Layering advice needed

Yes you should be able to figure out a system where you only add and subtract layers.

I generally start out in just a cap4 hoody, add a wind or thin softshell layer on top of that and maybe a puffy or polartech alpha (breathable puffy) layer over that as needed and a primaloft or down belay coat layer at breaks or in high wind over that. Cap4 + soft-shell pants with thigh vents/side zips on the legs and maybe puffy pants with side zips for breaks if it is really cold. You could also consider water/wind proof side zip pants to add over your thin hiking pants.

Soft shell is a really broad category but a good one like one made from polartech power shield pro will offer more weather and a abrasion protection without being too much warmer if that makes sense. They are heavier and tend to make the most sense in endeavors where the weather is poor or you are dealing with brush or rock scrambling. I'd much rather be in my patagonia knifeblade then houdini on a windy ridge line in winter as an example.

Sometimes, if you have full front zippers, you can just unzip as needed

And take off hat

Climbers do it all the time which is what the nanopoofay was invented for

They use an additive system where for any extra layer in theory one does not remove the previous layer

Base -> R1 -> wind/soft shell -> light synth poofay/vest

The trick is to have a wind resistant insulation that goes OVER the shell for belays or slower technical ground

If you do a search you will fiind plenty of literature on the climbers "action suit"

The new polartec alpha was developed with the same concept in mind …

;)

I just ordered a marmot stride vest the other day. It's a vest with a windproof outer and a light fleece lining. The idea is I could layer it over my windshirt without taking the windshirt off, but it would still have a windproof layer. They also have a light fleece lined windshirt which you could put over a windshirt, but you are getting less warmth per ounce than if you just layered a plain fleece under the windshirt.

I think Eric has the right idea, poofay with a wind resistant shell goes over the windshirt.

Thanks – I like the idea of a soft shell followed by a synthetic sweater.

How does the breathability of synthetic sweaters made from prima loft sport or polar tech alpha compare to fleece + a wind shirt ?
How does the drying time compare ?

Do soft shells take a long time to dry ?

Thanks

Joe at ZPacks uses a layering system that seems a little different:

base / windshirt / insulating layer / rain shell

I've been experimenting with this lately on about a dozen winter day hikes. Temps mostly in the 30s but a few days getting up to 55 or so, with 85-90% humidity. I have merino wool longsleeve 150 base, the new ZPacks windshirt (1.85 oz), a light fleece (Arc'teryx Fortrez Hoodie which is equivalent to Patagonia R1 hoodie I think, except it has a wonderful built-in balaclava/neck warmer) and an oversized old goretex rain shell. (And MontBell UL down vest I bring when temps have been in the 20s.)

The windshirt fits perfectly either under or over my fleece. My fleece is snug but the windshirt feels very comfortable under it: there is a sort of "slippery" feel that is odd but not bad. It's really hard for me to tell any performance difference between putting windshirt under versus over the fleece, either in temperature or vapor management (and I've been hiking in cold/high humidity, which is a good test). Either way I get windproofing plus insulation. As temp goes up, I start unzipping and then take off fleece for base/windshirt only. As others have said, the windshirt only on top of base is surprisingly warm and works for me in the high 40s or 50s when I'm actively hiking. Going the other direction, I throw on the rain shell when starting in the morning when it is low 30s (but the 5 oz down vest really helps when it's colder or I'm not so active).

I haven't decided if I prefer this system or not. Some days it seems perfect to strip off fleece to have base/windshirt — say, when it's warming up to 50s but maybe with a cold breeze. Other days I'm more comfortable taking off windshirt to hike in base/fleece — specifically when it's a little colder (40s) but there is no wind.

similar to eric and others – synthetic base layer long sleeve shirt followed by a power stretch 3/4 zipped hoodie and a wild things epic windshirt. depending on expected temp my last layer would be the wild things version of the arcteryx atom lt hoodie, hooded micropuff, wild things belay jacketacket or a ff volant. i also sometimes work the faux atom lt hoodie and a non-membrane soft shell in as a mid layer. for the most part i try to take off and put back on in the same order. i'd rather be comfortably cool to a little cold than warm. for temperature control with the hoodie and windshirt, without taking anything off, the zippers open and close, the hood goes on and off and the sleeves go up and down. these changes function like a thermostat. also, my base layer is white. if it's so warm that i'm down to that, which happens on snow fields and glaciers more often than you might expect, i want something that's going to reflect the sun, not absorb it. i've cooked in dark colored base layers and have learned my lesson.

To answer the question about softshells and synths

Synths generally have poor breathability compared to fleece … You are trying to breath through 2 additional nylon layers and the insulation

A synth vest does work better however , especially one with side fleece panels

Another option is a windpro fleece which is somewhat wind resistant

If you are using a nanopoofay/atom jacket on the move its got to be damn cold or youre moving slowly on technical terrain

A softshell takes longer than a windshirt to dry as theres more material … But they tend to be more brethable if you get the non membrane versions

Nothing dries as fast as fleece … Or can be worn again after wringing it out quickly

;)

I'll try the "new technology". I'm on the east coast, where it's usually right around freezing, and still high humidity…