Stacking Insulation vs. a bigger puffy: the rationale behind a 2 jacket system

+1 for layering.  If only because you can adjust for when you sweat.  Otherwise, you get chilled.  Always happens to me.  Big variations in my response to temperature according to sunny, cloudy, windy, precipitation, uphill, downhill, fast, slow.  Long ago, I gave up on the concept of one “perfect” piece of outerwear for each condition.  Take two at least.  Even if it’s hot, there’s always a need for both less and more coverage.

No perfect solution, lot’s of trade-offs and different systems to experiment with

If you have a full length zipper, and you’re too warm, you can unzip and remove about half of your effective insulation

This would reduce the need to have multiple layers

Regardless of how many layers you have, it’s useful if you’re walking along and don’t want to remove a layer

Our solution, for winter, was to just use a heavier down jacket.

So, if it is not going to be very cold we use our Montbell “Superior down parka.” And if much colder, then we use our Montbell “Alpine Light Parkas.”

So, all our layers are the same in all four seasons except for using a warmer down jacket in the Winter temperatures.

Do not enjoy overnight packing in the depth of winter anymore.  But for the other three seasons, I use the following, as needed to stay warm and comfortable:

A light Montane wind shirt, modified to add mesh kangaroo pockets. – 6 0z.  Tried some trips without the windshirt, and missed it every time.  Beats a fleece top in warmer but windy weather.

A light Patagonia WPB top if it’s raining, or if need more insulation in the cold.  ~1/2 lb.

A synthetic puffy jacket and pant bought from BPL in it’s early days. – 1 lb. total.  These are used if at all to stay warm in camp or when sleeping.

A grid fleece top from Patagonia. – under 1/2 lb.  This goes on first for insulation, and is used in camp before resort is made to the puffies.

A down Montbell spiral hugger bag. – 1.25 lb.  This is the only down piece, is kept well protected from precip and is taken out only for sleeping.

Thinsulate booties used in camp and for sleeping. – under 3 oz.  There are lighter options, but none as sturdy.

Deep See soled dive sox. – under 4 oz – used over the booties in camp in wet weather.  These are also used with DIY water shoes for stream crossings.

Also assorted head and foot gear and polyester polo shirts.  Use Lorpen synthetic knit sox because they wear like iron, and dry quickly.  Also: shorty WPB gaiters for scree or heavy rains. – under 3 oz.

Soft shell climber’s pants, and Patagonia baggies (old short style) –  choice is suited to the weather.

Of course there are other sundries, like extra sox and undies, not to mention the tent; but the above are the essentials to stay warm and dry.  They are used in various combinations as suits the occasion.  Sometimes most of them are used together to sleep warm in very cold weather.

Please note that since switching from synthetic bags to the Montbell down, I sleep toasty, as well as dry.  Paranoia strikes deep, and fear of getting caught with a sopping and thus useless down sleeping bag overrode better judgment.