Now I have been trying to flesh out my winter system a bit.
Most of the time now I will take a Patagonia SunTech LS shirt because I found this helps to keep the bugs and sun off of me when when it is warm and a DriDucks jacket for the rain and wind. For the shoulder seasons I have adopted using a Patagonia Capilene 3 to be used with the SunTech and a Patagonia Micro Puff Pullover for when I stop or if it drops suddenly. This not an ad for Patagonia but there are few companies that make an XXL that fits me.
Someone I know told me about the RMI Guides gear lists for the different summits they do and I thought I would base my system off of theirs since I experience similar temps here in the flatlands without going vertical. That and the fact that they should know what they are talking about or people would die. At this point I have to mention that I was able to pick up a Montbell Alpine Down Jacket that fits and I have a Nunatak Down Hood. What is missing is that layer(s) between the Cap 3 and the down jacket/shell. At this point RMI suggests you wear something comparable to a 100wt fleece and a softshell jacket made out of Windstopper brushed with light fleece. To me this sounds redundant. Why would you want to wear something that has Windstopper in it if you already have a shell? I know that most people would try to do more lighter and thinner layers than a thicker layer but wouldn't I get the same or better insulation and much better breathability and weight reduction by using something like an R2 fleece at this stage instead of the two layers? If the wind is bothering then I just pop on the DriDucks shell.
