fall/winter hiking in ohio/PA

[Aaron Lutton]

I just took up backpacking this year. I am wondering what suggest are for layers to wear for fall/winter hikes in ohio and pa. I'll be going on overnights and possibly a 3 day trip. Any help would be appreciated. I am 6ft and 190lbs.

[Andy F]

This is what works for me, but I tend to be one of those "human furnace" people.

30-40 degrees:
probably just a polyester t shirt
add thin fleece shirt or possibly unzipped standard fleece jacket
thin softshell pants (or hiking pants with light baselayer)
shell: waterproof breathable (for me, either DriDucks or eVent)

20-30 degrees:
polyester t shirt
standard fleece jacket
thin softshell pants
wool/polyester base layer
shell: waterproof breathable (for me, eVent due to greater durability compared to DriDucks)

10-20 degrees:
polyester t shirt
thin fleece shirt
standard fleece jacket
thin softshell pants
medium weight base layer
shell: waterproof breathable (for me, eVent due to greater durability compared to DriDucks)

At less than 10 degrees, I tend to go retro/traditional and wear thick wool pants and a cotton softshell (Swedish army anorak)

I have a cheap down jacket I throw on for breaks or around camp. If I need warmer insulation, I probably have a campfire to warm up, or I stuff my sleeping bag into my shell jacket.

[Aaron Lutton]

Any recommendations on brands? I have a Columbia outer layer ski jacket, but that's about it. Since its been summer I went with tech tee shirts and shorts lol.
Thanks again for your help!

[Andy F]

Much of my backpacking clothing is Walmart or Meijer in-house brands. It works fine, as long as you can find something which actually fits properly.

My softshell pants are Marmot Scree. They're nylon, which is more durable than polyester often used in softshell garments. Nylon hiking pants with an appropriate base layer work fine too. I just like the stretch and some wind protection of the softshell. My rain shell is an eVent Packa (thepacka.com).

[Aaron Lutton]

That is great advice. Thanks Andy!

[dirtbag]

+1 on the Marmot Scree pants for winter here in the NE. Love them!!
For summer here in NY/NJ/PA I wear a pair of running shorts and patagonia silkweight Capaline 1 t shirt.
I just found my new system for spring and fall..Go Lite Castlewood tights with a pair of running shorts over them (liner removed) and patagonia Capaline 1 long sleeve crew on top. I also bring patagonia houdini wind shirt and pants.

[Russell Lawson]

if you want to get cheap gear, I got 100% of mine from goodwill or value village. Lots of merino wool base layer tshirts, tons of nylon shorts/pants and even found some amazing rain coats/pants that don't leak. it is a gamble on some items, raincoats do leak often, dont buy pilled fleece, go for new and tight fleeces and wool. wool base layers often have moth marks on them too.

Also, dont expect to get geared up at goodwill in one trip, fortunately my bank is next to goodwill so I hit it up once a month, and in less than a year I have all patagonia nylon base layers, more wool than i know what to do with, and bad ass 12oz eddie beaur rain coat. my 2 cents

[Russell Lawson]

Also something that i try to think about, I used to do construction, and think of my layers as how a house is built, inside is where it's heated by burning energy, you dont want it to escape, so you have drywall, insulation, moisture barrier tyvek, then siding.
Get to know your fabrics, there arnt that many to choose from out there brands don't always matter. For the layer that touches my skin I try to keep it silk because it breaths and is a natural fabric against the skin and just like in houses, you want air pockets to control moisture between insulation at times , I then go with a merino wool or two, cashmere and rabbit wool are warmer than sheeps. maybe a fleece. then as my external layers I generally have an additional thicker and more breathable wool/nylon blend sweater with a nylon vest ontop which helps keep water from soaking into my core from the neckhole or zippers, raingear or windshirt above that to interact with the weather. generally I just bring more base layers the colder it gets.
my 4 cents

[Edward Jursek]

I remember planning winter hiking in Ohio was really tricky because the wide range of possible weather conditions. My solution, back in 1997, was to load up a Uhaul and move to Seattle. Works great!

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