Any suggestions on what to bring for a jacket? I have my frogg toggs and am getting some light weight lj’s and have my light weight shirt, etc but I have heard so many different things about jackets I think I am losing my mind. I start early April so I am expecting some weather.
Any ideas would be great. Thanks
Big Slick
I started March 29th and the coldest night I remember was about 25 with freezing rain after the Smokies. You get warm so quickly when you hike that usually the only issue with cold is sleeping. Everyone says something different because usually anything lightweight-ish works. You just want brand names to look up? I used a Land’s End fleece jackt and was happy. You really shouldn’t have to spend too much money.
0101
0101 is right on… Don’t worry to much about your jacket. If you hike in the rain you are going to get wet…jacket or no jacket. If you have a jacket on you will end up with a wet jacket when you stop for the day and need it the most.
A rain jacket is something that a State Road Crewmen needs when they are standing around watching someone else dig a hole. Ie not doing any work themselves and sweating up a strom inside that jacket.
Take a nice light wieght jacket/windbreaker to use at night around camp.
Sweetass03
Hey Big Stick, I would think you can expect some weather all the way. It may be sunny and warm some days.
I like a breathable rain jacket with hood in a storm. You will get wet but not as wet just wearing fleece. I hiked over Unaka Mountain when Huirrican Frances hit and was glad I was wearing my Red Ledge rain jacket.
that guy
I’m starting March 5th and am taking no chances with this. I bought a Flight jacket by Western Mountaineering. It’s down, weighs a little more than 10 oz and rolls up to about grapefruit size. I doubt that I’ll hike in it and my plan is to use it for around camp as the post-hike chill sets in. It’s a little pricey at $200, but living in Northern Wisconsin will always provide good use for it.
Nimblefoot
We started March 1st and was hit with sub-zero temps in the Smokies. For our top, we had a “waterproof” jacket (Marmot Precip), an expedition weight Patagonia fleece, a silkweight crew, and a silkweight t-shirt (both Capilene by Patagonia). For the bottom, lightweight Capilene bottoms and windpants. While you’re hiking, you’ll sweat with all of that on. At camp, you’re gonna want to hop in your sleeping bag ASAP.
My point is, don’t worry about the clothes, ditch that 4th or 5th extra layer for a warmer sleeping bag. We brought 15F Western Mountaineering Ultralites (down filled). That was fine for the entire trip. If you get a down sleeping bag, make sure you understand how to move the down through the baffles. It can make a HUGE difference for warmth.
A little trick to keep warm (I know I’ve mentioned this before) is to boil water, put it in a Nalgene, wrap a sock around it and put it in your sleeping bag. I don’t care how cold it is outside, you’ll be VERY warm all night long. Did this a few times. I slept like a baby.
Dave and Miranda
You want to socialize at camp? We found that when it was cold, a fire was almost always made when we got to camp. There are LOTS of fire rings everywhere; especially at shelters. Plenty of dead wood to make a fire with. Bring some marshmallows and hotdogs. You’ll make friends REAL quick. hehe
Dave and MIranda
I use a Marmot Percip jacket, a 200 Polartec fleece pullover and a long sleeve Duofold mid weight crew type shirt. I use this combo during late winter and early spring on the AT. Layers seem to work for me.
Life is good on the trail…Swamp Dawg
Swamp Dawg
The Marmot Precip is an awesome jacket! It is waterproof and windproof and very lightweight. I always had it with me.
They are on sale at the moment from REI…30 dollars off!
Ladybug
A 200 wt fleece can be obtained from walmart or target for probably $20 or so. The weight will be somewhere around a pound or so (give or take). If the budget allows check out something like a primaloft or polarguard delta jacket or vest. I think I am gonna go the montbell thermawrap vest route with a 100 wt fleece and silkweight top bottoms and raingear to add more options in layering in my system. If it is colder than that out I will not be hiking, I’ll be in my sleep bag. I hope to hike most days in shorts gaiters and a longsleeve top. April one start.
Tribes
Be VERY careful with buying Walmart stuff. Compare weight, functionality, durability. Yes Marmot, Patagonia, etc costs more, but often times it’s 10 times better in every way. The only items from Walmart that we saw that were worthy were the Headlamps and the shorts. There is probably a few select other items at Walmart that are worthy, but BE CAREFUL.
Dave and Miranda
tribes
you might want to think about skipping the 100 weight fleece and silkweight top and instead, using a thermawrap jacket in combination with a midweight “tights” top like drylete or powerstretch. i think you get more versatility in layering combinations for a wider range of conditions. the fleece will be bulky and you will probably find that you will generate plenty of warmth while hiking and in camp will be in your bag shortly after eating supper in the first month or so of colder weather.
yo-YO
in cold weather down to 0/-10F -ish, all I carry is my lightweight LS capilene top, a good wicking T-shirt, a medium weight 1/2 zip turtleneck (duofold), and my Patagonia R2 jacket, and my Marmot Precip if needs be…thin gloves (basically glove inserts) and use spare socks over them if needed… pants are lightweight capilene bottoms, and rain pants…socks in cold weather are Smartwool and liners… a thin balaclave (mine weighs about .6 ounces) and a hat or cap, add your bandanna to your face if the balaclava isn’t enough… I found my sunglasses not only protect against whiteout/snowburn, but help with windburn as well… don’t forget chapstick, and use it liberally!!! The above is my layering system, and it is versatile and has wokred well for me for years in conditions from cold to hot, wet to dry…
Dave/Miranda already mentioned using the Nalgene bottle warmer, it works very well… I think what they forgot to mention, at least for Miranda, is she weighs about 80 pounds, she had Dave to keep her warm, and I think vise-versa 
Lots of good ideas on this string, enjoy the upcomming hiking season…
-xtn
airferret
FYI: polartec 200 from malden mills is the same whether the garment is made by patagonia, MH, REI, Campmor, or Walmart. The quality of sewing made be slightly different but all in all most are made in SE asia. Campmor, Land’s End, and bean all have reasonably cheap alternatives to the big ticket stuff. There are plenty of folks every year using cheap alternatives to expensive stuff from Patagonia etc… Remember, a real expensive wardrobe will not get you to Big K. Buy what is in your budget and HYOH.
YOYo: I have experimented with this system a bit and may change it when on the trail but for now I am comfortable with it. Thanks for the suggestion, but a new $110ish jacket is not in my future.
tribes :smokin
tribes
After Christmas Sales!! This is s great time to start looking for that high end gear on sale. Between January and March stuff will be one sale because the spring gear will start shipping. Hold out if you can for a good sale on good gear if money is tight.
Me, I had marmot precip and the moonstone cirrus - sythetic jacket - lightweight, packs smaller than fleece, made a great jacket for camp in the cold weather.
Blip
Sierra Trading Post is selling the "Marmot waterproof Dart precip jacket for $39.96—regular price was $125.00. I couldn’t resist and bought one for my PCT hike. If you are interested, you better hurry!
Pancho
Yeah, Air Ferret does have a point. We did have each other to keep us warm. But the Nalgene thing works! Really does!
Cheap alternatives aren’t bad IF they provide similar performance. This is your life you are dealing with here. You don’t want something to fail. All political social statures aside those “expensive yuppie” brands are high quality, perform VERY well, and most of the time don’t fail. Plus, most of the time, even if it’s the same material, the way the material is put together and the shape it’s used in, is a lot better. And… They’re almost always lighter. Walmart = HEAVY.
Like I said before, inexpensive alternatives aren’t always bad, just BE CAREFUL when comparing. Make SURE the alternatives do EXACTLY what you want them to do. Buying 5 new jackets that “broke” or ripped is more expensive than that one $100 jacket that was made to last.
Dave and MIranda
I took the plunge and ordered the Patagonia Micro Puff Pullover, and my first impression was that I’d been suckered. $150 for THIS? The insulation is incredibly thin, especially in the front by your upper chest, basically there’s nothing between the shell material except a very thin gauze like material. You can pinch your fingers together in the front and they touch. I’ll give it a field test in sub-freezing temps, but if it doesn’t really impress me I’'m going to return it and get a much less expensive fleece jacket, or go the other extreme and get the WM Flight Jacket.
White Oak
Dear Big Slick,
You’re starting the AT in April, have a rain jacket and are looking for another, additional jacket, this one for warmth.
My advice would be a light down or synthetic insulation jacket, perhaps synthetic in view of the amount of moisture one runs into on the AT.
That being said, I’d recommend the Mountain Hardwear Chugach, with Polarguard 3D and a ton of useful features, although ultimately light weight (20 oz?–check their website), as your bottom line. If you want to go warmer, do so, but don’t get anything less warm for the Spring. A light rain, or wet snow, in this thing, around camp, due to the sythetic insulation, will not pose any kind of threat to you.
Given your relatively light other layers, this is what I would do if I were you.
Good luck.
Sincerely–Conan.
Conan
Dear Big Slick,
With respect to my suggestion above, regarding the Mountain Hardwear Chugach Jacket; I am assuming that, above all else, you have a way to keep dry and warm no matter what weather conditions you run into, including extremely cold and extremely wet weather, via sleeping bag, ground pad (closed cell foam) and a tent; and that the jacket is a secondary line of defense against the elements.
Again–good luck.
Sincerely–Conan.
Conan