Clothing question

Hi Chris , what worked? I’m doing the same.

Two thoughts. One, you can probably wear the mock turtle as a midlayer so skip the fleece and add the t-shirt. If days are warmer than expected you can wear it while hiking, and if not can add it under the mock turtle to have a dry layer next to skin when in camp. Two, if rainy you’ll be schlogging around camp in wet pants. Consider carrying some windpants. At ~4oz you won’t mind them in your pack, and will appreciate slipping into something dry at camp.

Thank for the advise

Hanz, if you don’t already have the same pieces as Chris, I would suggest a couple of options:

• Alpha Direct, Teijin Octa, or Primaloft Evolve instead of the turtleneck. Any are great, but ZPacks has a lineup of (light) 83 gsm Octa with a variety of features: half and full zips, hood/no-hood, pockets.
• One of the great qualities of AD/Octa/Evolve is their very high air permeability, so you will want something over them, such as a sunshirt or windshirt.
• Zip-off pants/shorts are convenient, but I don’t know any that are particularly lightweight. Separate shorts and light hiking pants work better for me. Some people wear leggings under shorts because of the their extremely light weight, but who wants to take off their shorts to change? I find light athletic pants that go on/off over my shoes to be more convenient and comfortable. They don’t have to be fancy (light sweatpants suffice), although Patagonia Terrebone Joggers are often used as the benchmark in this category. REI Active Pursuit pants are similar.
• Or wind pants, which can be even lighter.
• Many light puffies can work when you stop walking. Montbell has several nice choices, but they are not unique. The most popular puffy among thruhikers is probably the EE Torrid: It’s light and uses synthetic insulation that is less susceptible to loss of puff from moisture. The Patagonia Nano Air series is similar.
• Packa is a great choice: it’s probably the most sophisticated poncho in the world. Emergency ponchos are lighter: I like to cut open the front for increased ventilation.

Thanks Bill! My last experience at these temps was Denali.

I have been preparing for a cold and wet hike of course. So far I plan this layering system for late October.  I did end up picking up a beta Sl as I don’t have another pit zip jacket at this point I trust under shoulder straps in extended use for days. Maybe I should have gotten a whistler peak with the pit zips…time will tell if it wets out I guess.

is my interpretation correct that if a Gore-Tex jackets wets out with the pit zips open it’s no worse than a highly breathable membrane out jacket with the pit zips open? once the pit zips are open These materials are not provided enough pressure to move anything through the membrane anyway unless you’re talking about electro spun? so really the benefit is when you’re standing still and pit zips are closed – a membrane out jacket would benefit your ambient moisture better.

torso: Byrne synthetic base-layer/capilene sun hoody / alpha 90 hoody / montbell uL thermawrap vest / katabatic wind shirt / montbell plasma parka / beta Sl with pit zips

Head: alpha 90g Bernie and wool puff

Lower: prana pant / alpha 90 pant / montbell trekker pants / event MLD gaiters

hands: capilene liner / montbell 200g fleece mitten with flips, MLD event over mitten

Feet:  Injini wools / alpha direct 120 sock / rocket gortex socks / extra Injini sock / altras (not gortex) and micro-spikes.

I have debated swapping the parka for the EE torrid. But temps in late October should be a bit colder then the torrid…I get cold easy and EE items are Saftey rated not comfort rated). but I get much more warmth on the clo from the plasma and given that the parka is typically only out of the bag under the shelters for the soakies I am justifying not buying the torrid for this trip…? the synthetic vest is a slightly insurance policy for active pursuit.

Actually I have never backpacked where the use of shelters was mandatory. I prefer a tent . It sounds kind of terrible to sleep next to strangers without much wind protection in a place where everyone is loosy goosy with food. The backcountry office recommended a bivy to avoid drafts (wind screens are not up in october) and mice.

So here I am packing my for two scenarios for  sleeping ( tent I’m carrying for no other reason then a shelter in place back up a- solplex or duplex depending on weather week of) and a bivy. Jeez

sorry if this repeats myself. I debated switching my trip to the Grayson highlands to avoid this triple shelter option mind quagmire.

You’re certainly well-equipped, Hanz. :)

Vest and parka sound redundant to me. One or the other is probably sufficient, but do what’s right for you. Maybe you can mail one home if you find that you don’t need both?

Bivy plus shaped tarp is the obvious combination to minimize weight and redundancy for a mix of shelters and not.

Bug pressure may be low in late October, but it really depends on the temperature.

Wet out is no big deal IMHO. Wet through is a slightly bigger deal, more so when mixed with cold and wind. Waterproofness of shell fabrics is not well discussed: There’s more going on than what is measured by the hydrostatic head test. Nylon (including silnylon), for example, can absorb moisture, which means that it can transmit moisture. Same for some membranes, especially some of the more “breathable” variants. It’s usually a small amount of moisture, and it probably doesn’t matter if you’re moving above maybe 40-ish F. It is a greater concern in cold wind near the freezing point. Gore-Tex is not likely to have that problem (the tradeoff is that the membrane has lower MVTR).

Yes, ventilation trumps MVTR. Your Beta SL will be fine.

I’m not sure what a “puff” is. I feel that Alpha can outperform wool for a neck gaiter. I made my own. This one from LHG looks decent.

Alpha neck gaiter

Yea I meant neck gaiter.