critique winter clothes gear list

The O2 pants probably won't take too kindly to snowshoes rubbing against them. For three days of heavy use, you should get something a bit more substantial.

Your boots should be sufficient, if you can keep the snow out of the tops. A set of gaiters would solve both your pants and boots problem.

I also think both a fleece vest and down vest would be redundant.

I'd add a couple pair of light wool or fleece mittens or gloves; they'll get wet in the snow. Your down mittens will probably be too warm while you're moving. A waterproof shell mitt over wool mittens would also be good if you're going to be in snow or wind.

Don't use your sleeping bag like that around camp. Keeping it dry is vital.

Chris, my winter setup is pretty different from yours, but of course everybody operates differently. That said, I think you have your bases covered for the vast majority of temps you are preparing to face. However, if it ever does get to true 0* I would be a little worried because you would be pushing your system.

I think the most valuable thing you can add to your setup right now is a 3-4oz windshirt. You'd be amazed how much more comfortable you would be hiking with a windshirt over your baselayer. Right now your setup seems very susceptible to wind chill because most of your items are very breathable/porous. You definitely won't be hiking in you MB 800fp jacket, so it's really just your fleece and wool long johns. Yes, you can use your driducks, but I don't think it'll withstand the rigors of packstraps etc for too long.

Personally, when im out in temps 10*-30* I wear unlined soft shell pants (and I wear the appropriate weight longjohn underneath for the temperature range), a wool t-shirt as my next-to-skin, a fleece hooded baselayer (like a patagonia r-1), a windshirt, fleece cap, and a neck gaiter/buff, and a puffy in the pack for resting, campsetup, and as supplemental insulation.

Just remember, most people get cold in their MB UL down inner jackets around 35* With everything you have layered over it, and a wpb jacket over it, you could probably extend the range down to 20* depending on your body type.

A lot of what you plan to bring will also depend on what your intended purposes are. Do you get to camp and go straight to the sleeping bag and call it a night? or do you like to lounge around? If the latter, maybe look into a warmer puffy…especially when you get closer to 0*

Take peoples advice on gloves. I usually bring a thin liner, and a heavier fleece glove and switch back and forth depending on what's wet

Just get "Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book". It's 1/2 on winter camping & clothing, 1/2 on travel. You'll love Mike Clelland's informative illustrations, which are half the info in the book.

A lot of head leaves your body through your head apparently. I purchased a fleece hood/neck gaiter at walmart for under $10, if I remember correctly, last year. It's a deep hood and the face part can cinch down with elastic cord to close off the face. I use this to sleep in and put my fleece beanie under it ( and I actually use a buff and pull my down jacket hood up if its cold.)

This is a pretty nice inexpensive article of clothing. when not wearing it as a hood it rides high up to your chin so you can keep for neck nice and toasty while trucking around if needed. It weighs 3.5 oz on my scale.

The problem with planning for snowshoeing is that the conditions can be so variable. If you are talking about having to break trail in deep snow, 5-7 miles sounds practically impossible. If the trail is hard packed, then the snowshoes are mostly deadweight on your feet or one your pack. But in any conditions, and particularly in "warmer" conditions like from 20-40F, you have to anticipate sweating; then that sweating can soak your inner layers leading to freezing. So unless you are totally confident that the O2 layers are totally breathable, I would add a windshirt or a softshell as the primary outer layer. Pants can be nylon, softshell or otherwise, since if you are wearing gaiters you probably don't need them to be waterproof, particularly if you carry the O2s; or just wear the O2s if they are really good enough to be the primary outer layer.

At around 0 degrees F, your setup start to sound inadequate for both traveling and camping. I would much warmer boots, fleece or something more for the legs, and a more substantial outer layer and that is windproof but still breathable.

I always also bring light liner gloves and shell mittens. At warmer temps, you would want to have bare hands or light liners, but as it gets colder you have to multiple options to keep your hands warm.

a few points

– how thick is yr down jacket … the MB is generally good down to about freezing, you can combine jackets, but it all depends on the columbia one

– using yr bag as camp insulation is a bit risky for winter if its down … if you get away with it youll feel like a UL god, should it get wet or damaged, youll feel like a chump if you survive … the choice is yours

– get a windshirt or softshell for the top … youll use it in other endeavors anyways

– softshell pants for the bottom is what i use … you can go wind shell if you want … yr rain pants may work, but you may sweat in em quite a bit

– if yr jacket doesnt have a warm hood, something warm for the head is recommended … heat loss through the head increases should you go hypothermic

– i didnt see what boots you were using … get yr foot system sorted out before going on the trip, test it all out on a day hike … and bring a spare pair of socks … wet and cold feet in winter is a very real danger

hope that helps