If you were a college student needing a down jacket…

Keep your eye out on the bpl geartrade for good deals on these jackets:
montbell ex light
montbell ul down inner jacket
montbell ul down inner parka

stoic has a nice looking UL down anarak coming out this fall thats sub 9 oz that you should be able to get for a good discount before your thru. Check the recent summer retailers report on bpl.

If your using it to supplemant a quilt I'd go for something with a hood. If you have a sleeping bag then you could skip the hood and go for an ex light or even a down vest. Also consider a lightweight synthetic like a montbell thermawrap or patagonia nanopuff for that time of year on the AT. The nanopuffs are heavily discounted right now, warm for the weight and better in wet conditions.

Are you hiking northbound or southbound. It will make a difference In the clothing that you need.
If your a north bounder. You probably don't need anything more than a lightweight fleece or a nano puff. if your a south bounder, you may want something more, but i have no experience with what Maine is like in May, so you'll have to hear from somebody else.

Don't forget to use your clothing as a system. A light fleece and a rain shell, is actually very warm. Don't forget you'll be asleep by 9:00 pm (hiker midnight) almost every night.

Going northbound. Would a fleece be sufficient? Also, would it be a bad idea to just bring shorts? I didn't plan on bringing rain pants or leggings.

I would just carry a powerstrech type fleece. That with a windshirt should be good in may.

I'd work towards a degree in nursing or accounting. Then take out more loans.

Most of the fleece I see weigh more than the down jackets… Is a windshirt absolutely necessary as well? Sorry I have just been really trying to shed weight in the clothing area. I've considered bringing just the shorts I'm wearing, shirt I'm wearing, rain shell and light jacket. Maybe one extra shirt to sleep in / wear while washing my clothes. That's about it.

Campsaver has the Down inner at 20% off this weekend- mine kept me warm down to 30 degrees and I run cold

http://www.campsaver.com/u-l-down-inner-jacket-men-s

I agree, think of ALL your clothes as a system. A lightweight insulating baselayer (wool is my preference, but to each his own) — top and bottom — would not only keep you warm on the trail if needed, but would add a lot of warmth around camp; those baselayers should be ~5-6oz each for top and bottom.

A full down jacket is likely to be overkill. If you want the insurance of a down layer, especially to keep you warm during stops or around camp, I'd go with the lightest Montbell vest you can get your hands on (mine is 5.0 oz, size M). People have them used here on the gear swap sometimes, or I got mine new on sale for less than $80. I'd also check geartrade.com.

Between a down vest and a windblock/rain layer, you should stay warm almost no matter what if you're moving at all. If you're not moving, you're probably sleeping for the night, and again, wearing all your clothes — including a baselayer and a down vest — should extend your comfortable sleeping range ~10 to 20 degrees.

For ~1 lb of total extra weight, the peace of mind for those three pieces of gear would be worth it for me, but I don't like to sleep cold — just makes me sore and grumpy the next day. I'll happily sleep on rocks and roots, but just don't make me sleep cold. People all have their different comforts on the trail. I'll happily leave a stove at home and bring a colder-rated sleeping bag if I need to.

With the down/baselayers, you could make up a lot of the extra weight with a lighter sleeping bag. And of course, once it turns summer, just ship that pound home and you're golden.

Starting in may you won't really need any insulated clothing at all in my opinion.

If I were you I would do either:

Windshirt, light fleece or even midweight ls shirt, rain jacket, shorts

Windshirt, light down or synthetic jacket, lighter weight sleeping bag ie. 35-40*, shorts, rain jacket

Driducks are good cheap light but not durable rain jackets. Often you won't wear any rain gear cause its just too hot even while its raining.

You won't need any warm gear until September in Maine when you can add different bag or jacket

I just bought a WM Summerlite. Do you think it's not warm enough to carry the whole way? (Trying to be done before Oct)

I think a summertlite is perfect

It won't hurt to bring a jacket whether its down synth or fleece, you will probably wear it at some point even if you don't really NEED it. Also it will make a great pillow

I'd say

Northface TKA 100 fleece – real cheap
Pata NanoPuff- on sale
Or
Down inner or exlight depending on funds

Travel Country has Mica’s on closeout for $90, not a steal exactly but better than full price of $135. Free shipping.

Marmot Mica

Patagonia.com had their Down Sweater in the web specials section a short while back for just $100. Great deal on a versatile piece of gear. Don't know what sort of selection they have left, though. Those things get gobbled up fast.

The Nano Puff might be an even better option; also super versatile, and not as finicky about moisture as down is. If you keep an eye out, you can probably find one on sale for cheap–you have til May!

The Nanopuff pullover is on sale now at Patagonia for $59….10.2 oz. for presumably a men's medium. Early spring on the AT can have some cold rains, and although I'm a big fan of down, I think I'd opt for synthetic on your trip. Very versatile piece of gear.

If you aren't supplementing a lightweight bag, then I would think a lightweight fleece and a light rain jacket would be more than enough to get you through til September where you could mail a down or syn jacket.

Take it from someone who lives in the south. You wont need a down jacket April-september. Now September in Penn and north is different.

I've seen both the mens nanopuff and down sweater popping up on steep and cheap lately for I think around 50 for the nanopuff 60for the down sweater this Is just a estimate as I didn't give either a second look since I have my montbell down inner

honestly …. yr a young student, likely in pretty decent shape with good knees still …

use the fleece you have, use yr dads goretex jacket … the weight of those 2 things wont kill you

and save the money for more important things in life, like text books, beer money, etc …

when you graduate and get a job … or get some real money … then spend the money on the fancy UL gear …

a few extra oz wont detract from yr enjoyment of the outdoors at that age …. not having enough money for instant ramen during midterns will definitely affect yr grads =P

ryan~
having t-hiked, and having spent literal years exploring the apps., my experiences precisely dictate that a high loft, lightweight, compressible vest, combined with a l/s zip-up midweight, will do the trick. check into a model from either patagucci or mont-bell or ? (insert name here). do yerself a favor…save weight, space and loot in the doing so. if you're remotely concerned still about being cold, then bring a second hat (a skull cap) and do sit-ups/jumping-jacks to generate heat as you're hanging out.
provided you're in motion, your pack itself will act as another layer and will buffer some of the cold too. i generally get cold easily and still have found this layering system to be most effective. of course there are several nights of cold in the south (depending on when you're starting), and then again in the north (depending on your finish), but if you're willing to sleep cold for a few nights and stick it out
(boil H20 before bed to take into your bag) then you'll be livin' it high and mighty.
leslie

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=9378

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=18950

Eric, that sounds like good older brotherly advice, but the fact that he's on a forum about UL gear asking for suggestions about affordable UL hiking gear suggests that saving a few oz is of value to him. Just sayin' ;)

http://www.6pm.com/patagonia-mens-nano-puff-pullover-narwhal-grey

6pm has the nanopuff for a good price. You could carry that the whole way for less weight then a fleece. Then you can save on shipping when it comes to doing a mail swap when it gets colder.

For about $30 you could buy 2 dri-ducks rain jackets and that should last you the whole way. For weight/$ savings, skip the windshirt if you don't already have one. Its a nice thing to have for sure, but not necessary if you have a fairly breathable layer like a dri-ducks.

If you don't already have a pair of thermal bottoms, then consider getting a pair of lightweight wind pants. I use a pair of Monbell dynamo wind pants instead of rain pants or thermals. For about 3 oz these can be worn around camp, to sleep, in wind/rain and while your doing laundry. Not cheap though.