Windshirt VS Hiking shirt VS Rain jacket VS ALL

As long as you don't get one with tight cuffs – Patagonia seem to be at fault in this regard, among others – you can just roll your baselayer sleeves up, eliminating the need for a short-sleeved baselayer as well. If you wish to take two then consider two long-sleeved baselayers, very thin and sized to wear together. For me the sole advantage of a short-sleeved shirt is that it weighs less when carried.

My system right now is a short sleeved shirt (either Stoic 150 wool or a 50p/50c blend), a long sleeved Railriders Eco Mesh and a GoLite Tumalo Rain jacket. I have the rain jacket pulling double duty because it has pit zips and its pockets are mesh on the inside so it breathes a lot when everything is opened up. That paired with an R2 or a UL Down Jacket I found has done me very well. A wind shirt is a good thing if you don't want to bring the insulation but want to be a bit warmer with it and the rain jacket.

A short sleeve is great to have if it his hot and muggy out with lesser light. And if it is wool you can sleep in it also and wear it day after day.

I use a 150 merino hiking T-shirt as baselayer, then a 200 merino long sleeve for sleep and cold days, and the ID Rain Jacket as my system.
I tried with a windshirt and ID Silcoat Cape, but the ID jacket is so breathable and just as windproof, as well as waterproof, I don't use the windshirt and cape any more.
I hope this helps.

IMHO, a windshirt is a shirt, but it can certainly have the nuances of a jacket– full zip, hood, etc. Think "high performance long sleeve shirt" rather than "jacket" and you'll see the value.

It should prevent convection of your body heat to the colder air around you. In addition, it can keep wet brush off and provide some protection from insects (get a light color).

It should be comfortably breathable. A windshirt that is not breathable is useless: you might as well have your rain jacket on.

It may give some short-term protection from light rain.

A windshirt is not rain gear and should not be depended on to stay dry in heavy rain.

Carrying both a wind shirt and a button-down shirt would be redundant. Most button-down shirts are heavier than a high performance hiking windshirt anyway.

A light rain shell can certainly be worn like a windshirt and will protect from wind, but it won't be as breathable. And a minimalist rain shell is typically missing the venting options that will make it closer to the comfort of a windshirt.

Using a windshirt and insulation layers with wind-resistant properties is problematic: there is some redundancy. Wearing your windshirt over your down insulation will provide another air space and help protect the down from light rain, but that might also trap moisture in the down, so it depends on the conditions and your level of activity. If it is so cold that you need another layer with the down, you might want to wear the windshirt under, precip aside. What works for me is a windshirt over an insulating *vest* and long sleeve base layer. That gives maximum bang for the gram.

There's no free lunch. What is needed is a good breathable windshirt that has minimal weight to offset any redundancy with the insulation and rain shells. If you can hike comfortably in colder air and wind, then a windshirt may be extra gear and you don't need it. If you find yourself cold while underway with just your base layer shirt on, then the windshirt is valuable, quite literally "worth the weight." In camp you can wear your insulation layer or your rain shell and get the same protection that the windshirt would provide. I do often putter around camp with base layer and windshirt, just like wearing a tee shirt and long sleeve shirt at home or work.

Some good advice. The down jacket is for camp. I do not expect to do a lot of hiking while wearing it. Maybe throw it on at a summit or during lunch.

I think my toughest decision is whether to nix the windshirt in favor of a more performance oriented rain jacket. Something like the Marmot Supermica has 20k breathability and 20k waterproofing but also has a full zip and pit zips. Similar ratings for the ID eVent are hard to find. I can only assume that they are as good or better. Not having pit zips really turns me off though.

Will wearing a rainjacket during cool or windy temps be as comfortable as wearing a windshirt? I am not expecting some miracle shirt to keep me cool at a sunny 65 while hiking. I am trying to decide whether a "high quality" rainjacket can/will substitute the need for a windshirt.

If the answer is no, I think that a logical option would be to have a windshirt and to have a set of driducks. Overall I think there would be a slight weight gain of a couple ounces. This would be negligible but it does add some redundancy to the set up.

In regards to the bugs…. don't laugh too hard but I think that I will be wearing a bug jacket for a month or so. It weighs about 4oz and may prevent any further insanity.

John,

Do you find that the ID rain jacket is breathable enough to substitute for a wind shirt on windy days? How comfortable is it against the skin? What type of temps do you find yourself wearing it in?

I used to bring both a rain jacket and a wind jacket when I was using the Rain Shield O2 jacket – http://www.rainshield.com/. But when I got the ID Event Thru Hiker jacket, it was so breathable, I use it as a rain and wind jacket. It is so breathable that if it is very windy, you'll be a little cool with it on. Still, it is my do-all jacket on the JMT. I factored in the weight of the Rain Shield and the Wind Jacket, and it is only about 3 oz more to bring the eVent jacket. I love it though and am willing to sacrifice that 3 oz more.

The eVent jacket is good enough to wear even while backpacking if it is raining.

My layering for my PCT thru this year is gonna go something like this: SS 150 merino baselayer, LS 200 merino baselayer, light LS polyester sun shirt (do most of my hiking in this), light puffy jacket, windshirt, rain jacket.

you can certainly expect rain in May/June…no rain, no pain, no Maine. perhaps your prefered method of handling the rain should be your guide in making the decision. IMHO you would have all your bases covered if you only took a light rain jacket that had a full front zip and pit-zips…waterproof, windproof and the ultimate in ventilation.

i went MEGA in '97. you are in for a good time.