I hike year-round in the Cascades. Every weekend rain, snow or shine. Excluding my puffy, I don’t think I have $300 in my entire setup and I have a very light setup.
A lot depends on where/how you hike so you have to develop your own system. And the PNW has a vast array of weather and terrain. But I’d argue you don’t need to spend a lot of money to figure it out.
While under movement you don’t need a lot of clothing. You won’t be wearing multiple layers while under movement because you are exerting and your body heat is sufficient to keep you warm. I snowshoe in shorts, gaiters and a t-shirt as long as there isn’t much wind. I’d throw on a light jacket if I needed wind protection.
I have my arsenal down to:
*Inexpensive t-shirt – any synthetic will do, and cotton in the summer. I’d buy it based upon fit and comfort rather than weight.
*Inexpensive synthetic long-sleeve super lightweight. I wear this only in the winter when it is cold and wet because I prefer it under a rain jacket if I need to wear one. I have a smartwool long sleeve that is much too warm for hiking. It is camp gear for me.
*Inexpensive 100W fleece. I’ve tried multiple expensive versions and you know what….. I still like my work supplied Eddie Buer 100W fleece jacket. It is warm when wet, drys quickly, doesn’t hold a stink and is reasonable in weight. It has a huge comfort zone. I’ve hiked with it downhill, and used it snowshoeing. I prefer a jacket without a hood and I use a polartech sock cap, and carry a full-faced bachlava (from skiing) that is ultralight but adds tons of warmth because it completely encapsulates my face, neck etc..etc. and can be worn under everything else. It is just a couple ounces and stays in my pack all year.
* Inexpensive shell. I use DryDucks because it is lightweight, inexpensive, and I like how the material feels against my skin. It fits loose enough that it doesn’t bind. Yes it rips easily but it is far cheaper to replace and it spends 98% of the time in my pack. I hike in the rain without a jacket if I’m warm. I view rain jackets as a mechanism to retain warmth, not to keep me dry. If I’m climbing a mountain I’m typically warm and sweating so getting wet from the misty rain we get just keeps me cooler. I wear a baseball cap to keep my glasses dry.
*Running shorts
*Gaiters – Gaitors are a necessity for snow travel. I find that add warmth and keep my feet dryer longer. If you don’t do snow travel you don’t need them.
* Thick rag wool socks. I’m unsophisticated if you haven’t figured that out. I don’t like thin socks. I carry an extra set in my pack in winter. In the summer wet thick wool socks work just as well as dry wool socks. My philosophy on footwear is much the same. I wear non-waterproof boots and I just accept that my feet will be wet at times. It really doesn’t bother me so I see no need to change. I’d rather have boots that dry quickly than boots that stay dry until… they don’t. They all eventually get wet. They have big holes in them where your feet go in so they will get wet. Embrace the inevitable.
*Hands – I find my hands are a critical to my comfort. I carry cheap disposable latex gloves for shoulder season wet travel. My hands may get pruned but they generally stay warm even in prolonged rain. That doesn’t work for my wife so YMMV. I carry fleece gloves for camp. I’ve worn them snowshoeing and hiking if my hands are cold for some other reason. I use trekking poles so my hands are always active when I’m under movement.
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Camp Wear:
*Long underwear – wool – take your pick because you don’t need high-performance in camp. Tops + Bottoms. I have a set in my pack at all times, even summer. You never know when the unexpected will happen.
*Puffy- I splurged on this and got a custom jacket made to my specifications. It is ultr-light at about 10-ounces with hood, and big pockets. I rarely use it but it is great as an extra layer in camp or extra sleeping warmth to supplement a sleeping system.
*I don’t even own a set of rain pants right now. The Dry ducks ones will rip apart in short order. They are good for camp only. I tried a skirt but to be honest I don’t really like it. I’ve not yet found a leg covering that I like. In winter I’ll wear lightweight synthetic long underwear under my shorts and along with gaiters it works for me. I don’t give a damn what I look like.
I’d say experimentation is more valuable than spending money on big-ticket names. You won’t know what works for you until you try it and you could spend thousands of dollars playing around with brand named gear or you can just use common sense and try solutions that have worked for other people for decades.
