What do you change in your kit for shoulder season?

[Mike M]

what changes do you make to your kit for shoulder season(s)?

my shelter stays the same (Duomid), but I lose the inner net and add a ground cloth

my pack remains the same

depending on how far along the shoulder season is, I'll usually change bags- from a 30 to a 15

pad (neo air) remains the same, but I add 1/4" ccf pad

cook kit/water treatment remains the same (I do switch from cold cereal to warm cereal for breakfast though and often add soup to lunch-which adds up to a little more fuel)

misc bits remain the same

clothing gets changed up a fair bit
– top base layer remains the same, I add a bottom base layer
-I'll usually add a mid layer upper
-pants replace shorts
-add a fleece balaclava and fleece mitts
-insulation layer goes from MB ex light to alpine light parka

based on some good advice here I'm going to try gortex socks and keep the trail runners

this typically increases my base weight by ~ 2.5 #

[Dale Wambaugh]

One First class ticket to Maui
One credit card with $25,000 limit
One size XL Tori Richard Hawaiian shirt
One pair Ex Officio shorts
One pair Keen sandals
One large tube sunscreen
One pair Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses
Tilley LT3 hat
Tall drink with parasol

Seriously, I go to a heavier bag, add long johns, rain pants, mid boots rather than low tops, switch zip-off pants for soft shell, and add a mid layer like a Power Stretch hoodie. Think of a 45F steam bath.

In the Washington Cascades, it is "shoulder season" from March to October except for August and maybe a couple weeks of July. Barely August this year. Yesterday was a screaming high of 69F and a low of 48F; the whole "summer" has been like that. Indeed, my favorite wine is "I wanna go to Maui."

[Eugene Smith]

Good question Mike. Here are some of my adjustments:

Trade up running shorts for pants.

Add mid weight tights for baselayer.

Add mid layer to my upper.

20F quilt.

Warmer down jacket.

Goretex oversocks if snow is a possibility, warmer wool socks.

Gaiters.

Bivy.

Torso length foam pad or full length foam pad paired with inflatable pad.

More food for longer evenings with more down time. Liquid courage.

Petzl XP2 replaces small Photon or eLite.

[Mike M]

Dale- I'll save the Maui tickets for January or February when it's -30 :)

Eugene- good call on the headlamp swap- w/ days much shorter (and the weather more unpredictable) a "upsize" on the headlamp makes good sense, I recently went to a Steripen (CR123 batteries) and picked up a Zebralight 301- that will replace my e-lite come shoulder season

Mike

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Add GTX Pac Lite rain pants to my (brand new :0) REI eVent parka.

Add E.B. "Down Sweater" (which can also be slept in)

Add GTX Merrill mid boots

Add med wt. polyester long johns (mainly for sleeping in WM Megalite)

Add med wt. synthetic Mechanix gloves (very durable for use W/ walking poles)

Add light balaclava

Add ID eVent low gaiters (maybe)

* P.T. Scout headlamp stays B/C it is plenty of light for longer nights and the 4 spare coin batteries are so light.

But all of the above go if I'm in the Rockies in summer. Too much cold afternoon rain. Too great a posibility of freak snow at high altitudes.

[Dale Wambaugh]

I didn't mention gloves and hiking in cold rain with poles needs gloves. I have some Mountain Hardwear Tempest gloves that are basically rain shells with a microfleece liner– just enough to keep your hands dry and out of the cold wind. They don't make them anymore and I keep an eye out for replacements towards the day when they wear out.

Sealskinz gloves are the next order of magnitude: much warmer and dry, but clumsier and the thickness interferes more with my grip.

I like unpadded fingerless bike gloves for fair weather pole use.

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