Colorado Trail Clothing

If you wanted to carry both a rain jacket and wind-shirt for the similar weight of the Virga you could go with a dri-ducks top and your marmot wind-shirt.

I'm guessing the weather is similar in CO to MT (if not disregard :))- I use my windshirt- a lot! If I'm hiking and the least bit chilled the windshirt comes out- breathes extremely well (vs a rain jacket that does not); if it's a typical short duration afternoon thunderstorm- the windshirt's DWR usually does the trick, bugs biting- windshirt; I even occasionally use as part of my sleep system

personal preference, but I don't use rain pants (seems like if I'm going to get wet, pants don't make much a difference)- the rain skirts now offered in cuben do look intriguing though

I normally don't find a vest warm enough (and I consider myself on the warm end of the scale)- a light down jacket is my preference, especially for a month long hike at elevation

by all accounts, sounds like a great trip! :)

Allen,

I tried the "vest / baselayer (REI midweight) / rain jacket" combo last year in August in the "Never Summer Range" and was chilly in the arms on a breezy cloudy morning and in the evenings.

I would swap the vest for your Montbell for only 2 more ounces.

I agree with Mike the windshirt is my best top layer.

I think you will need the rain pants since you just have shorts and the Cap3 baselayers.

Will you be able to get out and experiment a little before your trip? Maybe a couple of "24's"?

Eric

Another thought you could just go with convertible nylon pants and lose all other bottom layers (base layer, shorts, rain pants). But having some options may be good given the unpredictable weather and the length of your trip.

I'll see you out there! Your list is very similar to mine but I'll be going wind shirt vs rain jacket, ExLight vs vest, and no Cap3 Layers. I could end up a little cold but I don't feel that they will be necessary.

i'll chime in as well…

I'll be hitting the trail around June 23 and will most likely be wearing

Pat Cap 2 LS zip neck
Running Shorts or Montane Pants (i sunburn easy but like shorts better so im undecided)
Windshirt (made for cycling, NOT water resistant)
DriDucks Jacket
Momentum 90 Rain Pants
Pat Nano Pullover
Silkweight Tights
Liner Gloves
Wigwam Cool-lite socks
Salomon XA pro

Im debating bringing an umbrella, i just ordered a chrome dome but i hear that it might not be too useful above treeline cause of all the wind. Ill probably bring it anyways and the DriDucks and the wind jacket just to test everything out.

Do you think it would be worth it for me to sell my montbell u.l. tec and pick up a regular u.l. jacket or parka? also would wind pants be a smarter choice than rain pants for weight? switching both of those factors would save me about half a pound total…

before you make that decision, I'd try and find one of Richard's threads w/ clo values- it's very possible you'll drop weight AND gain warmth going the down route

I'm probably not the best to ask on the rain pants as I mentioned I don't use them, I do sometimes bring along a pair of MB stretch windpants (I hike almost exclusively in shorts, not pants)- the DWR is pretty good and will shed a fair amount of H2O, of course they breath a lot better than any rain pant- not a lot of weight savings w/ this particular wind pant, but there are lighter ones available