Need help with women’s layering for warmth

@Piper – Yeah, she tried the same thing this trip, namely a 30° quilt with (my, stolen :) 40° quilt on top of it. We'll see how the prodigy and layers works.

@Ken — thanks for the link. That & Richard's 'new Paradigm' green chart are among the BPL classics that I keep a bookmark of. Speaking of which, I think everyone would be massively indebted for a 2014 version of the green chart with today's insulation hits, Richard, if you happen to be lurking.

@Kenda – we've got a pair of Exped Synmat UL MWs and coupler, and she's stated that she prefers the width. Waiting for Exped to come out with an MW version Downmat. That Xlite looks nice and warm, though.

Also a work in progress. BPL is all about minimalism, but we've found that doesn't work well for people who get cold easily. Being warm at night adds huge comfort to the trip and is definitely worth the weight.

Here is what I suggest
– Do not get behind on warmth. If temperatures are dropping, put on your gear hours before it gets cold. Once you get cold, it will be VERY hard to re-warm
– Get a warmer down jacket with a hood. We've been very happy with the GoLite Bitterroot
– A wind jacket isn't particularly warm. A nice rain jacket layered over down adds a lot of warmth
– Balaclava warms the neck and face if the wind gets bad
– Wool gloves/mittens with rain mitts overlying. Cold hands can make you feel a lot colder
– Warm socks. She likes separate sleeping socks that are very thick and warm
– A very warm sleeping bag/quilt. She couldn't sleep comfortably in anything colder than a 10 degree quilt, even if it is 30-40 degrees outside

As a male who needs a 20-degree underquilt to hammock in 65-degree weather, let me just point out that it's not just women who get cold at night. And the older I get, the colder I get.

A few more things that get me through the night:

– Keep a pee bottle handy. Having to get much out of my warm nest at 2AM is a disaster.
– Beanie and gloves for sleeping in.
– Chemical heat packs are light and a pair in my hammock with me go a long way to make up for cold outside.
– Warm thick socks are a wonderful luxury on cold nights.

I tend to get cold around camp and sleeping compared to my husband. Some things that have worked well for me:

-I always bring a separate set of clothes to sleep in that I change into once we've stopped and are no longer sweating around camp. A silkweight or lightweight top and bottom work just fine. I find that if I leave on my sweaty baselayer and just layer over the top of it, I don't warm up. It feels so good to change into a fresh baselayer, sans sweaty bra, and then put on my heavier mid layers. When it's bedtime, I don't have to worry about changing clothes in the colder temps and can just slip under my quilt or into my bag.

-I'm always packing an R1 or Cap 4 fleece as my midlayer. I throw my windshirt on top of those until I feel like it's time for a heavier layer (a lightweight or midweight puffy depending on the temps). It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it! :-) I always pack my rain jacket which can be the final layer if need be to really seal in the warmth.

-Fresh socks for bed is a must. I actually find I sleep better in a pair of thin cotton/poly running socks rather than wool. If I need some extra warmth, I put some hand warmers down by my feet and that really helps when the temps really drop.

-As others have mentioned, have your GF keep hydrated and snack on something before bed. I like some trail mix and hot chocolate to warm me up inside. I make sure to take a potty break to empty the bladder. I find that if I wake up and have to pee that it takes me a while to warm back up again.

-In colder temps I need a hat for sleeping. I've actually found that I sleep well when I have a lightweight fitted running hoodie over my head and then wear my hat over the hood. I can toss and turn without getting chills on my neck.

I also require more warmth for sleeping, using a 30 degree quilt up to 50 degrees and my 15 degree bag to mid-30s. I can always stick out a leg if need be.