What follows is strictly IMHO. It’s just my two cents and you’ll eventually learn what works for you, Newbie.
Walk cool, rest warm.
I did a layering test last night at a non wind chill temperature of 13 degrees. I just stood around outside the house listening to the radio and looking at the stars, waiting to get cold. It didn’t happen after 30 minutes in the cold.
I wanted to see how the clothes on my list would handle this kind of cold. Here’s what I wore:
Head:
Outdoor Research windstopper beanie hat under a patagucci fleece hat.
Neck:
Turtle Fur fleece neck tube (I prefer this arrangement to a balaclava.). My nose was cool until I pulled up the fleece to cover it.
Upper body:
Precip jacket (this is my rain shell, too), hood up on my head, over a Marmot driclime windshirt over an expedition weight fleece (100 weight) long sleeve sweater over a short sleeve terramar t-shirt.
Lower body:
North Face convertible pants, coverd by North Face Hyvent shell pants (got on supersale at campmor online).
Feet:
Smartwool light hiker socks under my regular hiking shoes.
Hands:
OR Talus shell mitts over some patagucci fleece windzone gloves.
I was warm enough standing around and this combo worked for me without long underwear, which I could have put on.
But it’s worth noting that my test was only a for my benefit, pretty much to confirm my choices and that they work for me. I know from experience that I could never possibly hike in that many clothes or I’d be soaked with sweat within minutes. I was interested in knowing, without a doubt, how the clothes would perform when I was just standing still in 13-degree weather.
Everyone’s metabolism is different, but it is easy to carry to many cold weather clothes, as I’ve learned the hard way over the years.
The basics will do the job: Probably a set of shell gear like the Precip, a decent fleece at 100 or 200 weight, a set of midweight long underwear, some warm socks for hanging out in, good hat and gloves will do it for most people, most of the time.
I’ve done winter hiking and wanted to trot out this new stuff to see if it would perform in the cold and it did.
Beyond a certain temperature, you’ll want to dive into your sleeping bag, and beyond temperatures that render you sleeping bag and all your clothes ineffective, you’ll be heading for the nearest motel room.
Hope this helps! 39 days to go. :cheers
Tyger
