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Insulation Strategy: Shell under or over down sweater?


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Home Forums Gear Forums Gear (General) Insulation Strategy: Shell under or over down sweater?

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Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
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  • #1269160
    Dan Johnson
    Member

    @seattle

    Locale: PNW

    Simple question:

    What is more effective for keeping warm while moving and/or at camp. Wearing your puffy sweater under your rain shell or over your rain shell on cold days? Notice I didn't say that it was raining but rather just cold.

    #1696596
    John S.
    BPL Member

    @jshann

    Under rain shell.

    #1696600
    Jolly Green Giant
    BPL Member

    @regultr

    Locale: www.jolly-green-giant.blogspot.com

    I wear my rain shell under my insulation layer. It helps the insulation layer maintain loft by avoiding something from compressing it while also adding a little warmth because the shell acts a bit like a vapor barrier. Reverse it if the weather is bad.

    #1696614
    Aaron Reichow
    Member

    @areichow

    Locale: Northern Minnesota

    It depends on why I'm putting on the insulation layer.

    If it's a dry day, if I'm using my shell as a windshirt, and I'm wanting to add insulation on a break from hiking, I'd throw on the sweater/jacket/vest on over my shell. Why? It's faster and easier, and I don't want to get any of my sweat on my insulation, especially if it's down.

    If I'm sitting around at camp and don't expect to take off the insulation, I'll wear my shell over my insulation, if anything to protect the insulation's delicate low denier shell fabric from twigs or ash.

    #1696775
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    ^ same- for breaks it goes over (non-rain event), at camp it goes under

    #1696777
    Mark Verber
    BPL Member

    @verber

    Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

    Assuming the shell is properly sized so that it doesn't compress the high loft jacket, over the top is warmer in my experience. That said, if it's to get a quick warm up, and then I will be moving again, putting insulation over the shell is more efficient.

    –Mark

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