Ultralight Hiking Clothes, Best Layering System 2026
Last Updated: June 10, 2026
By Jaeger Shaw
By Alan Dixon
Our Staff Picks For Ultralight Hiking Clothes
Wearing and carrying top-of-the-line ultralight hiking clothes will drastically improve your overall trail experience by making you comfier, faster, safer, drier, and warmer or cooler as-needed. We’re here to share 50 years of backcountry layering experience by identifying the best options on the marketplace right now, along with tips and trips to make sure they perform optimally.
But first, what exactly is a layering system of hiking clothes, and how does it protect you in challenging weather? In a nutshell, a layering system is the sum total of all wearable hiking clothes and accessories in one’s kit. Broadly speaking, a good 3-season backpacking layering system should be lightweight, dry quickly, breathable, and able to handle rain, sleet, snow and temps down to the mid-20s (F).
The ultralight hiking clothes we highlight on this list will allow you to thrive while living in mountain ecosystems around the world, from Alaska to Patagonia and everything in between. Wherever we’re going, we use the same core of ultralight hiking clothes, and modifying based on specific needs and conditions.
Ultralight Hiking Clothes Table of Contents
- Rain & Wind Layers ↓
- Puffy & Fleece Jackets ↓
- Base Layers ↓
- Pants & Shorts ↓
- Shoes & Socks ↓
- Gloves, Hats ↓
- Pro Tips ↓
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Example 3-Season Layering System
Default Base Layer Hiking Clothes
For moderate to warm temps
- Ketl NoFry One Snap
- Patagonia Multi Trails Shorts
- Paka Trail 3/4 Socks
- Saxx Quest 2.0 Boxer Briefs
- Path Projects Sagauro Cap
- Glacier Gloves Ascension Bay Sun Gloves
- HOKA Challenger 8 Trail Running Shoes
Optional Swap-ins For Cool Weather
Always Packed Ultralight Hiking Clothes (25.0 oz)
- Alpha Direct Fleece Hoodie – active mid-layer
- Zpacks Goose Down Jacket – primary insulation
- Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket – waterproof layer
- Zpacks Octa Beanie – head insulation
- Paka Trail 3/4 socks – secondary socks
- Trailheads Convertible Mitts – hand insulation
- Ridge Merino Underwear – secondary / camp
Optional Add-Ons For Cold/Wet Weather
- Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants – waterproof layer
- EE Visp Rain Mitts – waterproof layer
- Katabatic Crest Windbreaker – cold wind layer
- Outdoor Vitals Highline Leggings – leg insulation
- Salomon Thundercross – extra traction, 360 rand
Ultralight Rain & Wind Shells
For more options, reference the following ultralight hiking clothes guides: Rain Jackets, Rain Pants, Windbreaker Jackets.
Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket
5.6 oz | $299
The Zpacks Vertice Rain Jacket is super ultralight, super breathable, and it blows mainstream outdoor brands out of the water in terms of stats. The Vertice membrane comes with a whopping 56k breathability rating (Gore-Tex varietals score ~20k). And despite that, it maintains a waterproof rating of 20k – only a bit lower than most Gore-Tex. The Vertice even has pit-zips, a remarkable feature-add, considering it weighs so little! Perfect topper for your ultralight hiking clothes layering system. Biggest drawback are its unusual drawcord wrist cinches.
Montbell Versalite Rain Jacket
5.9 oz | $285
Montbell Versalite is arguably the most classic ultralight rain jacket of all time, and it just got a big upgrade for fall 2025. The new version is now three layer, and uses Montbell’s proprietary Super Dry-Tec membrane and a 7d face with 52k on breathability instead of WINDSTOPPER. It still has pit zips, but no hand or chest pockets. All in, this is a major upgrade on an already great piece of gear.
Outdoor Vitals Tushar Rain Jacket
7.4 oz | $220
The Outdoor Vitals Tushar Rain Jacket is a rare blend of ultralight weight, good waterproofness, respectable breathability, and pit zips in a hybrid-mapped package all for a very reasonable price tag.
Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants
3.2 oz | $149
Fully waterproof, preposterously breathable, and only three ounces, the Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants are top tier rain pants for minimizing weight. Vertice has a breathability rating of 56k, that’s more than than triple Gore-Tex, perfect for high intensity movement. True, this isn’t the most durable pair of rain pants, but we find them to be sufficient for on-trail use and are the current best option for an ultralight gear list.
Katabatic Gear Crest Windshell
1.8 oz | $129
We really like the Katabatic Gear Crest Windshell. The 7d Pertex Quantum Air fabric lands on the more breathable side of the wind breaker spectrum, and utilizes textured yarns for a less clammy skin-feel. This windbreaker is literally featureless, aside from elasticized cuffs, which is a smart design choice, and the only way to come in at less than two ounces. It runs a bit trim, so size up if you’re in between or prefer a looser fit.
Ultralight Puffy Jackets & Fleece
For more options, reference the following ultralight hiking clothes guides: Down Jackets, Synthetic Puffy Jackets, Down Parkas, Fleece Tops, Alpha Direct Hoodies.
Zpacks Down Jacket
6.8 oz | $375
The Zpacks Down Jacket blows the hubcaps off competitors like the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer. In particular, it’s warmth-to-weight ratio is nearly two times higher. This is because it’s filled with top-tier 950 fill power down (and more of it) vs mid-tier 800 fill. And they didn’t skimp on features either. The Zpacks Goose Down Jacket still has a drawcord hood, two pockets, full front zipper, and drawcord hem to seal out drafts. It isn’t exactly cheap, but it’s still a great performance to value ratio costing only marginally more than Ghost Whisperer. Read more in our full-length Zpacks Down Jacket Review.
La Sportiva Lumina 200 Down Jacket
8.8 oz | $379
The new-for-2025 La Sportiva Lumina 200 offers the highest warmth-to-weight ratio of any 3-season puffy we tested, and for an extremely reasonable price. It’s our editor’s choice pick for shoulder season. A remarkable 50% of its weight is comprised of 1000 fill power down plumes! Choose this if you run cold or want to push a single puffy into 4-season use. And be thankful La Sportiva didn’t price it $100 higher, because they totally could have (looking at you, Rab and Montbell).
Enlightened Equipment Torrid Pullover
8.8 oz | $200
This is technically not a down jacket, but the Enlightened Equipment Torrid Pullover outperforms most down jackets in its price range when it comes to warmth-to-weight ratio. We’ve been tracking the continuous improvement trajectory of synthetic insulation, and it doesn’t surprise us that the warmest, lightest products are still coming out of the ultralight cottage industry. Read more in our full-length Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex Jacket review.
Polartec Alpha Direct Fleece Hoodie
5 oz | $100
A hoodie made with Alpha Direct fleece is lighter weight, has a higher warmth-to-weight ratio, higher breathable, less water absorption, and a faster dry time than any competing alternative. However, it is also far less durable than average and has zero wind resistance. But they’re basically perfect for fastpacking and super ultralight backpacking. Use it respectfully and pair with a UL windbreaker or breathable rain shell for maximum modularity, versatility, and surprising warmth. Read more in our guide to the Best Alpha Direct Hoodies.
The North Face FutureFleece
7.3 oz | $170
The North Face FutureFleece Hoodie is a lightweight, all-purpose mid-layer with exceptional breathability and a high warmth-to-weight ratio. It outperforms every fleece except for Alpha Direct, but still trumps that in terms of durability, wind-resistance, and versatility. Its performance is thanks to Octa hollow-core yarn, which outperform traditionally spun alternatives. The inside face alternates between voluminous loop clusters that insulate, and channels of empty space to encourage breathability. Read more in our full-length FutureFleece Review.
Backcountry Highliner Primaloft Air-Perm Ultralight Fleece Hoodie
6.6 oz | $99
The Backcountry Highliner PrimaLoft Air-Perm is a Polartec Alpha Direct clone made from Primaloft Active Evolve. It is extremely similar with minor relative differences, and available exclusively from Backcountry.com.
Outdoor Vitals Highline Thermal Leggings
3.5 oz | $70
Thanks to their exceptionally low total weight and high warmth-to-weight ratio, the sub four ounce Outdoor Vitals Highline Thermal Leggings have become our preferred camp legwear for cool weather use. The brushed interior surface of these ultralight fleece tights makes them soft, cozy and warm. The TORAY fabric is 100% polyester, which has sufficient stretch and zero elastane to slow down dry time. Their only feature is the gusseted mesh crotch, but that’s fine by us! Note, these run small, so size up if in between. Large booties may want to look elsewhere.
Zpacks Octa Camp Pants
5.3 oz | $90
Octa is one of the best performing ultralight fleeces available in terms of warmth-to-weight ratio and breathability, so it follows that the Zpacks Octa Camp Pants would be a top performer in the ultralight leg warmth niche. While Polartec Alpha Direct is considered marginally superior to Octa in terms of warmth-to-weight, breathability, and stretchiness, Octa’s exterior face is much more durable, which makes it the superior option for pants. These pants in particular have a nice feature set, including deep pockets and a sturdy drawstring, and are a great choice for cold weather camping in cool temps above those in which down pants are required. Also exceptional for hiking cold temps when warmth and breathability are equally as important.
Ridge Merino Wool Underwear
2.7 oz | $40
If you carry secondary underwear, we recommend at least one of your two pairs is merino wool. Merino is naturally soft, anti-microbial and more breathable than polyester, all of which is great for hygiene. Ridge makes performance cut merino undies for men and women, in most shapes.
Base Layers
For more options reference the following ultralight hiking clothes guides: Sun Hoodies, Merino Wool Hoodies.
Ketl Mountain NoFry One Snap
3.7 oz | $69
Taking UPF, air permeability, heat escape, and drying speed into account, the KETL Mtn NoFry One Snap is the overall fabric performance winner of ~70 sun hoodies tested, and one of the least expensive. We love the addition of the neck snap, which allows the user to lock their hood in place for strong wind, while aerating in calm conditions. The biggest drawback to NoFry is that KETL is menswear brand. For women’s sizing, we still recommend the Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie, complete with ponytail port.
Outdoor Vitals Tern
5.4 oz | $85
The Outdoor Vitals Tern is our top merino sun hoodie pick, and the go-to for cool-to-moderate temps, topping out around 80F. In our testing of 27 sun hoodies, this merino-poly-nylon fabric blend delivered the best overall combination of breathability, dry time, and UPF. Its also highly stretchy, texturally pleasant, and naturally antimicrobial to reduce odor.
Brynje Super Thermo Mesh
7.0 oz | $80
The Brynje Super Thermo Mesh may look atypical, but it’s more effective than any other cold weather base layer in terms of warmth and moisture management. The mesh grid creates pockets of trapped air between your skin and secondary layer. And as we know from puffy jackets, trapped air is the highest warmth-to-weight insulator. The brand also notes that their mesh allows body moisture to immediately transport to outer layers as vapor, bypassing most of the wicking process. And of course, it’s also highly stretchy. Essentially, this keeps you warmer and drier than traditional next-to-skin layers.
Pants & Shorts
For more options, reference the following ultralight hiking clothes guides: Hiking Pants, Hiking Shorts, Trail Running Pants, Trail Running Shorts.
Patagonia Multi Trails Shorts
4.0 oz | $79 M’s | $69 W’s
We love the wearing the Patagonia Multi Trails Shorts because they offer the best blend of stretch, comfort, breathability, and zippered pocket security. This is a great all-purpose pair of shorts that’s particularly good for hiking, but also great for trail running and athleisure. Pro tip – cut the liners out and use your preferred underwear. Read our full-length Patagonia Multi-Trails Shorts Review.
Path Projects Graves PX Relaxed 5″
5.7 oz | $68
The Path Projects Graves PX Relaxed shorts are a trail staple. What separates them from the pack are their 100% polyester, mechanical stretch Toray brand fabric, zippered hand pockets, and attention to detail on all of the trim. They’re surprisingly durable and airy, with great pockets and good waistband. Highly recommended.
Men’s Kuhl Renegade Pants
15 oz $99
There’s so much to like about the Men’s KUHL Renegade Convertible Pants. But most importantly, tons of discreet cargo pocket storage, immaculate durability for bushwhacking and scrambling, UPF 50, roomy fit, quick-dry fabric, and a dash of stretch for comfort. Our only knock is that they’re a bit heavier than average, but it’s not a huge deal since you wear them rather than carry them. A convertible version is also available.
Women’s Kuhl Freeflex Roll-up Pants
14 oz | $99
The Women’s KUHL Freeflex Roll-Up Pants offer spandex-free stretch, which doesn’t sag or bag. But more importantly, they have much sought-after dual cargo pockets on the thighs for handy storage of knickknacks like lip balm or a small tube of sunscreen. As the namesake implies, they have mid-calf snaps for converting into a capri. A functional and flattering design from KUHL. There’s no question as to why these pants get rave reviews.
Arcade Belts
2.5 oz | $40
Arcade Belts could be a big upgrade for most hikers. They’re made of a polyester webbing that is soft to the touch and stretchy, so it doesn’t dig into your skin or bite, even when you have it pulled taut. Adjusting this belt is straightforward, the clasp is very secure, it holds tightness, and does an excellent job of keeping pants up. Highly recommended if you’re still using something old, heavy, leather, or otherwise uncomfortable. Oh yeah, and these elegant designs are great looking; you’ll want to use them for everyday wear too.
Shoes
For more options, reference the following ultralight hiking clothes guides: hiking shoes, hiking socks, ultralight sandals.
HOKA Challenger 8
20.2 oz | $155
New-for-2025 HOKA Challenger 8s are the cushiest trail runners we’ve ever hiked in; perfect for shrugging off foot pain on high mileage days. Now with a 42mm stack height, widened forefoot, and more aggressive chevron lugs, version eight is the comfiest Challenger yet. Note, for technical terrain, mud, scree, excessively steep slopes, or off trail travel, we still recommend the maximum traction choice of HOKA Speedgoats. Read more in our comprehensive HOKA Challenger 8 review.
Salomon Thundercross
22.2 oz | $8.6 oz
Enjoy exceptional traction and comfort in this fully cushioned trail running shoe with aggressive 5mm rubber lugs. With zero break-in required, Salomon Thundercross’s outsole delivers best-in-class grip to hikers and runners alike on steep and/or slippery terrain, while the full 360 rand keeps wet grass, snow, and mud from drenching your socks. Read more in our full-length Salomon Thundercross Review.
Paka Trail Socks
1.7 | $24
For the ultimate blend of comfort and functionality, pull on a pair of Paka Performance 3/4 Trail socks, our editor’s choice award winning model for hiking socks. They have all of the right features, and are made with a dreamy blend of alpaca wool, Tencel, recycled nylon, and spandex that keep your feet comfortable, thermo-regulated, dry, blister-free, and less smelly, all day long. We’re even prepared to say that alpaca wool is superior to merino. A quarter height version is also available.
Gloves & Hats
For more options, reference the following ultralight hiking clothes guides: All Hiking Gloves, Sun Gloves, Fingerless Gloves, Rain Mitts, Hiking Hats.
Glacier Gloves Ascension Bay Sun Gloves
1.7 oz | $27
The Glacier Gloves Ascension Bay are our editor’s choice best sun gloves for hiking as they’re the most durable, longest lasting, and least expensive pair in the round-up. The entire Adventure Alan & Co team prefers this model, and we recommend it very highly. It comes in a basic light gray colorway, as well as cool water camo prints with thru-hiker fashion appeal.
TrailHeads Convertible Running Mitts
2.5 oz | $38
TrailHeads Convertible Running Mitts flawlessly execute the flip top and flip thumb concept, without any floppiness or excess fabric bulk. They are comfy, warm dexterous, soft, stretchy, and one of the versatile items in our kit. Flip the mitt and thumb down to pitch your tent or operate a stove. Flip them back up when temperatures drop.
Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Mitts
0.7 oz | $60
The Enlightened Equipment Visp rain mittens check more desirable feature boxes than any other model – waterproof, hyper-breathable, ultralight, long gauntlet, adjustable wrist and cuff. This the same material as is used in one of our all-time favorite ultralight shells, and it’s great for gloves too. Biggest drawbacks are the fact that the 7d fabric is not the most durable, and they require about an hour of at-home seam sealing work (but come with a complimentary seam sealer tube).
Path Projects Saguaro Cap
2.4 oz | $38
The Path Projects Saguaro is our preferred cap thanks to the hyper ventilated mesh side panels, UV protective top, and extra wide brim. If you’re still hiking in a trucker cup, this represents a sizable performance upgrade.
Zpacks Octa Fleece Beanie
.6 oz | $30
Two major factors differentiate the Zpacks Octa Fleece Hat from a crowded field of warm beanies. Firstly, it’s made with brushed Octa, one of two best-in-class ultralight fleeces (see also Polartec Alpha Direct). Octa is soft, hyper breathable, ultralight, and high warmth-to-weight ratio thanks to the hollow core yarns and brushed interior surface that trap dead air to hold heat. Secondly, this is a really thoughtfully designed beanie! Zpacks gave us a double layer fleece around the circumference of the crown to keep your ears warm, and a single layer on the upper half to encourage breathability. Furthermore, it is asymmetrical, with elongation over the middle and back half to ensure the entirety of your ears are always protected. Going forward, this will be our default warm hat!
Pro Tips Essential Techniques for Using Ultralight Hiking Clothes In Cold & Wet Conditions
By Alan Dixon
A good layering system is really just a set of lightweight hiking clothes. It should keep you safe and comfortable in a broad range of temperatures and environmental conditions (wind, rain, sleet and snow).
In cold weather the challenges to staying warm and dry are as follows:
- Not freeze when hiking in low temperatures and/or at low physical exertion levels (e.g. walking downhill)
- But also not overheat and soak your clothing with sweat as temperatures get warmer and/or at high physical exertion levels (e.g. hiking uphill with a pack on)
- To protect you from wind and precipitation
- Finally, have a very warm layer ready (usually a down jacket) to keep warm at rest stops and in camp
Keep Hiking When It’s Cold, Avoid stops and/or keep them short
In colder weather, you can spend far too much time stopping to adjust layers. This is especially true on hilly trails where you are consistently getting sweaty and hot going uphill, and freezing while on ridges and going downhill. Moderate but consistent movement, not stopping for layer changes, is the key to keeping warm when it’s cold.
- Hiking to keep warm needn’t be at all tiring or strenuous.
- Even walking 1 to 1.5 miles per hour should keep your internal, metabolic heater going, and keep your hands and feet warm. If you are getting tired you are going too fast!
- Minimize stops to essential needs, and don’t make them longer than necessary. When you stop, you get cold quickly and it takes a long time to warm up again. If you’re starting to chill it’s time to move.
- If you really need to stop for a longer time (over 5 minutes), try to do it in a warmer, more protected area and put on warm clothing (e.g. a high quality down jacket) as soon as you stop. Take your warm clothing off just before you start hiking again. Or after you have been walking for a few minutes. (note: I store the jacket as the topmost item in the main bag of my backpack so I can quickly retrieve it and put it back.)
Hiking Clothes Adjustments
- When starting to hike, I put on just enough clothing to keep me warm when moving. (It might take 5-10 minutes at a brisk pace to get fully warm. Then I can back-off to my normal hiking pace.)
- Overdressing, getting hot and then sweating out is a great way to get wet and then really cold. It’s very easy to get clothing wet, but it takes a long time to dry it out in cold and damp weather. Wet clothing is cold clothing and unhappiness. This is why we like using polartec Alpha Direct fleece so much – it’s hyper breathable and extremely quick drying.
- Temperature adjustments are made without stopping or changing a top or bottom layer. Too hot? take off hat and gloves (put in pants pockets). To further cool unzip fleece jacket and/or your base layer, and possibly push sleeves up. Too cold? reverse the procedure.
- Only add warmer clothing when you can no longer stay warm walking at a comfortable pace (and with a good clothing system, this is a rare).
- If you do need to change layers do it quickly. What most people don’t realize is how much time it takes to stop, take your pack off, put-on or take-off a layer, put your pack back on and start hiking again. It’s plenty long enough to get chilled.
Keep your Hiking Clothes Dry
- At the risk of pointing out the obvious, put on your rainwear before you get wet. Have your rainwear readily available on the outside of your pack so you can put it on quickly and without opening your main pack bag and exposing your pack contents to rain. (I like to keep it in the large rear pocket.)
- When wearing your rain jacket pay special attention to not sweating out your clothing. Adjust and ventilate your clothing and/or slow your hiking pace as necessary. As above, it’s very easy to get clothing wet, but it takes a long time to dry it out in cold and damp weather. We leave pit zips unzipped 99% of the time. Unzip the main front zip in light rain.
- And if it’s going to rain for a long time you are going to get wet—it’s inevitable one way or the other. Just try to do your best to keep warm and minimize it. [A discussion on how to deal with long periods of rain (like days), is another whole topic and beyond the scope of this post.]
Avoid Hiking Clothes Layering Mistakes
- People bring too many layers as well as the wrong layers. This costs a lot of money and it’s heavy. Try to find a minimal set of light clothing that will work in a broad range of conditions. It can be done!
- A good layering system is NOT about frequently changing layers. Quite the opposite, you should strive to minimize adding or removing layers! A single set of well-selected clothes should work in a broad range of temperatures (e.g. from mid-20s °F to around 50 °F) without adding or removing layers.
- Keep Hiking When It’s Cold. Frequent stops to change layers can seriously chill you. And once chilled it can be exceptionally hard to get warm again. (In cold weather, constant but moderate movement is what keeps you warm.) Minimize stops to essential needs, and don’t make them longer than necessary. If you really need to stop for a longer time (over 5 minutes), try to do it in a warmer, more protected area and put on warm clothing (e.g. down jacket) as soon as you stop. Take your warm clothing off just before you start hiking again. Or even after you been walking for a few minutes.
- Overheating and sweating out clothes will get you very cold in the long run. Wet clothing is cold clothing and unhappiness. (And in cold weather it takes a very long time to dry, if ever.)
Ultralight Hiking Clothes Staff Picks Conclusion
Thanks for reading our staff pick ultralight hiking clothes, where we hope you found a new set of duds to keep you comfortable in the backcountry. This is what we wear and carry with us while backpacking, and we know you’ll love them too. Lastly, we endorse the positive outlook that there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate hiking clothes. Happy trails!
“A discussion on how to deal with long periods of rain (like days), is another whole topic and beyond the scope of this post.”
Could you please either go into more detail about this or make it the subject of a future post? I’d love to have this information in my arsenal before I need it.
Great content and thanks as always.
Thanks Steven, duly noted. Warmest, -alan & alison
Any thoughts on the R1 and R2 techface fleeces. I was going to get a Micro D patagucci fleece pullover, but since I run cold, was thinking of the R1 techface…blocking a little wind while maintaining breathability sounds like a win win!
Hi Dilley, we are investigating R1 and R2 TechFace garments as I write. Stay tuned. Best, -alan & Alison
A single set of clothing good without adjustment from temps in mid 20s to 50F? This assumes calm wind?
The idea may be viable for some — given the notable variability of individuals in this matter. But its pretty exotic advise — probably needless and to my thinking, harmful to your credibility. On another matter, I used a windshirt a lot for 20-25 years. It worked really well! I lost it and haven’t used one in 10 years. I don’t really miss it. Like a lot of this stuff, it’s just not important an important matter.
Hi Joe. I might suggest taking another read thru this piece, as I think you might have overlooked a few key things. 1) This system works over that temp range because you are always moving to keep yourself warm. Rest stops are short, and in sheltered areas. Movement is your friend to keep warm. 2) In addition, there are a number of thing you can do to regulate temperature (up or down) before you have to change layers. These include taking off hats and gloves, opening zippers, rolling up sleeves and otherwise dispersing heat, or the reverse when getting cold. 3) you can also speed up or slow down your pace to regulate temp. Using all of these it is quite possible, arguably not even difficult, to use a single set of clothes over a very broad temperature range. Wishing you a great year of hiking. Warmest, -alan & alison
In the most extreme circumstances, you can bring a lightweight jacket into the bag and use it if the temperature drops well below your bag s limit.
Yup, that is always a valid approach. And weighs less than bringing some super warm bag that is not needed 98% of the time. Warmest, -alan
Great article Alan! I live in Connecticut and backpack and three season hike mostly in the White Mountains of NH. That being said, I want to get my feet wet doing some half day winter hikes locally here on CT when the temps will be in the 20’s to 40’s..I’m gonna research what I need for winter hiking boots, poles, snowshoes, and microspikes etc..
For clothing layering, I’m still a bit confused to be honest. I have a fleece/wool hat, liner gloves, a 800 fill Montbell Down hooded jacket, and a long sleeve Patagonia Capilene mid-weight 1/4 zip shirt already.
What do I need to get further? What kind of pants? A Patagonia R-1 Hoodie or Nano Air insulated hoody ? Or just a 100 g fleece shirt?
I’m planning on just doing 3-8 mile hikes to start, Patagonia is my favorite brand as well but I’m just not sure what to wear from 1st layer next to skin to last layer over everything else.
I like long sleeve base layer light or medium depending on temps + cheap fleece and/or down jacket for most conditions 3 season. Down jacket is my goto, but may bring only fleece for warm summer or both when really cold. I need these mostly when not hiking – evening, sleeping, and morning. R1 looks nice but can’t bring myself to pay $160 for a fleece. :) Somebody needs to make a cheaper 100 fleece with a hood! White Sierra fleece are mostly sold out. Also check out Lands End about 8oz around 100 thick and tall option.
Hi Alan & Alison,
First, I must say your website is incredibly helpful! I’m a beginner to multi-day hikes and am hoping to do the Cerro Castillo 4 day hike (thanks for your guide! i’m hoping the lack of information online is a sign it’s not highly trafficked) in mid-December. This feels like a very dumb question but I have to ask, for a 4 day hike to you bring a change of clothes or do you just stick it out? Is a change of clothes for everyday necessary? I want to pack light but not unrealistic for my needs. Thanks for your help.
Best,
Cheyenne
Hi Cheyenne. Just out of the backcountry guiding clients for a couple of weeks. So apologies for the late reply. I would imagine that mid-December is slightly before the peak season. There will definitely be people at the Torres themselves either day hiking or overnighting from V. Cerro Castillo. But peak season will be from late Dec (Xmas) to late January.
For the next section you might want to read Top Mistakes Using the Layering System – How to Stay Warmer and Drier
The hike, like all trips in Patagonia can be a bit wet (rain and wading rivers). We personally did not take any backup/sleep clothes (we can keep our clothes fairly dry while hiking, and can dry out a bit of dampness in our sleeping bags at night — yes we sleep in our hiking clothes). Nonetheless taking a light pair of sleep/camp clothes would not be out of the questions, especially if you are unsure about keeping your hiking clothes moderately dry to just damp while hiking in the rain. One could get a lightweight pair of long top and bottom base layers for around 8 oz (250g) for the the pair — e.g. patagonia capilene base layer. That being said you will still have to put on your cold and wet hiking clothes in the morning. Definitely doable but not fun! Wishing you a great trek. Warmest, -alan & alison
Thank you for your reply! Much appreciated.
Get Capilene lightweight asap if you still can! Regrettably Patagonia is phasing “lightweight” out for “Air” and prices went from $50 to $130 almost 3x! Crazy! Have lightweight top and regret not getting bottoms before realizing they’re gone! Grabbed 32 Heat for now at Costco $8 4oz work ok for the price. They’re poly/acrylic/rayon instead of all poly – don’t know of that’s bad, but no cotton.
Thanks for the great information in the article as well as the discussions. I bought the R1, non-hooded, years ago in a shop near the Wind Rivers. Wish I’d gone for the hooded, but got convinced otherwise since they said I was one of the few they had seen that had the layering “almost right”. I use the R1 as a mid-layer (my Montbell Thermawrap was not sufficient alone). One thing I’ve found very helpful is to use my GoLite windshirt over my baselayer (I prefer loose fitting nylon shirt like Columbia or ExOfficio). The R1 just glides on vs a lot of time-consuming pulling. With the wide temperature variations in September in the Winds, sometimes just having the base+windshirt works fine. So, for me, it’s worth the extra 3-4oz.
Your points about down vs synthetic jackets are well made. I upgraded from the Thermawrap to a RAB Strata (which has a hood) a few years ago. Maybe I can afford to upgrade to down sometime. I do carry it + the R1, but it keeps me warm. What steered me to synthetics was an episode where I woke to a WM Versalite soaked at the foot. Contacted the single wall of a 6 Moons Trekker during a night of hail/snow/sleet. No way to dry it out it with the weather getting worse, so I bailed and did 22 miles back to the car. Learned many lessons there!
What I don’t have solved yet is the bottom system. In camp, it gets cold fast. Usually, it requires adding thermals. Be nice to strap on down pants, but they are expensive and don’t have zippered options. So, thermals for the same weight, albeit less warmth and more time to put on.
Hi Steve, all good info. Take a look at our Guide to Lightweight Down Jackets and Pants for Backpacking. It might give you some inexpensive options. For instance, the Montbell down pants are quite nice and reasonably priced. Down pants in camp are bliss on a cold night or morning. And paired with a down jacket they keep you out of “sleeping bag jail” in cold weather. That is, otherwise the cold drives you into your sleeping bag as it is the only way to stay warm. In addition, they can significantly boost the warmth of a sleeping bag or quit if you wear them to bed. Hope this helps. Warmest , -alan & alison.
Do you a bring different set of clothes as part of your sleep system or do you sleep in the clothes you hike in?
Hi Rebecca, good Q. No sleep clothes, just wear the ones you hike in. If they are slightly damp when you get to camp, they will dry out by morning. The only exception to this is packrafting where your paddling clothes are so saturated at the end of the day that a light pair of camp/sleep clothes is a huge mood lifter. But even then top and bottom should weigh no more than 8 oz. Wishing you a great year of trekking. Warmest, -alan & Alison
Hi Alan,
Your articles and reviews are very informative. I am new to Lightweight hiking and wanted to dial in my clothing options.
We are going to be hiking some trails in Scotland, France, Pyrenees, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Dolomite’s and Corsica from May to October next year. I am not sure if i need a Down jacket as it will be in their shoulder seasons to summer months. I was tossing up between a Patagonia R1 or a Down jacket. I am unsure of the temps as i am from Australia and wanted a bit of guidance to get it right before i buy. Also for sleeping quilts my wife sleeps cold and i was going to get her a 22 degree and myself a 30 degree
What would you suggest?
Cheers Mate
Jared
Hi Jared,
Apologies for the late reply. Just back at a computer after a month of guiding Alaska’s Brooks Range and then some personal trips in Alaska. Now digging out of the backlog of being away from the internet for a considerable amount of time. I think that this layering article has most of the gear that would would want to consider. I would take both the White Sierra Baz Az 1/4 Zip (as your active layer when hiking in cold), and a fairly warm down jacket. You can pick from Guide to Lightweight Down Jackets and Pants for Backpacking. The ideas is that the down jacket (possibly in combo with down pants) does double duty in colder shoulder seasons — it keeps you warm in rest stops and in camp, and it supplements a +20 or +30 degree bag to give you that extra boost of warmth on cold nights. Yes, a +20 and +30- quilt supplemented by a WARM down jacket (and possibly down pants) should be good for shoulder season, provided that the quilt has enough with to drape down and form a good seal below you. With the following caveat: that you should be fairly proficient at using a quilt or know that you can keep warm in one. There is a bit of technique required. If you are unsure of this, the safer bet would be to get a down sleeping bag of the same temperature rating. Hope this helps. Wishing you some great trekking in in Scotland, France, Pyrenees, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Dolomite’s and Corsica. Warmest reagards, -alan & alison
If you are looking for light fleece, Adidas has a nice option: the Tracerocker fleece. Light grid fleece, trim fit, available in hooded full zip and collared 1/4 zip versions, at far lower prices than Patagonia.
Hi Slim and apologies for the late reply. I’ve been guiding Alaska’s Brooks Range for the last two weeks and will soon head back in to Alaskan mountains for another two weeks. Yes, the Adidas the Tracerocker Fleece is inexpensive. But as far as I can tell from the spec’s it is a light gridded fleece similar to R1. As such it will likely be more wind permeable than non-gridded fleece like the White Sierra or The North Face jackets here. As such, they will be warmer. And the White Sierra is far less expensive. Wishing you a warm year hiking. Best, -alan & alison
Hello Alan,
1st I must say I applied your recommendations for staying warm whilst traversing a portion of the AT and several other hikes in GA. I stayed warm, light and saved much money :) not buying unnecessary gear! Thank you. Wanted your opinion on my Iceland trip coming up. Would you personally wear your hiking sneakers or pull out the gusto hiking boots? Given Iceland’s diverse terrain and propensity to rain often, i was curious. Thanks for all you and your wife do for the hiking community to educate.
Hi Sean, thanks for the kind words about the site. We were in Iceland a few years back and only wore our trail runners. Feet get wet, that’s part of life in a wet environment like Iceland or Alaska. Wet trail runners might dry out during a dry section of hiking during the day or overnight, but wet boots never will. Just make sure you have dedicated pair of sleeping socks you always keep dry. (And in wet environments I usually have three total pair of socks — all the same for hiking or sleeping). Thinner socks are better than thick socks because they retain less water and dry faster. Wishing you a great trip in Iceland. Warmest, -alan & alison
Alan, another great article. I was intrigued by your mention of 100wt. fleece. I have several ‘fleece’ jackets and pullovers but have no idea what weight they are.
concerning the White Sierra fleece. Do you know if they make a full zip version in the same weight. I looked at the items on Amazon and some other vendors and none of them say 100wt or what weight any of the fleece are. And they aren’t in the name (well, except for the old North Face fleece which is hard to find and 2-3x more money).
The reason being is that while expensive I tend to use outdoor clothing for work. 1/4zip fleece are a pain to remove when I’m trying to retain some level of professionalism. Yes, I could add one of these to my arsenal, but my wife has also been commenting on my wardrobe size (which is still only about 1/2 of hers…but I digress).
Anyway, if they have a 100wt full zip that might fit the bill for work and play.
Thanks again.
R/Ed
Hi Ed. Good Q. The White Sierra that I have has a deep zipper. It’s 1/2 length or 12″. As such it is super easy to take on and off. I just pulled it on over my head with full sized pair of over the ear headphones, no problem. The TNF shirt is definitely 1/4 zip and much harder to take on and off. And to my mind it looks good and comes in nice colors. Hope this helps. Best, -alan
When I give instruction to beginners I make the statement “CLOTHES AND SLEEPING BAGS ARE NOT WARM”. That is what you said in essence. Put a thermometer in a pile of clothes and it will read ambient temp. There are 5 ways a body loses heat and clothes address one or three of them. Evaporation, convection, conduction, radiation and respiration. The only SOURCE OF HEAT IS YOUR BODY releasing energy from food or drink. Protect it rather than lose it and try to get it back. You may not have availability of external heat like fire, chemical packets or another warm body.
Anyone may include this version of information in whatever format they want. It is not original info but the wording may get the right attention.
Hi Alan
Really like your article on layering! I got caught in a rain storm at the bottom of our beloved Grand Canyon. Soaked, changed into my lightweight base, vest and rain pants, jacket fleece hat and gloves. Halfway up it started snowing. Walked out warm and happy. I believe in layering. But heading to the Superior Hiking Trail the last of August and into September for a thru hike. Would you suggest a jacket instead of the vest? It is cooler and I am older. (Darn) Thank you
Alan,
Forgive this novice, but why does no one seem to address the lower extremities in the 100s of “layering” articles I’ve read? Is the principle not the same? Base + Insulation + shell? Further, I seem to be unable to find a decent pair of fleece leggings or pants; what are the experts using in cold weather, i.e. < 30 F? Please enlighten me…and thanks!
Good question Victor. Apologies for the delayed reply but we’ve been out trekking in Patagonia for a few weeks. In general, legs do not need that much insulation so long as you are moving (feet are another issue tho). We were just out on the Southern Ice Shelf in Patagonia and never wore anything more than thin nylon pants and our rain pants even in raging winds and temps below 30F. If you feel that you need something warmer for moving then I would suggest some power stretch tights (6 to 8 oz) under your pants. The problem with this tho is that it is very time consuming and chilling to take them off during the day if you get too warm. So full side zip rain pants might be a better choice to add another more wind resistant layer. This is what we do when it is very cold and windy. Hope this helps. Warmest, -alan & alison
Hey! Thanks for your prompt reply. I will look into the gear you suggest, as well as the method. Please note that I am insanely jealous of your current geographic location! It’s been a weird winter here in NYC so far…8 F this past Tuesday, and currently 62 F and pouring rain! Tell me again how the climate’s not CHANGING!!??!!
Hi Alan,
Can you recommend base layers that can be left on for those outdoors who cannot dictate how often they start and stop moving (search and rescue for example), that would auto regulate body temp? I believe the Patagonia Nano Air and similar OR Ascendant hoodies are marketed as such. Are these claims mostly true and can you recommend something similar for the legs?
Jeff
Yes, the Patagonia Nano Air and similar OR Ascendant hoodies are excellent and do what the claim to do. We used the Nano Airs on a 350 mile November bikepacking trip with snow and temps into the 20’s. And OR Ascendant hoodies recently on the Southern Ice Shelf in Patagonia a week ago. There we had temps into the 20’s, were traveling across a glacier with winds gusting to well over 80 kph. They do indeed handle a broad range of temps and activity levels, but if it’s very cold and windy you may want to layer your rain shell over them. As to bottoms, I have spent a lot of time waiting around in the cold with 100 or 200 wet fleece pants under my nylon hiking pants. Works fairly well, it’s moderately breathable and it is a lot lighter and less expensive than most insulate cold weather pants, say for hunting. So this would be your first option. Otherwise the Montbell Superior Down Pants are your next warmest and lighter option. They have the disadvantage of being more delicate, more expensive and somewhat less breathable. Hope this helps. Warmest, -alan & alison
Hi Alan,
I’ve been waiting for updated colors for the OR Ascendant but the Ascendant isn’t even in the latest catalogs. The new Refuge jackets seem to be similar? Have you tried these and how do they stack up to the Ascendant and Patagonia Nano Air?
Regards,
Jeff
Jeff, OR has discontinued the Ascendant, unfortunately. Too much trouble sourcing the fabric from Polartec. A better analog than the Refuge, would be the Refuge Air, which is more like the Nano Air or the older OR Uberlayer than the Ascendant, because it’s not polartec alpha direct. The Refuge Air is warmer and 50% heavier than the ascendant, so not an exact replacement, unfortunately. I haven’t worn it personally, but it feels and looks nice. Not really an ultralight backpacking piece, but likely a great layer for cold weather active pursuits where you intend to have it on most of the time. Hope this helps, best, -alan
The muscles in the legs, filled with your warm blood are the main reason you may notice people hiking in cool weather while wearing shorts and are “layering” above the belt. A lot of heat is created and disipated through the legs working.
But, yes the layering “idea” would be the same for the upper and lower body.
Being a NOVICE please DO NOT follow this article. It is misleading and fails to truly explain what layerings fundimental purpose is..
MOVE MOISTURE OFF YOUR SKILL = BASE LAYER
INSULATE YOU FROM COLD = MID-LAYER
PROTECT YOU FROM EFFECTS OF ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS = SHELL LAYER
YOUR BODY METABOLISM IS THE HEAT SOURCE THAT “PUSHES” THE MOISTURE (ORIGINATING FROM PERSPIRATION) OFF YOUR SKIN WHICH IS “WICKED” OFF YOUR SKIN BY THE BASE LAYER. THAT HEAT STARTS WITH WHAT YOU ATE AND TO KEEP YOU PRODUCING HEAT YOU HAVE TO EAT CALORIES.
A DIFFERENTIAL FROM THE WARMTH OF YOU AND THE COLD OF THE ENVIRONMENT CREATES THE MOISTURE MOVING MACHINE AND USING FABRICS THAT ALLOW MINIMAL MOISTURE ABSORBSION (SYNTHETIC) WHILE BEING ABLE TO PASS THE MOISTURE VAPOR THROUGH THE SHELL FABRIC BUT, PREVENT LIQUID WATER FROM SOAKING THE MID AND BASE LAYERS.
ALAN SHOULD HAVE DISCLOSED THIS FOR COMPLETENESS AND PROPER KNOWLEDGE. THERE ARE TOO MANY VARIABLES FOR INEXPERIENCED ADVENTURERS TO GET HURT OVER.
LEARN AS YOU GO.
CHOOSE SAFETY OVER LIGHTNESS THEN LET YOUR EXPERIENCES DEVELOP AND SEE WHERE IT LEADS YOU.
HOPE THIS HELPS YOU TO BE SAFE AND ENJOY OUR PUBL7C LANDS
WARMLY,
RANGER JOHN
WILDERNESS /MOUNTAINEERING RANGER
STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST, USDA FOREST SERVICE (RET,)
Hi Victor. Yes, blood flowing through the legs is the reason that they need less insulation than top layers. The reason for the differential between legs and upper body is that for hiking legs are doing almost all of the work, thus they have the most blood flow and warmth. But when moving at a tempo pace, your whole body benefits from the warmth of increased blood flow. Thus the encouragement of this post to move at a tempo pace. I think this post is pretty straightforward that moderate/tempo movement is the key to warmth in cold weather. That when you are moving you are moving with just enough layers to keep you warm but not sweat out. And when you are stopped you are stopped with your warm jacket on and hopefully in a sheltered area. I think this is a fairly simple concept that most hikers and backpackers novice or not, can easily understand and execute. The only personal variance will be people determining the correct clothing for the temperature and their personal tempo pace. Again, not too difficult. If you are too cold add a layer or use a warmer garment. If you are starting to sweat and get your base layer/mid layer wet then you need to either lighten up on insulation or cut your pace. Again, I think the post addresses this.
As such I do not agree with “Being a NOVICE please DO NOT follow this article. It is misleading and fails to truly explain what layerings fundimental purpose is..” I would actually counter that it is the novice that really needs this advice as experienced hikers may well do this intuitively without really understanding that they are doing it. In summary, I do not think this technique is complicated or difficult to execute. As such, it is well suited to novices and experts alike. Warm regards, -alan
When I give instruction to beginners I make the statement “CLOTHES AND SLEEPING BAGS ARE NOT WARM”. That is what you said in essence. Put a thermometer in a pile of clothes and it will read ambient temp. There are 5 ways a body loses heat and clothes address one or three of them. Evaporation, convection, conduction, radiation and respiration. The only SOURCE OF HEAT IS YOUR BODY releasing energy from food or drink. Protect it rather than lose it and try to get it back. You may not have availability of external heat like fire, chemical packets or another warm body.
Anyone may include this version of information in whatever format they want. It is not original info but the wording may get the right attention.
Patagonia Airshed is a much better wind shirt because it breathes better than typical wind shirts. Works well with base layer or over a light fleece+base layer combination.
Good point Pat the Airshed does improve on traditional wind shirts as it breathes a lot better. Best, -alan
Hi,
I really enjoy the site. It’s one of the best of its kind.
One comment on layering and vests: (I see you do address vests in a few places.) As someone who has Raynaud’s, I find that a vest is one of the best pieces of kit I can add to any layering system. Core temperature is key. Paradoxically, I’m not a “cold” person; I just have this odd syndrome. Vests are great because without arms, they vent heat quickly when unzipped (so they don’t have to be removed), and they don’t add a lot of weight. I do have to keep chemical warmers in my pack no matter what.
Thanks again for the great site.
Vic
Hi Vic, thanks for sharing this approach. Yes, vests to a great job of retaining core warmth (and wind protection for your core) but do vent exess moisture keepign you drier. Wishing you a great year of trekking — warmest, -alan & alison
Hi Alan,
Super happy I found your blog/site with all of these details. I just wanted to clarify, if you’re hiking in cold weather, are you saying the Patagonia R1 Hoodie is your baselayer, direct to skin? Or do you have something synthetic shirt underneath to wick away sweat to the fleece? I’ll keep reading, there is a ton of info here, and thank you for passing along so many hints/tips. Especially as I dive into more photography.
Hi Peter, nice to hear from you. Yes, when it’s cold I use the Patagonia R1 Hoodie as my shirt/baselayer. So nothing underneath it. That’s the beauty of it. It’s light and not a lot of switching layers goes on. Works for me when I am active from around freezing into the 50’s without need for additional garments. Enjoy the photography articles. Warmest, -alan
Do you have an article in which you make a suggestion for ultralight weight rain pants? Doing the Tour De MontB and wish to keep the pack light
Hi Karen,
And apologies for the late reply and short reply. I’ve been out trekking in Patagonia for the last two weeks (and am still in Patagonia with crappy Internet). I would definitely look at the Z-Packs Vertice rain pants. They are what I am using in Patagonia right now. Alison is using the Outdoor Research Helium pants which are a bit easier to get on with their calf zips. Both are light and will do the job altho I prefer the pricier Z-Packs ones. They are lighter and a bit more breathable. But also a thinner fabric. Although I have about two weeks of actual wear (rain days) on them and they are fine. Hope this helps. Best, -alan
Great article. I agree on the windshield, especially the clammy part, but I have to share something that changed my life: the wind vest! I do a lot of backcountry skiing and mountaineering, so wind at elevation becomes an issue. But they are high exertion activities, so a full windshirt is way too much. But the Patagonia Houdini Vest weighs nothing and cuts the wind right where you need it while still letting you dump heat.
Good find Montana Gent,
And apologies for the late reply. I’ve been out trekking in Patagonia for the last two weeks. I will need to check the vest out. Warmest, -Alan
Hi Alan,
When you’re bringing ALL your winter layering pieces (puffy pants, rain pants, winter weight sleeping bag, etc.) are you still fitting it all in the HMG 2400 Southwest? Which pack do you recommend for the added weight/volume when including your warmest layers?
Thanks in advance!
I am in Patagonia between treks so short reply. I can fit all my winter gear into a Gossamer Gear Gorilla. So a HMG 2400 should be enough room. Google “winter hammock camping” to find my write up on this. Best -a
Thanks
My pleasure John. Warmest, -alan
In your winds pic it looks like you have a vest on over a shell. Can you elaborate on those brand pieces and why that layering scenario was chosen?
Alan,
I just stumbled on your site the other day and am amazed at the breadth and depth of your blog concerning backpacking and especially the UL end of the spectrum. Anyway, awesome site!
I just tried out the layering system you suggested and ditched my 2 oz wind jacket for a 7 oz fleece. Now, I am a diehard wind jacket guy, so it was with some trepidation I set out this AM on my usual 10 mile training hike without said wind jacket. It was between 36° and 40° F over the course of my trek with calm winds here in Eugene. Humidity in the 90% range. I was slightly cool when starting, but nothing too bad. 2 miles in I start up a 10% grade. I got ready to sweat like I almost always do, but it never really happened. Usually by the time I get a quarter of the way up this mile long hill I have to stop and strip down. (Cue chill factor), but not this time. I did the whole 10 miles without a pause to take off or add clothing. A first. So I am cautiously optimistic that I have found a new, albeit heavier, layering system. Thanks!
Happy Trails,
-Mark
My pleasure Mark. So glad the system worked for you. Warmest, -alan
Oh, and within the realm of reason, efficiency usually trumps weight (at least for a “moderate” increase in weight). And you’d likely have a midlayer or other warm garment like it this on a hike anyway. -a
Alan,
Your website has been a fantastic information resource, and I definitely have run into the same problems you have trying to find lightweight fleece. I think north face is continuing to make their lightweight, but I think they average out the weight across the whole line when they put a stated weight and they sell a XXXL! That’s a lot of fabric!
Anyway, I was curious if you’d ever tested any of the lightweight Mountain Hardwear gear outside of the Ghost Whisperer jacket? I found one on sale for $170 and picked it up because it was a steal (no hood, but at that price I didn’t care). However, when I was looking at the Ghost Whisperer jacket I came across a few other items that seemed like they would fit nicely into your systems.
The first being the Mountain Hardwear Supercharger Shell. https://www.sierratradingpost.com/mountain-hardwear-dryq-core-supercharger-jacket-waterproof-for-men~p~306jx/?filterString=s~supercharger%2F#sizingSection On sale for 79 bucks and 6.1 oz claimed weight! Heck of a deal. Curious if there’s anything you see glaringly wrong with it. However, there’s nothing unique about it notwithstanding the current price to weight, but it could very well be not that great of a product.
The second is a more intriguing item. It is the Microchill 2.0 Zip T. https://www.mountainhardwear.com/mens-microchill-2.0-zip-t-1677261.html?cgid=mens-tops-fleece&dwvar_1677261_variationColor=011#start=1 Normal price of $55 and a claimed weight of 5.9 oz! If this has the same properties as a normal 100 wt fleece, but is just 2 oz lighter and the same price as TNF lightweight fleece, I think it is something worth looking into. Added benefit is it’s a full half zip for better venting! Curious about your thoughts on this product.
Warm Regards,
Zach
Good stuff Zach. Will take a look at these soon. All the best and stay warm out there. -alan
I like the Microchill hoody I picked up, but the weights listed on Mountain Hardwear’s website are completely off. They say 4.8oz for the full zip hoody, it weighs more like 10.7oz. But functionally it’s great – handwarmer pockets, full zip, hood, and it’s light/thin.
It doesn’t stop wind as well as the TNF TKA 1/4 zip I have, but provides more coverage. Hood is cavernous and does not have drawstrings/adjustment, so Patagonia Hoody may be better bet in Alan’s system.
Website describes it as “perfect as a base layer, wearing as a light standalone pullover or for added warmth under a shell.” I concur – I love this with my Montbell Tachyon Anorak wind shirt (2.3oz), only pulling out the wind shirt at the very beginning of hiking or when it’s super windy. As noted, a slightly different system than what Alan’s using, and heavier overall. Saves wear and tear on my rain jacket also.
Yes JP, the hood on the Microchill does look tempting. But for that weight, and if cost is not too much of an issue, I might consider
All the best, -alan
I’m sorry man, maybe it’s because I’m not a native english speaking user or something, but I find these threads so confusing!
I do not understand the rules you are suggesting.
For instance: I will go to the Alps again this summer, it’s like 20°C in the sun, even more, and -5°C° when it’s night and it’s cold.
Wind is always there, sometimes it rains too!
I’d like to semplify my gear and equipment, and I believe I can carry a shor sleeve T, a Patagonia R1 and a 100g ultralight windjacket (wind and very small rain – jacket) .
My worry is regarding maybe a down vest, no hood.
What do you think about that?
I mean, the article is great and everything, but it is a bit chaotic
Peace, Andrew-
Sorry for the confusion Andrew. I am guessing that the fairly technical/complex topic does not translate easily to other languages.
You have an excellent Q about environments that range from moderate (room temperature) temps to very cold (below freezing) with some rain thrown in: I would say a short sleeve, or long sleeve T (or a thin base layer), a Pat R1, 3 oz wind shirt, a rain jacket would be a good set of active layers.
And then add to that a warm down jacket with a hood. Something in the 300g to 400g range with a very light shell fabric. Take a look at my Guide to Lightweight Down Jackets and Pants for Backpacking. In Europe it might be easier to get a jacket like this from Rab or Montane, etc. My preference is when I moving I’m moving. And when I’m stopped, I’m stopped. Or put in other words, the down jacket is only for when I am stopped. And then I want it to be very warm. Just a few more oz down can make an incredible difference in warmth.
Oh, and if you could find a denser weave (less air-permeable than the R1) 100 wt fleece you might be able to ditch the wind shirt. Not for the weight savings but for the time saved in layer changes. I and a number of my experience friends feel the denser weave 100 wt fleece had a broader comfort range (less layer adjusting) than a the combo of a more air-permeable fleece and a wind shirt. I will note that some other very experienced hikers don’t agree about this.
Hope this helps and wishing you some great trekking in the Alps. Warmest, -alan
That’s great, clear now…thanks Alan.
I actually meant a light vest OVER a fleece, not instead of it.
So baselayer + R1 + vest + rain jacket would be the system. I think the vest in this system represents an extra layer compared to your overall recomendation ?
Do I have it right? You use baselayer + R1 (or other fleece) + shell and that’s it? Thanks again…
Hi Andy. My basic 3-season layering system is
Hope this helps. Warmest, -alan
Noticed that you mentioned a vest in on of your replies, and I am curious to hear your thoughts about vests in general and whether you like them as a layering piece. If you’ve talked about this elsewhere, feel free to just direct me to that. I have been thinking about adding a light synthetic vest as an insulating layer over the R1 and a wool baselayer. Is the vest addition worthwhile in your opinion, or an unnecessary item for three season applications? Thanks Alan…
Hi Andy, absolutely nothing wrong with layering a vest. Alison and I have used Pat R2 vests like this for years. Works great! The caveat about a vest is that since it doesn’t cover your arms you are more likely to need to layer a wind shirt over it. And layering the wind shirt can take more time since you’ll need to take your pack of to do it. So, you’ll likely spend a bit more time adjusting layers vs. the full fleece which in my opinion has broader temp range of comfort than a vest. But if you don’t mind a few extra minutes to deal with the wind shirt, a vest is an excellent layering option. Wishing you a great year trekking. Warmest, -alan
Informative article, I’m sure it has shifted many people’s paradigms. I hope try some of the ideas out very soon. One item though for me that’s become integral to my 4 season list is the Squamish wind jacket…the reason is b/c it breathes better than any other and allows me to find that sweet spot to prevent chilling but allow drying. Last spring in March used it, a craft base layer, & a smart wool mid at the summit of Kirkwood ski area in 40mph winds @28deg.
Sounds like a nice setup Rob. And Kirkwood is lovely in the winter. Warmest, -alan
Great info. I am always trying to learn layering techniques. It’s a challenge for me, because my blood doesn’t circulate well. So I often sweat while my extremities are numb. But my passion for winter hiking keeps me going. Any suggestions? I’d like to get pit zips jackets, but they are just too expensive! I am also on a tight budget. That’s another thing I appreciated about your article. Most of these things are not too expensive
Should the layers be more “form fitting” than baggy? I’m between a M and S for the fleece layer, both fit under my rain jacket. The S is fairly form fitting but not too tight while the medium “fits” but is a bit looser. Should I choose one or the other? Or does it not matter that much? Thanks for the help
Scott, ideally they should fit but not be not snug (with the execution of your base-layer that should be snug but not too tight). For a fleece layer, looser is better than tight, otherwise it’s hard to get over layer under it as it tends to bind and bunch things up, especially in the sleeves. And you might want to put it on over a thin vest so a bit of extra room is welcome. Enjoy your hike. Warmest, -alan
I always hear to try and avoid sweating in the cold, but have yet to understand how. I can be in a t shirt in mid 30’s, as soon as I start going uphill I’m soaked. Always a big sweater
Hi Blake,, -alan
If you are only sweating out your T-shirt then you are doing it right! On of the first principals while exercising hard is to sweat out the least amount of clothing (only T-shirt is good!). If you do sweat this much and can’t lower your pace to reduce it… then you are likely someone that may need to doff and don layers when going up and down in cold weather. Such is life. Warmest
Alan, thanks for the time you put into this site. Would you discuss the footwear you use when you expect colder temps with rain or snow? I’m usually in the Sierras in late September to early October and often see some precipitation. Can your feet stay warm walking in all day rain when it’s 35-45? And what do you recommend when you arrive in camp with wet feet and aren’t planning to jump right into the bag/quilt?
In the field right now Richard so a brief response. Short answer is that if you keep moving you feet should stay warm (even in snow). If it’s consistently cold enough you can switch to GTX trail runners (which I wouldn’t rec. for warm to moderate temps). In camp when it’s cold you’ll likely want dry socks and light down booties. Best -alan
Thanks Alan I enjoyed this. I share your liking for fleece. It went out of fashion for a while but I always carry a 100wt fleece on backpacking trips, so versatile!
Yup, wonderful utility Donna. Best, -a
Nice work, Alan. Thanks.
:-)
Great article. And it can’t be emphasized enough that with proper layering, you should start cold in cold weather! That is, you shouldn’t dress to be warm when you’re standing still at the beginning of a hike (lots of people make this mistake). You need to learn how to deal with being cold for anywhere from 20-40 minutes of activity before your body kicks into “high heating mode.” It’s never fun, but you get used to it—and it pays off in the long run.
Nice post. The Insect Shield treatment applied to RailRiders pants doesn’t last a lifetime but 70 washes max. Bug killing efficacy also drops to 50% after 35 washes. I send out my old RailRiders each year to Insect Shield to have their treatment refreshed because I wash them about once a week. The same holds for all factory clothing treated with Insect Shield, which is just an industrial process for Permethrin Treatment that lasts significantly longer than if you apply it at home
Thanks Phillip. Yes, you are correct it is 70 washings for the factory treatment. And I say so in a note at the bottom of the table. For me that IS a life time :-) But to be clear, I’ve amended each table line to read 70 washings. Best, -alan
Is there a benefit to having Insect Shield applied to fabric that bugs can’t bite through regardless? I’ve had 2 or 3 RailRiders shirts treated with the stuff and have seen hordes of mosquitoes land on the shirts and walk around for several minutes in search of a place to try and bite through, and eventually fly off. I’ve never seen one drop dead yet. Maybe some of them eventually die, but the Insect Shield doesn’t deter them from landing on me. The shirts are some kind of nylon/poly blend I think, and since the bugs can no more bite through that than they can my rain jacket, is there an advantage to having it on there?
I used to wear pants with it and witnessed the same plague-like congregation of skeeters landing all over them. More recently I switched to the somewhat stretchy and more comfy Prana pants with no Insect Shield and find zero practical difference. The bugs still land on me, but they can’t bite through the material. My approach in the High Sierra in bug season is to just keep covered with lightweight, tightly woven nylon or some kind of blend that the bugs can’t bite through so that my sun protection and bug protection are essentially one. Works really well. I just can’t figure out what I’m missing.
What am I missing here?
Hi Randy. Apologies for the late reply. Somehow this slipped off of my screen before answering. First, I have had good success with clothes that mosquitoes can’t bite through. Especially places like the sierras where intense mosquito pressure is rare. And even then it’s fairly local and they usually shut down after dark. This is a different story in places like Alaska at Summer Solstice where they will eventually bite through anything you can tolerate to wear in warm weather. There permethrin pants and shirts do matter. And in a place with malaria or yellow fever (not the US) then everything you can do to reduce mosquitos bites is critical. Second, unless you seal all your lower extremities, ticks in spring on the East Coast are much more of a worry. They can crawl in the smallest of openings. Here I would definitely use permethrin pants or at least coat my legs in picaradin–maybe refreshing the treatment midday.
Finally, the permethrin treated clothing is tested and approved by the EPA. This is a stringent test. In the correct dosage permethrin is a proven mosquito and tick repellent–the best out there. So possibly your clothing has been washed too often and needs to be sent back to the manufacture to be refreshed. Hope this helps, -alan
Thanks for the reply Alan. I used to live back east, and ticks were far more of a problem. I’ve literally seen only one tick in 5 seasons of Sierra hiking, but I’m always up high. Haha. The odd thing about my treated Railriders shirts was that I had very few washings at all on them. Perplexing. Thanks again for the reply, and keep up the awesome work on the website. REALLY valuable stuff!
One note about permethrin – it is extremely toxic to cats. I never see that mentioned in gear discussions, but if you have cats at home bear that in mind.
Good point Chris. Cats are more sensitive to permethrin than say dogs. As such, one should never use permethrin treatments for dogs on cats. These dog products may be 45 percent permethrin or higher. That being said, Permethrin treated clothing should pose no danger to cats. And according to Dr. Charlotte Means, director of toxicology at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center the concentration of permethrin in household sprays is much, much lower – typically less than 1 percent. And with concentrations of 5 percent or less, Means says, there are rarely problems. Permethrin clothing sprays are only around 0.5%. Even so, one should be careful not to expose your cats if you end up treating your own clothing with permethrin. Regards, -alan
Great article, thanks! The trick with layering is that the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts, and your building block approach is ideal.
Indeed. Thanks for the kind words. Best to a great (and warm) hiking season. -alan