best layering system for prolonged cold/wet weather

For me, those temperatures between about 30 and 40 degrees fahrenheit are always the zone of maximum suffering.

While on the move, thin polypro (or wool) that dries out fast, possibly with wind pants and a waterproof-breathable rain parka has always done the trick. I keep a hat (and sometimes thin gloves) handy but won’t always wear them — usually I can control temperature by putton on the hat or taking it off, or unzipping the parka.

When I stop I’ll put on that hat and an insulated pullover or vest — with synthetic insulation. I’ll usually put the insulation on over the raingear, if it isn’t soaking wet.

I won’t give more specifics, since I’ve found that what works best for any individual depends a lot more on that person’t metabolism than on any specific brands.

My own personal view is that if it is warm enough to be wet, it isn’t really “cold”. You might be cold, but I reserve the term “cold weather” for temperatures where dinner freezes if you don’t eat it quickly.

Daniel… can you define “cold”?

For many of us, cold is temps below freezing (or 0F, or lower) and in these temps “wet” is snow. In these conditions I have been very happy with soft shells made with from a material like Schoeller dryskin extreme, pertex Equilibrium, nextec epic. These materials breath reasonably well, are wind resistant (or windproof) and are high water resistant. I will typically be wearing a heavy base + softshell. When active this keeps me comfortable into the upper 20s F. When it’s colder, or I have stopped moving I add a high loft synthetic vest or jacket.

If by “cold” and “wet” you mean 32-42F temps… I have found that when hiking a light base layer + light wpb shell (my current favorite for this sort of weather would be the montbell peak) works fine. I add a montbell thermawarp vest when I stop. Some people have found the “british” approach to work well in these conditions. Using a DWR outer shell with a pile lining. Water gets through the DWR shell, but doesn’t get absorbed by the pile. Body heat drives the moisture out of the garment.

For me, the most difficult conditions are which I consider moderate temps (45-65F) because most clothing options are too warm (I soak myself in sweat) or not protective enough and I freeze. In light rain I have found a light base + DWR windshirt works pretty well. In heavy rain I haven’t found anything that makes me really happy… the best so far has by my Rainshield O2 jacket over a featherweight base.

Mark:

Curious, what is your DWR windshirt?

Mark, I am defining cold here as just above freezing into the 40’s. My problem is that I very low body fat and get cold easy when at rest. In the 30’s a baselayer + wpb shell is too cold. When I stop, by the time I take the wpb shell off to put on say my micropuff pullover, I flashoff and gain a chill and have a hard time getting warm again.

I will probably try a baselayer + fleece vest + wpb. This will give me extra insulation but retain breathability in the 30’s-40’s.

For 50’s-60’s, where the wind is not high, maybe an umbrella + windshirt would do the trick. I would only bring an umbrella to places such as the cascades where prolonged rain is more of a risk.

Thanks for the tips.

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Ah… I knew there was a reason I was carrying a bit of body fat around with me. Maybe I don’t want to lose those last 10 pounds.

A fleece vest might be a very good option for you. You might also consider a montbell thermawrap vest. It will be slightly warmer than a 200 wt fleece, but is lighter and more compressible.

In colder weather (when wet is the snow) I just put my insulating jacket over my shell to keep warm… and that’s what I was going to suggest until I remember the whole point of your question is what to do when it’s wet, which given the temps is rain. I was trying to figure out what I do, and realized that in these temps my stops typically aren’t long enough that I chill down sufficently to need the extra insulation. Hmmm… maybe the solution is to put on a few pounds :-)

–Mark

I am normally using the first version of the Patagonia Dragonfly pullover w/ hood. I like it better than the later versions because the seam around the hood doesn’t wick moisture in like the fullzip which stupidly placed tags on that seam.

When I want something more durable (like when I am skiing) I use an Patagonia Essenshell which is made of EPIC.

On a recent, exposed 25 mile walk, when rain “fell” horizontally for most of the day but occasionally turned to hail, I used an Odlo thermal vest under a Stretch Equilibrium zipped midlayer. Over that was an elderly Lowe Triplepoint 2-ply jacket. I’ve nothing against the waterproof outer layer but it is the under-layers I commend to you.

I had forgotten some bank notes (how?!!!) which were in the chest pocket of the midlayer jacket. When eventually they were remembered and checked, they were bone dry! No plastic bag was involved. Condensation was visible on the outside of the Stretch Equilibrium but all of my torso was also bone dry. Banknotes are not a lot better than blotting paper so this is a phenomenal performance. I attribute it to the openess of the weave of both the thermal vest and the Equilibrium.

Just like the Icelandic knitwear I brought home and the best soul-singers, I’m a heavy sweater and this walk was reasonably quick. The performance of the layers worn under the waterproof for ten cold, damp hours is the best I have ever experienced. By the way, the walk was really enjoyable!

What brand was the stretch Equilibrium jacket.