Recommendations for a winter backpacking jacket.

del

sorry.. a hard shell. I'm going to use a merino baselayer, then a down jacket them a hard shell.

Endless choices, debates and comprises!

Loose classes of rain shells:

Very light breathable coated/laminated versions like the Marmot Super Mica.

Microporous polyurethane coated jackets like Red Ledge and Sierra Designs.

Fully waterproof non breathable shells

2.5 layer waterproof breathable shells.

3 layer waterproof breathable shells.

Non jackets: poncho, cape, packa.

Take all the above and add/subtract features like out zips, storm flaps, hoods (with many features in themselves), waterproof zippers, stretch fabrics, variations in length, back vents, cuff adjustments, hem drawstrings and so on ad infintitum.

And that's just for precipitation.

Then there are wind shells.

And also insulation.

Cost, performance, durability and weight need to be considered.

They should all complement each other, that is work as a coordinated system. They should be selected to suit the range of expected temperatures and the general climate.

You will need different attributes when active and working hard than standing still on rest stops and camp.

Good luck.

In choosing rain gear, I look for reasonable cost, ventilation features, light weight, good hood, adjustable cuffs, and waist drawstring.

My general layering system is a mix of polyester base layers, fleecy mid layers, wind shirt, polyester fill puffy vest or jacket, 2.5 layer rain shell or poncho.

I generally need more than a base layer, puffy and rain shell— more versatility that is.

I don't use down due to the wet cloudy climate I usually travel in, but it is a simple substitution for the puffy layer in my system. If I hiked in areas with more sun and sporadic rain and lower general humidity, down would be a good option.

I wouldn't be moving with a puffy layer on unless is was very cold and would be using the fleecy stuff by first choice. Getting your down sweaty or rain soaked is asking to be a hypothermia poster child.

No simple answers. The season, general climate, your personal metabolism and temperature tolerance, budget and activity will tweak the choices and that will still change with the seasons.

Good luck :)

deleted

Hi Kevin,

Yay for winter. I would think that if it were wet enough for a raincoat (aka hardshell) it would be too wet for down. So I would check out Steve House's video for clothing systems on Nanga Parbat to look at some more breathable options.

The NW is a great place to wear:

Silkweight layer
Add thin fleece if needed, with hood and thumb holes
Windbreaker (about 4oz)

Should be good to 20 degrees

Hat and gloves and hoods on and off to regulate heat.

Add synthetic thin puffy jacket if cold.
Add down or synthetic belay parka if really cold or in camp.

If the windbreaker is too fragile check out some light softshells from OR, arcteryx, patagonia, and first ascent. Or nonwaterproof jackets from the thrift store. No need to spend big bucks.

Backpacking to me says high heat output with extra difficulty changing layers, and it's there that a breathable, snow shedding garment will be more comfortable than a rain coat. Good luck!

del

they figure *winter* must wear/bring hard shell. i for the most part leave my hard shell at home and am satisfied with my hooded (wild things) wind shirt in most any conditions. many are shocked and aghast at the thought of leaving their treasured hard shell at home in case they run into the worst of conditions. picking what to bring and when is all a matter of time spent getting it right and wrong. if the sh!t hits the fan i,m throwing my insulation layer (down or synthetic) over everything, not under my hard shell. when things are going bad, the idea of having to shed a layer to add a layer is alien to me. it's amazing how much more comfortable a wind shirt can be when compared to a hard shell, without sacrificing much if any protection, especially in the worst of conditions when you’re all buttoned up. to be clear, the wind shirt i use in the winter or at altitude is fairly robust and is made out of epic and while epic isn’t the most breathable of wind shirt fabrics, it breaths a lot better than any waterproof/breathable fabric found in a hard shell.

my layering is similar to thouse above. i try to layer on and off as follows: i start with as synthetic (white/light colored) long sleeved shirt. next on top is a 3/4 zip power stretch/r1 style hoodie followed by the wind shirt. i sometimes add in or replace the hoodie with a hooded wild things insulight jacket. for my last layer depending on what’s forecasted, i’ll bring along one of a variety of synthetic jacket weights up to a wild things belay jacket or my ff hooded volant, which with proper under layers will easily take me into the mid-teens negative f territory.

there’s a thousand variations on the theme. what i do works for me. others might not be comfortable with it. you can listen to and synthesize all the advice given here and if you become at all serious about winter camping you will go through multiple iterations of your layering system before you dial in what works for you in different situations.

good luck –

Kevin, LL Bean sells its Ultralight Down Jacket (850 fill down) WITH its "Down Tek" DWR water resistant down treatment for $179.

Personally, though I love my Eddie Bauer down jacket and WM Megalite down bag, I will never buy another down garment or bag unless its down is DWR treated.

BTW, my favorite hardshell for moderate temps (above +10 F.) is an REI Kimtah eVent parka sized to fit over the EB down jacket you see in my avatar. eVent breathes so well it works nicely with a 300 wt. Polarguard pile jacket even for more vigorous activities f it's windy. The down jacket is for more sedentary activities such as around camp or lunch breaks.

In the eastern woodlands, it means daytime high temperatures typically from 20-40 degrees and night temps from 10-25 degrees. The system I use and like is this environment begins with an Icebreaker 240 weight merino zipneck base layer, then a Golite unhooded windshirt, then a Marmot DriClime jacket with DIY added hood, and a Possumdown beanie. As I hike, I remove layers as needed down to the base layer. In camp, but not while hiking, I’ll add a Western Mountaineering Flight jacket. If making a winter fire in camp, I’ll often add a DriDucks jacket to protect the down from sparks. Unless it’s quite cold, I find that Railriders Winter Weatherpants with merino boxers are all I need for hiking. In camp I may add a synthetic or down base layer under them.

Keepin’ it light at: QiWiz.net

Indeed, what conditions are you expecting?

There is no scenario where you should be hiking in a down jacket underneath a hard shell.

I've been waering a thin base layer + mid weight base layer + windshell the last couple of weeks here in temps ranging from 0F down to -15F while active. No wind though. If wind picks up above 20mph or so and temps are below zero, you might want a hard shell, or more insulation, but that should be fleece not down.

For camp use in winter a big down parka is the ticket, so if you want a hard shell to fit over that, you will need to size up a fair bit.

http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=2005&p_id=2306477&gen_cd=1

Sorry about pic. 1st time trying, off my phone as well. Thinking about this jacket.