What's your winter layers?

“I've been given clearance by the misses to buy some new winter gear. I will be graduating in the middle of winter so hopefully I will get to use it quite a bit this coming year.

I've got midweight and exped. weight capilene. I usually like to carry the expeds during the day so I have some dry clothes at camp.

I'm looking at the patagonia lightweight r4 as a fleece jacket and maybe a down or synthetic jacket or vest for in camp. The Patagonia MicroPuff looks pretty sweet. It's synthetic, but still plenty light for me. I've never really worn a vest before. Are they pretty warm? I could save some money and weight if I got a vest to wear outside my fleece in camp. .

What do you guys use?”

“Spf 30 that's all.”

“When on the move, I will usually end up just with a mid-weight long underwear top. I always have long underwear bottoms and ski pants on the bottoms. Once arriving at camp and upon completion of hard work type chores, I put on dry heavier long underwear (leaving on the bottoms if not sweaty), fleece pants (Campmor, 20 bucks), ski shirt if not sweaty (usually comes off when temp goes up, so rarely wet), down vest, fleece jacket, and, if snow falling or windy, Marmot precip tops and bottoms.”

“lightweight base layer when hiking, whatever is/was on sale

insulating layer is a fleece, again whatever is/was on sale. i have an elastic strap with hook/loop fastner that i strap it outside the pack when i get warm.

top layer is a marmot precip jacket (which i just lost so i'll be using something else soon)

around camp i might throw on a down vest or something.

at night i have a pair of clothes i keep dry for sleeping in. midweight patigonia cap stuff. i also have dry socks, heavy winter things, that i sleep in. i can't sleep if my feet get cold. drives me nuts. and a hat, "turtle fur". again, it was on sale.”

“I have a turtle fur hat also, with ear flaps. Gotta be 10 years old, warmest damm hat I ever owned. I wear a MH windstopper micro beenie when hiking and sleeping though.”

“Lt Weight base layer - my favorite is a thin turtleneck from REI.

Lt wt fleece layer - I'm with Jimmy San, what's n sale works but I do look for a 1/2 zip so that I can vent if needed. I absolutely love my REI mistrel pants for the winter.

Go-Lite lightweight wind shell. I don't think they make it any more but I drooled over some of the new ones in their catalog the other evening. In inclement weather I also wear my REI Mistrel Jacket or Marmot Precip.

Fleece beanie hat and of course gloves

At camp - I throw on a cozy fleece hoodie sweater or my patagonia down sweater and fleece pants. Down booties of course and some nice thick socks. The fleece hat stays on too. I have a hard time keeping arm up after hiking or activity so I pile it on until the campfire gets going.

To sleep - I like a second set of clean dry lightweight base layers and throw on the hoodie sweater

Have fun shopping!”

“Are we talking +20 degrees or -20 degrees? Normally, I like lightweight long underwear. Then a long sleeved reg shirt. (I don't wear an insulated flannel or fleece shirt) Then a #300 wgt hooded, full zipper fleece jacket which normally stays open all day. I still have to wear sweatbands on my head (changed a couple times a day)no hat.

When I'm hiking, I'm hot. It's when you stop to eat or take a break is when you get cold. For most of the winter, I just zip up my fleece jacket & put on a hat when I stop.

If it's very cold & the wind is howling I'll use a breathable uninsulated solstice parka which doubles as my raingear in other seasons. It stops the nastier weather from blowing through year round & built to take abuse. Occasionally I'll bring nylon water proof pants too for the wind. I'll always bring & wear gaiters. I'll always bring crampons & snowshoes. 1 ice axe too.

Most of the time I wear finger-less (half-fingered) gloves. Gives my hands some warmth but leaving me dexterity. In very cold weather, I'll bring nylon heavy insulated reg gloves. I don't like gauntlets or mittens.

In extreme weather, I'll bring a Marmot Goose Down coat (w/hood). Don't wear it except on occasion or break time.

You'll probably take off much of what you wear on your initial trips but it's nice to have with you. I think leg gaiters are my most important item. It took me many years of winter hiking before I got crampons but fell in love with them too. 4 wheel drive traction & keeps your feet an inch off the ground.

Everybody is different.”

“While hiking in the 20's I will wear a light longsleeve base layer and a Capilene longsleeve zip neck. On the bottom just pants with gaiters or my EMS scheoller dry skin pants. If it is snowing I will put on my precip jacket. Light glove liners on my hands.
In camp I add my Patagonia Micropuff jacket and ID puff pants. The jacket and pants are great much warmer than fleece and lighter. Warmer fleece gloves and a MH windstopper hat. If it is really cold 0* or less I exchange the micropuff for my EMS down parka, it is like wearing a sleeping bag. On my feet I wear feathered friends down booties with an epic shell. mmmm warm.”

“I have gone down as low as 12 (skiing) wearing lt weight Polypro (yes on sale) underwear, my synthetic pants (wind pants if it gets cold) on the bottom, on top lt weight poly with a turtle neck then a fleece jacket (200 wt) and a jacket. Normally I bring a stuffable down jacket for warm up.

It is amazing what a VBL type layer can do over good fleece. In the winter when I fight fires I normally wear lt weight poly underneath and my uniform over it. If it is below 20 I will throw a black Fleece Shirt next to my gear.

THANK GOD FOR FLEECE!”

“If it's really cold I wear patagonia long undies and windbloc fleece pants. They vent on the sides so I don't get too hot when snowshoeing, cross country skiing, etc. I generally wear a long undie top and regular fleece shirt, gloves and hat. I keep a fleece jacket handy for stops.

At camp I wear down booties, down sweater, fleece hat/ balaclava. Fleece pants, yadda, yadda. I wear windbloc fleece gloves with a thin poly fleece pair underneath.

I just got a pair of mistral pants (REI), because Birch and Dhutch both love theirs so much. Haven't tested them out in the cold yet but they did excellent in the wet weather we had on our recent kayaking trip. They're really nice pants. Wish I had a jacket to go with!!”

“don't forget to buy a fleece ballsac warmer!”

“Is that like a Brass Monkey Protector?”

“Catshiker made a good point about what temp you expect. My setup has been tested (and I don't expect much variation in the future where I usually go) down to zero, although is most comfortable down to about 15 or so.

Forgot to mention that I also switch to down booties after camp chores, and toss a hand warmer thingee into them when I put them on....”

“I am in same general area as Catskhiker same temps 20F to -20F, although the lowest measured while out was -15F.

Base layer, Walmart polyproylene El Cheapo.

Fleece vest probably about 200wt. Worn for 1st mile on trail then polypro and SD jacket only.
On occasions will also have a flannel long sleeved shirt. Low cotton fabric.


Sierra Designs goretex jacket, heavier and bulkier than the Marmot Precip but better pocket location and distribution, it just worked better for me.

EMS down jacket for in camp.

Campmor silk liner gloves only used in camp when fiddling with stove.

Fleece liner mitts, fingers kept together stay warmer. Worn for first mile hiking then overmitts only.

EMS overmitts, many many repairs as these get a lot of use.

Overnight I have silk long underwear, weigh nothing, pack to nothing, low odor, keep sleeping bag clean. Also have 100wt fleece Long underwear pants only for really cold.

Step-in crampons able to be fitted with mittens, snowshoes, and ice axe.

Always have ski goggles for eye protection.
last edited: 10/11/06 10:00:26 AM”

“If I see 0 it is usually in the middle of the night. I don't recall ever being out when it didn't get at least into the teens during the day.

I don't think anything but my ears have ever been cold when hiking in just capilene, unless it's really windy.

I have a good idea of what I'm wanting. It's just been so long since I've gone gear shopping that I wanted to see what the new pimp stuff was. Same as a couple years ago, it sounds like.”

“I have a TNF synthetic sweater that looks like a damn trash bag. I like it though because it's got nice long arms. Then I have a TNF shell that is one of their top of the line shells but is heavy as hell.

I'm going to be replacing all my clothes soon and plan on replacing all the fleece with Icebreaker wool clothes. I was thinking of getting just a light Marmot Precip shell but found this really neat soft shell WPB shell at Gander Mountain for $80 I'm going to try. It feals more like a waterproof shirt than a jacket.”

“campmor has some good prices on silk underwear for men and women

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?TM20070126&ctm=4-C200324867&catalogId=40000000226&categoryId=200324867&&storeId=226&langId=-1&memberId=12500226”

“In really bad weather I usually wear silk weight leggings, tights, and windpants. On torso a long sleeve thermax something, pile pullover, Windstopper jacket, rainjacket. I also have mid and expedition weight leggings and rainpants. Torso; other pullovers, vest and Mr Puffy (huge expedition down jacket) Multiple gloves, including expedition. Balaclavas, monster boots. Look for sales!! ANd wear it till it falls off.”

“It was below -40 here about two weeks ago. I still sweat if I am hiking/snow shoeing at a good pace.

Base Layer:
Ex Officio Boxer Briefs, Under Armor Heater Leggings, thin rei turtle neck, thick ski sock type linners, midweight sythetic socks in the day and heavyweight synthetic socks at night.
Mid Layer:
The REI Zip-T, insulated pants or fleece pants.
Outer layer:
Waterproof breathable shell pants, fleece zip top, Extreme Cold weather parka, liner gloves, mitts/gloves(I like gloves with arm gaiters),thin balaclava, Gortec wind stopper hat with flaps.

I usually dont need the parka if I am moving, even if it's -20.”

“While I am moving I am probably only wearing one layer on top and two layers on the bottom during the late fall, winter and early spring here in SoCali. The day highs this weekend were in the low 50's with a strong breeze in some areas of the trail. My top was acrylic duo fold, and when we stopped for lunch I threw on a fleece jacket so that I wouldn't chill. I kept my expedition weight mircrofleece bottoms on under my nylon zip-off pants just because it's easier not to change. The temps began to drop enough for me to throw on my expedition weight fleece top as my 2nd layer at around 4pm and keep hiking. This weekend the night dropped to the mid to low 20s both Friday and Saturday. When Brian and I stopped made camp at around 5:30 on Saturday night, (early because of my knee), I threw a wool sweater over my two layers, and then a down vest over that and my fleece hat. It wasn't as cold I think, as it was the night before when I had a fleece jacket under the wool sweater. After a nice hot dinner and clean up and stargaze, Brian and I climbed into our bags and played "Go Fish" for a while. Next time I will bring a warmer pair of gloves, and either my thicker socks or foot warmers or something. Course my feet only got cold when I stopped. Oh, one of my boots broke on Sunday! I've got to buy a new pair, Gosh I hate breaking in a new pair, the old ones were so darned comfortable.

p.s. don't you east coasters laugh at me, i was one of you til my parents moved me here and my blood thinned out to nothing.
last edited: 2/01/07 3:40:17 AM”

“Brrr the low twenties how could you take the cold?”

“In the low 30's a few weekends ago I was wearing thermals on top and bottom with a Body Armour (knock off type) t-shirt, a turtle neck and then a Columbia Fleece and rain jacket...worked great while I was moving.”

“polyester tshirt, magellan polyester turtleneck, topped with a St. John's Bay polyester pullover 1/2 zip fuzzy.....and blue jeans with Smartwool socks and my Keen Bronx...........”

“LtHiker, are you laughing at me? I told you not to laugh! It's not my fault that my parents removed me from CT at the tender age of almost 8 and my poor blood has been thinning ever since.

Hey, I was in CT last April for my Grandpa's funeral and I wore wayyyy less than my poor shivering sister who was born here in CA. Expedition weight fleece, jeans & shirt, jacket. That's it.”

“i start with a VBL, usually i wrap myself with plastic wrap (the cheap stuff works well from walmart, no need for the expensive brands). i find it takes several layers to get a good effect. after that it's the standard hiking clothes... a thong to minimize weight then latex leggings and briefs and finally a nylon shell over it all.”

“Best footgear I've found to keep the feet warm in or out of camp are Steger mukluks with wool felt packs and sheepskin insole. Really comfortable for shoeing. And even if they're a block of ice in the morning, feet are toasty within a minute of putting them on.

At night, I always manage to get my feet off of the sleeping pad so now wear heavy wool socks and down booties in my bag. Problem solved.”

“Croft, those Stegers look pretty nice. Do you know what model you have? Do you wear extra socks with them? www.mukluks.com”

“I've had my tall Ojibwas (all moosehide outers)for 7 years and they're still almost like new. I bought them a half size larger to accommodate the sheepskin insole and only wear a light to medium weight wool hiking sock, even down to 20 below.”

“i really like the look of the Arctic's ....

i want a pair.”

“So how are they for hiking? Do they provide enough cushion for the long miles? (the mukluks?) I'm intrigued.”

“Usually underwear, shorts, t-shirt, cotton socks, my backpacking hat and those open web plastic like things made for wading. During cold spells I may add a sweat shirt.”

“Definitely enough cushion. but little support, which I prefer. Fortunately I've been blessed with good arches and strong ankles and really like the freedom of the "barefoot feel" (all those years living on a sailboat).

Went to the "FYAO in da UP for MLK" trip and did two 10 mile days thru snow. I did get a blister but it was from the socks, not the muks. First blister I've had for years.”

“As someone who prefers hiking in running shoes, I wonder if the "muks" would be a good option for me in the winter.”