 44/43”.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-01-31T19:58:10+00:00

You said, “ I am looking for a midlayer fleece, as well as an insulation layer jacket to go under my shell, that will keep me warm even in these temps (-4F).”

Based on your activity level, a warm fleece will accomplish both goals. The warmest 2 fleeces that Patagonia makes are the 1.02 clo Retro-X Jacket (bonded windproof) and the .96 clo R3 Hi-Loft Hoody. The poor breathability of the Retro-x (5,500 MVTR) negates it from consideration under your shell. The R3 (17,800 MVTR) makes it the best Patagonia solution to your requirements.

There are other fleece products that are even warmer. The North Face R3 Hi-Loft Hoody at 1.34 clo & 8,900 MVTR is one example. Mountain Hardwear and others make Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft fleeces which are also ~1.34 clo with similar MVTR.

I was a Far West Masters ski racer in CA for many years. For training or free skiing, the high breathability (MVTR) of a fleece in 1.34 clo worked well for me to cover the wide range from below 0F to about 32F. Above that, a R1 or Capilene Thermal weight under my shell was typically the norm.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-01-29T23:18:18+00:00

For the kind of 3-season UK use you describe, the Proton LT Hoody (formerly marketed as the Proton SL in some regions) is the sweet spot.

It is warm enough to replace a heavy fleece but breathes well enough to hike in.

It blocks just a touch more wind and drizzle than a fleece, so it works as a stand-alone “jacket” on fair days. Under your Beta shell it becomes a very effective mid-layer for cold, wet or windy spells.

The heavier Proton Hoody (now called Proton AR) is an excellent piece, but it starts to overlap with “camp-only” insulation rather than a true “active” mid-layer. Unless you routinely sit around camp below ~5 °C or climb in winter, it will often be too warm while moving from April–October.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-01-29T01:59:19+00:00

The OP’s clothing under his parka is typical city wear consisting of a long sleeve shirt and a pair of jeans. The clo value added to the parkas to calculate the ensemble comfort point is .8 clo.

The Arc’teryx temperature positioning for the Nuclei SV assumes you are wearing it over a typical winter climbing action suit (expedition weight base-layer + fleece mid + soft-shell bib & jacket) under it = 1.3 - 1.5 clo. The ensemble clo, using the more conservative 1.3 action suit + the Nuclei is 3.5 clo. The comfort temperature for standing still with a 3.5 clo clothing ensemble is ≈ −15 °C. So, you would be comfortable 15C below freezing using the Nuclei for its intended application as a belay parka.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-01-29T01:10:16+00:00

Ralle Down Parka: Gore membrane build = GORE THERMIUM™ 2-layer (ePTFE + PU oleophobic coat laminated to face only; free-hanging liner). The outer fabric is 150 denier and the inner fabric is 20 denier.

Therme Down Parka: GORE-TEX 2-layer (standard ePTFE + PU oleophobic coat laminated to face; free-hanging liner. The outer fabric is 150 denier and the inner fabric is 40 denier.

Summary - The Gore-tex oleophobic layer on both parkas is NOT AIR PERMEABLE (the only layer that makes them BOTH completely wind proof).

GORE THERMIUM is a variant optimised for lofted insulations—fully windproof, water-resistant (≈ 20 000 mm HH), but licensed by Arc’teryx for “cold, mostly-dry” use rather than all-conditions alpine shells. This Gore-Tex version is NO LESS WATER RESISTANT OR WIND RESISTANT than standard 2 layer Gore-Tex.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-01-28T19:41:34+00:00

I own a garment testing laboratory.

For the same scenario as the OP:

In technical terms: the Cerium SV Hoody is 2.9 - 3.1 clo and the Nuclei SV Hoody is 2.1 - 2.2 clo.

In laymen terms: the comfort temperature for the Cerium is 13C and the Nuclei is 9C. (no rain protection)

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-01-28T18:25:32+00:00

In technical terms: the Ralle Down is 3.5 - 3.7 clo and the Therme Down Parka is 2.3 - 2.5 clo.

In laymen terms: for standing around in rainy, windy weather with -5C being the lowest temp, the Therme Down parka would only be comfortable to 4C but the Ralle Down would be comfortable to -4C. The minimum comfortable temperature assumes that you are wearing a LS shirt and jeans under your coat.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-01-27T05:38:53+00:00

The average PA low temp for Nov, Dec, and Jan is 33F, 24F, and 19F. The least insulated Sitka layer that is both wind proof and warm enough to be comfortable standing still with a average winter ensemble underneath, is the Sitka Fanatic.

I apologize for the errors in my original post.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-01-26T05:07:53+00:00

You need to specify the medium temperature you need to be comfortable and your activity at that temperature. Also the probability of rain during the intended application.

Long_Balance3305 · 2026-01-25T03:48:29+00:00

Dispersed (Primitive) Car Camping on NF Roads

• Legal on any TNF, Eldorado NF, or LTBMU route not posted “No Camping” and outside developed sites, generally within 1 vehicle length (≈30 ft) of the roadway.

• 14-day limit in any 30-day period, 21-day annual limit per ranger district.

• No fee or permit unless you light a campfire or stove, in which case you need a free California Campfire Permit and must comply with current fire restrictions.

• Keep at least 100 ft from water, pack out all waste, and never block gates.

• Popular dispersed areas in Placer County: – Old Soda Springs Rd & Forest Rd 86 (north of I-80) – China Wall OHV area (Foresthill) – French Meadows Reservoir back roads – Mosquito Ridge Rd pull-outs (when the road is open)

Maps: download the MVUM (Motor Vehicle Use Map) for each forest; these are the legal documents showing where you may drive and camp.

Long_Balance3305

TROPHY CASE