I'll admit right out that this is NOT ultralight, but a combination of cost-effectiveness (got all of this on sale) and layering ability (I can also wear this all at once) was my draw. I'm not a winter backpacker yet, so I wanted the system to handle above-freezing temps at camp at night and warm temperatures during the day, and be flexible enough to take or leave pieces as the forecast calls for:
From base outwards:
– Icebreaker Atlas 150 S/S (4.75 oz)
– North Face TKA 100 1/4 zip fleece (11 oz)
– Marmot DriClime jacket (11 7/8 oz)
– Marmot PreCip rain jacket (12 3/8 oz)
Total weight: 2 lb 8 oz
Legs:
– Patagonia Capilene 2 bottoms for colder situations (7.75 oz)
– Mountain Hardwear Mesa convertible pants (14.25 oz)
Total weight: 1 lb 6 oz
The piece that will create the most flexibility between seasons is the fleece, which I plan on taking when night temps dip down into the 30s-40s. The lightly insulated DriClime will serve as a warmer jacket I can wear over the microweight wool at camp. The PreCip serves as my rain jacket, but also another wind breaking and air-trapping layer over the DriClime if the temperatures call for it.
Any suggestions? I'm aware I should probably ditch the cheap fleece, get a truly light wind shirt, and invest in a Primaloft jacket for camp situations…
