Topic

Winter Layering for legs at Camp


Forum Posting

A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!

Home Forums General Forums Winter Hiking Winter Layering for legs at Camp

  • This topic is empty.
Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #1334047
    CARLOS C.
    BPL Member

    @lamboy

    Locale: Mid Atlantic

    I need guidance since I am not quite sure If I have enough insulation for my lower body for my upcoming trip. I run pretty warm/hot when I am hiking so I am not worried about that. When I slow down at camp I don't have a lot of natural insulation and get cold. What I am concerned about is not having enough warmth if I have to hang out at camp in a fairly static state(it is a group trip). I will be going to the Canaan Valley in the second week of December. I imagine that temperatures will be somewhere between 0 and 20 after dark plus wind. And perhaps anywhere from 20 to freezing during the day with wind. The pants and insulation layers I currently own for bottoms are as follows. Paradox Lightweight base layer(merino blend) bottom 159.0g Army R1 fleece base layer pants 269.0g Minus33 Mid Weight Merino Bottoms 280.0g Columbia Royce Peak pants 320.0 Black Wind/Rain pants 169.0 I rarely need baselayers under pants until it gets below freezing so I was thinking of wearing the paradox layer with the R1 layer over top of it with the Royce Peak pants on top. If I encountered excessive wind or rain add the additional pant on top. I am worried that this will not be enough is a static state if the temps get into the single digits plus wind. If it is not do you recommend for a limited budget polartec 200 fleece bib pants with side zippers as good enough or do I need to get into synthetic insulation like the M65 insulated pant liners? They are both similar in price (not sure in weight or bulk) fleece bib I would like to be able to easily throw it on top without too much fanfare. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

    #2236878
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    If you look on ebay you can get military Patagonia Micro puff Pants for about 80$.

    #2236892
    CARLOS C.
    BPL Member

    @lamboy

    Locale: Mid Atlantic

    Are you talking about the gen iii primaloft pants? If so I was under the impression those were very heavy?

    #2236893
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    The ones I have are 480 grams in xl. Search for Patagonia Micro puff pants.

    #2236894
    Aubrey W. Bogard
    BPL Member

    @bogardaw

    Locale: TX

    The M65 liners are good to go for budget camp/sleep pants. Get the long length for lower-leg coverage.

    #2236910
    CARLOS C.
    BPL Member

    @lamboy

    Locale: Mid Atlantic

    Stephen I am confused are these the pants you have or the weight you listed was for the micro puffsgen iii

    #2236913
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North
    #2236920
    Billy Ray
    Spectator

    @rosyfinch

    Locale: the mountains

    "…if the temps get into the single digits plus wind." Under those conditions you will likely retreat to your sleeping bag. billy

    #2236948
    Jeremy and Angela
    BPL Member

    @requiem

    Locale: Northern California

    Carlos, the gray ones in the photo you posted are indeed rather heavy; I just weighed a pair (Medium, Long) at 948g. I'm assuming the Micropuff ones will be much lighter.

    #2236984
    CARLOS C.
    BPL Member

    @lamboy

    Locale: Mid Atlantic

    Thanks everyone for your insights suggestions and advice. I was able to find a guy locally that has the m65 liners without the buttons but has modified them and added buttons so it should be relatively the same weight or an ounce or two more. And for 12 dollars. My hesitation was a DIY project but this seems to have the work done for me so I look forward to their arrival. I will let you all know when they arrive and how they work out. Now I just need snow and cold cold weather to give my system a real test.

    #2237308
    David R.
    BPL Member

    @orbitald

    There are also Western Mountaineering Flash Down Pants which are a bit pricy but very warm. And I believe other manufacturers such as Monte Bell make them too. And here is a pair of down pants from China on ebay for only $65 although I've seen some ugly photos of what they do to geese to get down and it leaves me rather sick. http://www.ebay.com/itm/MenWomen-Unisex-Outdoor-Winter-Thermal-Ultralight-Gray-Goose-Down-Pants-Trousers-/191704747800?var=&hash=item2ca27e4f18:m:m5Bxh9zZxx7cz7GlMU62b1w

    #2237312
    Bob Moulder
    BPL Member

    @bobmny10562

    Locale: Westchester County, NY

    >>>other manufacturers such as Monte Bell make them too. Yes, Montbell has a couple of down pants, but IMO the TEC Down pants are the way to go because they have full side zips, which are mandatory when it's seriously cold.

    #2237314
    CARLOS C.
    BPL Member

    @lamboy

    Locale: Mid Atlantic

    I highly value the full length zips. However the budget does not allow for it now. One day perhaps.

    #2237315
    Billy Ray
    Spectator

    @rosyfinch

    Locale: the mountains

    "…because they have full side zips, which are mandatory when it's seriously cold." Actually full side zips make the pants less warm… the warmest pants would not have full side zips… Side zips are for ease of on and off; not warmth… But side zips certainly are very convenient and make them easier to put on and take off without removing boots, snow shoes, skis, etc… billy

    #2237318
    Tipi Walter
    BPL Member

    @tipiwalter

    I have a nice pair of WM Flight down pants which I use for winter camping and they have the full length zips which I do not need so next time I'll get a pair of down pants without the zips. Not as warm as mentioned, zips never used, and more weight. In camp use only, never hike in them, even at below zero temps.

    #2237319
    Bob Moulder
    BPL Member

    @bobmny10562

    Locale: Westchester County, NY

    Exactly. Getting them on quickly is a huge part of the equation. You can freeze your ass off if it takes too long and requires too much effort to don them, which also invites delay and therefore a worsening of the situation. But if designed properly, with an insulated flap behind the zipper, the warmth differential can be very minimal. And in the scheme of things, 0°F isn't all that cold.

    #2237320
    Bob Moulder
    BPL Member

    @bobmny10562

    Locale: Westchester County, NY

    I've hiked in them exactly once, when it was -35°F in the Adirondacks. Very handy to have the side zips to vent.

    #2237523
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    I'd go for a pair of down pants AND a lighter sleeping bag (say 0 F. or maybe -5 F.) that can be paired with down pants and jacket. That way the pants and jacket do double duty and you save precious weight.

    #2237526
    Bob Moulder
    BPL Member

    @bobmny10562

    Locale: Westchester County, NY

    a pair of down pants AND a lighter sleeping bag Great minds… :^) I use mine with a down parka (EB StormDown) and a +20°F EE Enigma and a fine-tuned sleep pad set-up, and have slept totally comfortably down to -6°F. YMWPV (Your Mileage Will Probably Vary). Quite a bit. I did a lot of testing to tweak my system for me. Highly subjective when it comes to genuinely cold weather and what actually works for each individual.

    #2237527
    David R.
    BPL Member

    @orbitald

    I was just out with my 0* EE Enigma and my WM Flash down pants and my butt was cold at 20*F so yes your mileage may very. My feet we just fine in wool socks and my upper body was comfortable in a 200 weight wool base layer but I wish my WM down pants had more down in the butt area. Just saying…

    #2237528
    Bob Moulder
    BPL Member

    @bobmny10562

    Locale: Westchester County, NY

    Then they'd have to pay a royalty to Kim Kardashian. Profit margins and all that…

    #2237547
    David Thomas
    BPL Member

    @davidinkenai

    Locale: North Woods. Far North.

    >"Very handy to have the side zips to vent." The first year I was in Alaska, I did a modest amount of dog mushing. Harness dogs. Ride on sled (motionless but with 10-15 mph breeze). Run up hill. Rest the dogs. Etc. Side zips were a very convenient way to vent heat and then quickly zip up. Because my legs didn't mind sub-zero winds as much as some other of my parts, I liked to wear fleece boxers under my full-zip pants, (or more commonly, full-leg-zip down coveralls). It's hard to find a place to sit down to change pants during snow travel. Getting skis or snowshoes and and off is a pain. "Best practices" by Inuit long before "best practices" was jargon was to "never sweat". When I am proactive enough to avoid sweating, I stay drier, my clothes are drier and lighter, and I'm comfortable throughout my trip.

    #2237639
    Bob Moulder
    BPL Member

    @bobmny10562

    Locale: Westchester County, NY

    Ventilation before Perspiration :^) People who don't hike/ski/backpack/climb (or mush!) are always surprised when they ask "What's the biggest problem in the winter?" and then hear the answer: "Overheating". re Inuit… Not for nothing (and as I'm sure you know), Roald Amundsen was first to the South Pole — and lived to tell about it — because he was humble enough to learn everything he could directly from the Greenland Inuit. Always ticks me off to see the near-deification of RF Scott.

    #2237735
    Tipi Walter
    BPL Member

    @tipiwalter

    David Rodriguez—Reason I went with the heavier Flight down pants.

    #2237766
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    David, I know Eskimos (OK, Inuit) have used fur "shorts" over their fur pants in extreme cold. Seems it gives more insulation to the thighs/femoral arteries. So your mention of fleece shorts under down pants is very similar. I have a pair of 200 wt. fleece pants that have shrunken a bit in length over a decade of laundering and I think they will become knee length "under shorts" this winter. Just need to un stitch a fly area in the front. P.S. For -10F. and lower I have found that nothing beats polar weight polyester long johns base layer then 200 wt. fleece pants with Thinsulate insulated GTX alpine ski pants on top. I've worn this down to -40 F. and been warm and comfy. Of course snow at those temps is like sand and skiing is a chore.

Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting

A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!

Get the Newsletter

Get our free Handbook and Receive our weekly newsletter to see what's new at Backpacking Light!

Gear Research & Discovery Tools


Loading...