Hello there! As the title suggests, this post is about the Thermal Stone vs Insulation and the pros of each (though, more directed towards winter).
*The information below on thermal stones is, oddly, not on the wiki. I personally conducted some tests and found the numbers stated below. Please feel free to do some tests yourselves to either prove or challenge the data I found.
As most people know, the mechanics of the thermal stone in DST is NOT the same as its mechanics in DS. And, here's why:
It has a durability of 8 neutral-hot/cold cycles. Meaning, for every time it reaches a glowing red hot state, or a deep blue cold state and goes back to a grey neutral (ambient temperature state), it loses durability. However, it has been severely buffed compared to DS' thermal stone.
Firstly, the thermal stone neither makes you colder in the winter nor make your hotter in the summer. This means that, in the winter, it cannot reach a cold state. And, in the summer, it cannot reach a hot state.
Secondly, you may increase the temperature of the thermal stone by standing next to a fire. You may increase it even further than standing on top of a fully stoked fire pit by simply placing a spiky bush on the ground and setting it on fire. Then, simply digging up the spiky bush. This allows you to let the thermal stone reach a temperature upwards of 60 degrees. Compared to standing next to a firepit which can net you up to 30 degrees during the winter.
Third, the thermal stone gains or loses heat at relatively constant rates. It gains approximately .75 to 1 degrees per second and loses approximately .15 to .2 degrees per second when not next to a fire. This means that for every second you stand next to a fire, you can increase your time away from a fire by 5 seconds. This is especially true by using the bush trick as it raises your temperature far above that of what a fully stoked fire pit and provide you.
Lastly, wearing insulation on top of having a thermal stone on you does NOT reduce the rate at which it loses or retains heat whatsoever. This means that wearing an insulating item whilst carrying a hot thermal stone is pointless. This opens up the head slot for the player to do whatever they wish (miner hat, top hat, bush hat, football helmet etc.)
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Insulation reduces the rate at which we lose heat in the winter while taking up a head or body slot (more commonly the head slot as most people run around with a backpack).
The first aspect of insulation is their relatively small upkeep compared to a thermal stone. With insulation, you can easily tell the when you are about to freeze and when your item is about to break (or needs repairing). Additionally, it may or may not require less time standing next to a fire due depending on one's insulation value.
secondly It also allows for combinations of some powerful sanity/insulation combos (cat cap, tam, winter hat). Unfortunately, you are pretty much unable to take your insulation off unless you are in the direct vicinity of a heat source. Most players will have to unequip their chest item and replace it with a log suit if they are in need of protection.
-That's all I can really think of for insulation.
Which one do people prefer to take and why?